Post by rob80b on Jan 27, 2013 13:14:54 GMT -5
Man I mustn’t get out much, the days of spending hours in an Audio Shops have become a thing of the past, there aren’t any.
Anyway last spring I added the UMC-1 to get me up to steam in HT, prior to that I was running the analogue outputs from the BDP to a couple of Bryston preamps, a BP25P and B60 to be exact and a Bryston 2BLP pro with the volume pots, of course having everything controlled with the UMC-1 (after getting the firmware properly installed) life just easier. Then later added a UPA-1 to replace the Bryston 2BLP running the centre channel, much better match with the Bryston 4BSST running the mains.
Unfortunately I now had another problem, the UMC-1 did just not compare to using the Bryston BP25P for my analogue sources so I had all the Bryston gear configured with the balanced in/outs, so to do my critical listening entailed manual switching between the balanced and unbalanced on the Bryston 4BSST plus a second connection from the Bryston pre to the Velodyne SMS-1, I wanted my Velodyne sub for music and HT, and of course I had to do more calibration to accommodate the two systems, also only one pre could be powered on at a time.
What’s one to do, a little bit of searching and the solution of course was a Pre with a 2.1 HT pass through, Bryston did not make one, unless of course you went with one of their processors which are indeed ridiculously expensive and totally out of the question.
Solution, the USP-1 or something similar, now the reason I mentioned I do not get out much as I’ve been using an all Bryston system for years, since the 80’s to be exact and have gone through each new reiteration and currently running the Bryston BCD-1 CD player, BP25P pre (BP26) and 4BSST and have been more than happy with the overall sound quality running some Dynaudio Special 25s.
To cut to the chase a USP-1 showed up at the door the other day, so without much ado I got everything configured, the USP-1 replacing the BP25P, which also has an MM phone stage, first impressions were favourable, but the main hurdle or psychological barrier was the 10x price variable, the current reiteration of the BP25P, the BP26 is $3000 for the basic pre plus another $600 for the MM phono stage (the MC is a lot more) and then you need to add the power supply for another $1700.
Build wise there is no denying Bryston’s medical grade construction, but that does not guarantee trouble free operation as I’ve taken advantage of that 20 year warranty on more than a few occasions, but overall the USP-1 is still a fine unit.
The first thing I noticed is that USP-1 runs wide open (not much lead way with the volume control), something I also read elsewhere, even with the low 86dB efficiency of the Dynaudios so that the calibration for the Velodyne needed to be redone to compensate otherwise the base is way over powering, fun but not the way a neutral system should sound, a few more days getting everything dialled, one being to use the 2 volt setting at the amp end, therefore reducing the overall sensitivity of the system and things improved vastly.
Piece for piece, selection for selection the USP-1 redeemed it self, imaging was excellent, cymbals shimmered, base was powerful but in it’s place, female voice soared without and hint of shrillness and the overall picture was very good to excellent, actually surpassing the Bryston in some areas, notable depth of the imaging. Vinyl was comparable but I would give a slight edge to the Bryston, the external power supply may help.
Noise wise the USP-1 was excellent, the slight hum consistent with the Bryston in an unbalanced config was gone.
Needles to say the USP-1 was a winner all round (and not because of the price), the BP25P is now gone, any regrets have dissipated and just to be sure I inserted the pre amp section of my B60R (Brystons integrate) with a comparable pre to the BP25, the USP-1 still won out.
A few conclusions though, I can see those with efficient speakers and a powerful amp possible running into problems, the USP-1 performs best with the dial between 11 and 1 o’clock. Those with analogue sources considering adding the USP-1 in conjunction with a UMC-1 should have no reservations; the major problem with the UMC-1 is the noise gate, which I discussed here.
emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=preamps&thread=24996&page=2
Like I said, I should get out more, affordable audio has come of age, funny I used to say the same about Bryston 25 years ago…. oh and I love that HT bypass button.
Robert
Anyway last spring I added the UMC-1 to get me up to steam in HT, prior to that I was running the analogue outputs from the BDP to a couple of Bryston preamps, a BP25P and B60 to be exact and a Bryston 2BLP pro with the volume pots, of course having everything controlled with the UMC-1 (after getting the firmware properly installed) life just easier. Then later added a UPA-1 to replace the Bryston 2BLP running the centre channel, much better match with the Bryston 4BSST running the mains.
Unfortunately I now had another problem, the UMC-1 did just not compare to using the Bryston BP25P for my analogue sources so I had all the Bryston gear configured with the balanced in/outs, so to do my critical listening entailed manual switching between the balanced and unbalanced on the Bryston 4BSST plus a second connection from the Bryston pre to the Velodyne SMS-1, I wanted my Velodyne sub for music and HT, and of course I had to do more calibration to accommodate the two systems, also only one pre could be powered on at a time.
What’s one to do, a little bit of searching and the solution of course was a Pre with a 2.1 HT pass through, Bryston did not make one, unless of course you went with one of their processors which are indeed ridiculously expensive and totally out of the question.
Solution, the USP-1 or something similar, now the reason I mentioned I do not get out much as I’ve been using an all Bryston system for years, since the 80’s to be exact and have gone through each new reiteration and currently running the Bryston BCD-1 CD player, BP25P pre (BP26) and 4BSST and have been more than happy with the overall sound quality running some Dynaudio Special 25s.
To cut to the chase a USP-1 showed up at the door the other day, so without much ado I got everything configured, the USP-1 replacing the BP25P, which also has an MM phone stage, first impressions were favourable, but the main hurdle or psychological barrier was the 10x price variable, the current reiteration of the BP25P, the BP26 is $3000 for the basic pre plus another $600 for the MM phono stage (the MC is a lot more) and then you need to add the power supply for another $1700.
Build wise there is no denying Bryston’s medical grade construction, but that does not guarantee trouble free operation as I’ve taken advantage of that 20 year warranty on more than a few occasions, but overall the USP-1 is still a fine unit.
The first thing I noticed is that USP-1 runs wide open (not much lead way with the volume control), something I also read elsewhere, even with the low 86dB efficiency of the Dynaudios so that the calibration for the Velodyne needed to be redone to compensate otherwise the base is way over powering, fun but not the way a neutral system should sound, a few more days getting everything dialled, one being to use the 2 volt setting at the amp end, therefore reducing the overall sensitivity of the system and things improved vastly.
Piece for piece, selection for selection the USP-1 redeemed it self, imaging was excellent, cymbals shimmered, base was powerful but in it’s place, female voice soared without and hint of shrillness and the overall picture was very good to excellent, actually surpassing the Bryston in some areas, notable depth of the imaging. Vinyl was comparable but I would give a slight edge to the Bryston, the external power supply may help.
Noise wise the USP-1 was excellent, the slight hum consistent with the Bryston in an unbalanced config was gone.
Needles to say the USP-1 was a winner all round (and not because of the price), the BP25P is now gone, any regrets have dissipated and just to be sure I inserted the pre amp section of my B60R (Brystons integrate) with a comparable pre to the BP25, the USP-1 still won out.
A few conclusions though, I can see those with efficient speakers and a powerful amp possible running into problems, the USP-1 performs best with the dial between 11 and 1 o’clock. Those with analogue sources considering adding the USP-1 in conjunction with a UMC-1 should have no reservations; the major problem with the UMC-1 is the noise gate, which I discussed here.
emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=preamps&thread=24996&page=2
Like I said, I should get out more, affordable audio has come of age, funny I used to say the same about Bryston 25 years ago…. oh and I love that HT bypass button.
Robert
