General; Welcome; Description; Features - Bryston BDA-3 Owner's Manual

General

Welcome

Thank you for your purchase of a Bryston BDA-3
Digital to Analog Converter! Decades of ongoing
research and development have produced our
highest performing and most capable DAC yet. With
this model, Bryston sought to achieve maximum
compatibility with a wide range of digital source
components yet preserve state-of-the-art audio
quality. Our customers are a tremendous resource
to whom we look for a measure of success. Please
feel welcome to contact us with feedback and
suggestions.

Description

The BDA-3 is a state of the art stereo digital to
analog converter that accepts digital input from
up to 10 source components and connects to an
analog line-level preamplifier. Both DSD and PCM
audio data are supported. Advanced engineering
and application of techonological advancements
mean that even previously highly regarded digital
source components may have dramatically
improved sound quality when connected to the
BDA-3.

Features

Bryston BDA-3 includes the following features:
• 10 different digital inputs
• Analog audio out via single ended RCA or
balanced XLR connections
• PCM Audio up to 384 kHz sampling rate and 32
bit word lengths supported
• DSD Audio up to DSD256 (quad rate)
• Asynchronous USB Class 2.0 Audio inputs
• Stereo HDMI Audio with video passthrough
• Traditional digital inputs: S/PDIF via BNC, RCA,
or Toslink. AES/EBU via balanced XLR
• Remote control via ethernet, USB, RS232, or IR
• Video passthrough (HDMI audio out)
• User selectable upsampling
• Available in either 17 inch or 19 inch wide
C-Series dress panel in silver-toned (clear
anodized) or black anodized aluminum.
4

Shipping Box and Packing Material

Please keep the original shipping box and all
packing material. This will ensure the BDA-3 is
protected in future transport. In the unlikely event
you have a problem and must return it for service,
you must use the proper packing material. Ship
the BDA-3 only in the original packing material
as the unit is not insurable by carriers otherwise.
Replacement packing materials consisting of a
shipping carton with plastic foam inserts is available
from Bryston for a small fee.

Installation

Ventilation

The BDA-3 is a cool-running line level component.
It generates far less heat than amplifiers and many
other components. It can be safely placed inside
furniture or an equipment rack. However, it should
not be tightly enclosed. Some airflow is desired.

Connecting to A/C Power

Please check the Data Plate on the right rear of
the amplifier to verify power requirements agree
with your location. Plug the IEC-320 C14 end of the
power cord into the BDA-3, then plug the other end
into an approved and grounded A/C receptacle.

Audio Connections

Connecting Source Components

The BDA-3 can accept DSD or PCM coded digital
audio from up to 10 sources. Any source component
capable of producing raw PCM, DSD, or DoP (DSD
over PCM) audio is supported. Audio formats such
as Dolby Digital, DTS, and other surround sound
audio formats are unsupported.
Each of the available inputs can decode a subset
of all available input formats. Further, a source
component may have multiple interconnect
options that can be used with the BDA-3. Choose
first by compatibility with desired audio formats,
then by order of sound quality. Source component
permitting, multiple digital connections can be
made between the source component and BDA-3.