Bryston BCD-3 2.0 Reference CD Player

The Bryston BCD-3 2.0 is a dedicated high-end CD player built for listeners who aren't ready to put their CD collection away—and don't see any reason they should.

Rather than trying to be a universal disc player, streamer and DAC all at once, the BCD-3 2.0 concentrates on doing one thing exceptionally well: playing Red Book CDs.

Bryston combines a dedicated CD transport with precision clocking, an AKM 4490 DAC, separate digital and analog power supplies, and a fully discrete Class A analog output stage.

It's a purpose-built digital source for a serious two-channel system.

A Dedicated Red Book CD Player

The BCD-3 2.0 is designed specifically around the Red Book CD format.

That matters.

Instead of designing the transport and digital circuitry to accommodate multiple optical-disc formats, Bryston optimized the player around the 16-bit/44.1kHz PCM data found on a conventional audio CD.

If you have spent years—or decades—building a CD collection, the BCD-3 2.0 is designed to get everything possible from those discs.

Precision Clocking & Reduced Jitter

Reading the correct bits from a CD is only part of digital playback.

Timing matters too.

Digital timing errors—commonly referred to as jitter—can compromise the accuracy of digital-to-analog conversion.

Bryston precisely synchronizes the BCD-3 2.0's master clock and disc drive so that the data and timing remain tightly controlled before conversion.

Keeping the transport and DAC inside the same component also eliminates the additional digital interface conversions required when using a separate CD transport and external DAC.

AKM 4490 DAC

At the center of the digital conversion stage is the AKM 4490 DAC.

The AKM device uses a hybrid multi-bit delta-sigma architecture and performs both digital filtering before conversion and analog filtering afterward.

Bryston then surrounds the DAC with its own engineering rather than relying on the converter chip alone to determine the final performance of the player.

8× Oversampling

The BCD-3 2.0 uses 8× oversampling to increase the original CD sample rate before digital-to-analog conversion.

A standard CD operates at 44.1kHz.

The Bryston architecture increases that rate to 352.8kHz, allowing the digital filtering and conversion stages to operate at a much higher sampling frequency before the signal reaches the analog output section.

Separate Analog & Digital Power Supplies

Digital circuitry and sensitive analog audio circuitry place very different demands on a power supply.

Bryston addresses this by providing independent power supplies for the digital and analog sections of the BCD-3 2.0.

Separating these sections helps prevent noise generated by the transport and digital processing circuitry from contaminating the analog signal after conversion.

It's the same basic philosophy Bryston applies throughout its high-performance digital components.

Discrete Class A Analog Output Stage

A great CD player doesn't stop at the DAC.

Once the digital information has been converted into an analog signal, that signal still has to be properly buffered and delivered to the preamplifier.

Bryston uses a proprietary discrete Class A analog output stage rather than relying on conventional integrated operational amplifiers.

Individual transistors, resistors and capacitors form the output circuitry, with the goal of extremely low noise and distortion while preserving the fine detail recovered during digital conversion.

Balanced XLR & RCA Analog Outputs

The BCD-3 2.0 can connect directly to virtually any high-performance preamplifier or integrated amplifier through:

• Balanced XLR analog outputs
• Single-ended RCA analog outputs

In a fully balanced system, the XLR connections provide a natural match for Bryston preamplifiers such as the BR-20 and BP-19.

Use It as a CD Transport

Already have a DAC you love?

The BCD-3 2.0 also provides digital outputs, allowing it to function as a high-quality dedicated CD transport.

Digital output connections include:

• AES/EBU
• S/PDIF

This gives you the option of using Bryston's internal DAC and discrete analog output stage or sending the digital signal to an external DAC.

Network Control

Even though the BCD-3 2.0 is intentionally focused on physical CD playback, Bryston incorporates modern system-control capability.

Connect the player to your home network and it can be controlled through a web browser from a compatible computer, tablet or mobile device.

That also makes the BCD-3 2.0 easier to integrate into professionally designed audio and automation systems.

Key Features

• Type: Reference Red Book CD Player
• Disc Format: Audio CD / Red Book CD
• DAC: AKM 4490
• Digital Architecture: Hybrid Multi-Bit Delta-Sigma
• Oversampling: 8×
• CD Sampling Rate: 44.1kHz
• Oversampled Rate: 352.8kHz
• Analog Output Stage: Proprietary Discrete Class A
• Analog Outputs: Balanced XLR and Single-Ended RCA
• Digital Outputs: AES/EBU and S/PDIF
• Power Supplies: Independent Analog and Digital
• Network Control: Yes
• Made in Canada

Why Buy a High-End CD Player in the Streaming Era?

Because a lot of us still own a lot of CDs.

And many of those collections contain albums, masterings and releases that aren't necessarily represented by the version you find on a streaming service.

The BCD-3 2.0 isn't trying to convince you to choose CDs instead of streaming.

It's for the listener who already owns a great CD collection and wants those discs treated as a serious high-end source rather than an outdated format.

Put in the disc, press play and listen.

There's still something pretty great about that.

BCD-3 2.0 or a Separate Transport & DAC?

Both approaches can make sense.

A separate transport and DAC gives you the freedom to change the converter independently.

The BCD-3 2.0 takes the opposite approach.

Bryston controls the transport, master clock, DAC, power supplies and analog output stage inside a single component. This eliminates the additional digital interface conversions required to move the signal from a separate transport to an external DAC.

If you already own a reference DAC, you can still use the BCD-3 2.0's digital outputs and run it as a dedicated transport.

If you don't, the complete Bryston digital and analog playback chain is already onboard.

Experience Bryston Digital at The Grid HiFi

The Grid HiFi is your Bryston and high-end digital audio expert in Houston, Texas.

Streaming may dominate new digital systems, but that doesn't make a carefully built CD collection obsolete.

The Grid can help integrate the BCD-3 2.0 into a complete system and match it with the right Bryston preamplifier, integrated amplifier or power amplifier, DAC, loudspeakers, subwoofers, cabling and equipment support.

Whether you're building a dedicated CD-based system or simply want your physical collection to perform at the same level as the rest of your digital sources, the BCD-3 2.0 gives CDs the kind of playback hardware they deserve.

Contact The Grid HiFi for Bryston BCD-3 2.0 availability, demonstrations and complete system matching.