On Friday, 18th December 2020, Audio Visual Designs officially launched the PMC Twenty5i and Ci loudspeakers in Malaysia.
The Twenty5i series, follows a substantial re-engineering of the multi-award winning twenty5 series. It benefits from the research carried out while developing the company’s flagship loudspeakers. The main difference of the new Twenty5i range over the Twenty5 series is improvements to the tweeter. The Twenty5i series now houses a 19mm SONOMEX™soft-dome design, derived from PMC’s premium Fact range.
The twenty5i range consists of four, two-way loudspeakers ranging from the compact shelf-mounting twenty5i.21 to the floorstanding Twenty5i.23 and twenty5i.24, plus the flagship three-way twenty5i.26. There’s also a Centre channel model and the proven subwoofer for use in surround systems.
Before the start of the demo session, Mr. Low Chan Weng gave a short briefing about Twenty5i and also the different and improvement form previous model of Twenty5.
The demo session was conducted by Mr JoKi aka Mr Joseph. We started off by listening to PMC Twenty5i 21 small little fella bookshelf. We then moved to PMC Twenty5i 23 mini floorstander.
My 1st impression:
Twenty5i.21 offers high transparency and open staging. Its very open sounding in delivering the mid-range and highs. Profound bass which the PMC are known for, means it can fill rooms both medium and small with natural low frequency.
The twenty5.23 offers the speed, transparency and adds greater bass extension and energy to the music. And yet its slim-line form doesn’t mean it can’t move you. The twenty5i.23 will let you absorb the quietest and most dramatic moments without missing a beat, and its realism with vocals puts you in the best seat in the house.
Both speaker was driven by PMC Cor integrated amp with source feed from Bryston Streamer and DAC.
Then we move to the second venue to demo the PMC Twenty5i.26
The equipment was TAD pre and Power amplifier source feed from Bryston Streamer and DAC.
I was impressed with the clean, nuanced delivery, precise sense of rhythm and top-to-bottom balance. The wide soundstage also stood out. It has excellent bass extension with a touch of refinement and dynamic power.
Overall of summary this Twenty5i range is dynamic and detailed, transparent and well-timed, extremely revealing and musically addictive. Music just flow with ease and you will get immersed in it easily. In a nut shell, the i - Improved twenty5 series focuses a lot on the mid and high frequencies to compliment PMC legendary ATL design for the low frequency.
RRP for Twenty5i are as follows :
Twenty5.21i - (RM 10,100)
Twenty5.23i - (RM 17,600)
Twenty5.24i - (RM 25,100)
Twenty5.26i - (RM 41,100)
We then move to the Ci series.
PMC Ci Speakers are truly inspiring in realism and dynamic.
This PMC Ci series that AV Designs have in hand are:
Ci30 (top surround)
Ci45 (surround back)
Ci65 (centre)
Ci140 (front speakers)
Ci140 (passive subwoofer)
James Tan gave a short briefing about this PMC Ci series and the set up in this room. James started the demo session with a demo movie of The Accountant and Bohemian Rhapsody.
Lexicon RV9 AVR was used for this demo as well.
I was shocked by the power delivered by Lexicon RV9 AVR. It drove this Ci Speaker series with such ease. Bohemian Rhapsody sounded solid and detailed especially when music is being played. All the surround element was delivered quite well. The bass section kicked in deeply.This Ci Speaker series give nice musical sounding to this movie.
From The Accountant demo, the sub experience was tight and digs deep to proved that impact. The sniper rifle shooting scene sounded accurate and high realism for movie buffs to enjoy it. The Ci Speaker series does work well in a cinema set up. So, don't be fooled by its slim-in-wall design. They provide the right impact with detail, clarity and wider dynamic for movies. For me this the best multichannel speaker I heard since I listened Starke,M&K and SVS before.
Interested to demo this Twenty5i or Ci range at Audio Visual Designs? Do contact them and arrange for a demo session.
If you already have a series of award winning speaker designs and top notch studio capability, what will you do next? PMC, a name heavily associated to the ATL design have come up with its own 25th year anniversary amplifier design, aptly named as Cor.
AV Designs, the sole local distributor of PMC brand, loaned me a unit as I wanted to hear how my PMC Twenty5.24 would sound with this matching amp. I had my doubts as the wattage is lower than my resident MF amp but given its the similar design philosophy with speakers which aims for musicality, transparency and neutrality. The amp aims to neither add nor take away anything from your source,
The Specifications and Built
The COR is a pure analogue Class A/B integrated amplifier which can deliver 95 wpc into 8 ohms and 140 wpc into 4 ohms. Compared to my MF at 200 wpc, it would be interesting to hear how this COR can deliver the music that I listen to. Although there is always that question of what is there in power, but to me it is still very critical to ensure that any model can blend in nicely into a set up.
The chassis looks like a mix of modern and vintage amp. If it was in black, one may mistook it as new Playstation 5 game console. It may appeal to most but some may have some reservation. Measuring at 432 mm x 87.5 mm x 401 mm and weighs 12 kg, I classify this amp as a moderately sized equipment.
One unique feature that I seldom see on modern amps are the bass, treble and balance function where the slider is actually a motorized version where you can change the settings using the remote. These functions which usually are seen to be a non-purist approach is however designed precisely to give very small step change when being used.
The amp is sturdily built. The chassis is of aluminium and built to precision. However, the industrial look may not appeal to all. On the fron fascia, you get a huge volume knob, a series of input selection buttons, mono and a bypass button for the purest signal.
The treble, bass and balance function works on a small motor where they can even be controlled via the remote and you will see the slider slides left and right. There is a small LED on each to assist you getting back to the 'zero' level.
The remote is made of solid metal and relatively heavy. It does feel a bit industrial operating it. The unit I had for demo had some sensitivity issue as the amp sometimes does not respond immediately. However, I was told that PMC has rectified this in their later production.
My favourite part was actually the big PMC logo on the bottom left of the unit which actually is an on/off/standby touch screen button. It turns blue when on and turns red on standby.
Ins and Outs
Simplicity is part of the COR where there are 1 x balanced, 4 x single ended RCA and 1 x direct inputs.
For the outputs, it comes with a pair of 4 mm binding posts and also a preamp out if you wish to connect to a power amp.
The Session
I decided to only use digital source for this review, mainly from the SONY HAP Z1 ES. This is because in the recent months, there was a debate on how this Hi Res player is not capable to really deliver good sound reproduction due to its lower output level compared to other modern digital sources.
Fields of Gold by Sting in WAV 16/44
On this track, the Cor delivered quite an airy and huge sound. It emphasizes clarity on the mids. The vocal was engaging and upfront, giving an impression of free flow musicality. It delivers quite an emotional presentation.
Where Did The Children Play by Cat Stevens in AAC 16/44
The simplistic guitar intro was surreal. High level of tranparency. Vocal was again the highlight where Cat Steven's voice was ver engaging. Even the plucking of the bass sounded natural.
La Mer by Kevin Kline in MP3 320 kbps
Another track that really focuses on vocal. The deep voice of Kevin was reproduced with such an energy that I actually forgot that this was in a less superior format of MP3.
Take Five by Dave Brubeck in DSD
What can I say, the fluidity of the Cor was well defined through this track. The wind instrument was full of life and coupled with the punchiness of the percussion provided a very lively presentation. It did not suffer any sign of fatigue to deliver this track.
Japanese Roots by Takedake in WAV 16/44
The ultimate satisfaction came from this track. It hit me with a bang with layer and layer musical instrument can be heard. It was well balanced across a hugh spectrum without comprimising the clarity of any of signature sound.
Way Down Deep by Jennifer Wearnes in DSD
With the PMC Twenty5 24 being driven by the Cor, the bass that came out from this track was really punchy and extended in a certain way. It digs quite deep but without any boominess experienced in my hall. The speakers, given the wrong choice of amp, may sometimes give me a boomy bass.
The Book of Morris Johnson by Zee Avi in WAV 16/44
This track however sounded a bit thin on the bass. Usually, this would be one of my reference in getting some good but fun bass. However, I did not manage to get the usual experience I get from this track. Somehow, the Cor tamed the bass a bit on this one.
Enter Sandman by Metallica in FLAC 24/192
Now for a more overall observation, I put on this track to see how the Cor performance is when pumping out a speedier and more attacking track. Kirk's shredding guitar sounded ferocious and can really pump up my adrenalin. Lars's drumming sounded bold and authoritative.
The Conclusion
The purest amp I have heard to date at this price point. It excels in delivering a very musical and engaging presentation and matches with PMC speakers. It does not struggle to allow the PMC speakers to deliver the bass that it is known for.
The transparency and high level of clarity may not appeal to all especially for those systems that are bass shy. You may find the sound is a bit flat and sterile. It is very sensitive to the source that you play with. A bad recording may sounds worst through this amp but feed it with top notch recording, it will sing gracefully. Even by using the Sony, it does not suffer from any dullness in delivering the Hi Res quality music to me.
It is again an amplifier that deserves a listen if you are looking for a pure and honest sound. It will not make you jump out of your seat for shear wow factor but it will engage you at an emotional level.
For a demo, kindly contact James Tan or Tony Low of AV Designs.
SYZYGY Acoustics is relatively new here in Malaysia where the launch of their product was just done a few months ago in AV Designs new flagship store. The company was founded by a team of audio specialists who have been leaders in various well known premium audio brands in the USA, Canada and Europe. Based out of Princeton, New Jersey, this company offers a unique wireless solution for your subwoofer needs. Not only its wireless, it comes with a dedicated software app to fine tune the sub into your existing set up for both HT and 2 channel audio.
Given the chance to be the first to review this subwoofer in Malaysia, I quickly jump on the opportunity when Tony Low of AV Designs offered to send this unit around together with PMC 25.23 speakers (speakers is another story where I am in the midst of choosing a replacement to my already sold ProAc D18). I was given the the SLF 850 model which comes complete with the wireless module.
Specifications
Driver Size:10" Type:Acoustic Suspension Amplifier Power:1,000 Watts Frequency Response:24-200 Hz Room Output:104 dB Dimensions:12.5" cube Weight (net):28.4 lbs Wireless:Yes Analog RCA In (LFE):Yes Auto Standby: Yes
The unit uses BASH amplification where it delivers the high efficiency of a Class D amp but with the immersive sound quality and dynamic power of a Class A/B design. It gives out a high current, high output and low distortion.
Setting Up
Syzygy uses SoundSculpt Technology where the subwoofer makes a 3D sonic map of its space followed by an adjustment to its output to smooth out any aural peaks and valleys. During the set up, the unit sends out series of tones (just like a hearing test but it goes really low and loud) that measure the shape and size of the room, position of furniture and how your home decor absorbs and reflects sound. This data is capture by your smartphone or tablet and sent back to the unit where it is corrected and perfected to produce a seamless blend to your speakers.
WARNING! The signals generated during the set up go really low. It did rattle some of my furniture.
For the room acoustics adjustment, it uses Digital Room Correction hence its not really picky with the position of the sub.
All this is done wirelessly from your tablet or smartphone. Its like subwoofer setup for dummies :)
Do note, not all android phones is compatible to the app. My Blackberry KeyONE could not detect the subwoofer so had to resort to my Samsung Tab.
You can also turn the unit on and off from the app in which it is very useful to differentiate the sound from your set up with or without the sub. The unit also has an auto standby function where it will go on sleep mode after prolong time without any music signal.
The package comes complete with the transmitter and the receiver is already built in the subwoofer itself. All the cabling is also supplied plus the power plugs for the transmitter. You still have the option of connecting the sub using RCA but for me, I have put the sub at the rear of my listening position. The subwoofer can set up as front firing or down firing.
Rear sub set up
Transmitter
The Tracks
1. I Just Cant Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson - DSD
2. New York New York by Andrea Bocelli and Tony Bennet - FLAC 24/192
3. Money For Nothing by Dire Straits - WAV 16/44
4. Kitakan Bersama by Ammarah - WAV 16/44
The Session - 2 Channel
I Just Cant Stop Loving You
With this Michael Jackson track, I can now feel a more enveloping experience on my 2 channel set up. The bass at times can be a bit overwhelming, hence I lower down the volume from the app. With the added sub, it does not just bring up the low end notes from the bass guitar drums, but it gives out quite a warmer overall experience and a tad of deepness in the vocal. With this kind of music, it can easily create a very emotional ambience for the listeners.
New York New York
For a more cheerful atmosphere, I put on this duet by Andrea Bocelli and Tony Bennet in one of their open air concert in New York. Given the live performance, I somehow didnt get too emotional when I listen to this track before even with its catchy tune. But with the Syzygy in play, again it gave a richer presentation where the overall presentation was taken up a notch in the liveliness and deep bass ambience. A track that sounded flat before is now more entertaining and emotionally expressed in a better way. No adjustment was needed on the sub.
Money For Nothing
A must have test track for bass heads. I was expecting heavy distortion on this track as I am paring the Syzygy with a set of speakers which are known to be bass heavy.. But I was wrong. The Syzygy instead gave a richer presentation to this track. I can feel that the music was all around me. The unit did not give out pulsating sensation from the rear but what it does it fills up the void a 3D experience for me. It was indeed avery unique experience. This was one track that I did not need to adjust anything on the sub setting. The drums on this track was heart pounding with the Syzygy giving a very enveloping ambience.
Kitakan Bersama
Trying it with a a heavier ballad from this Singapore based band Ammarah, again the Syzygy added warmer ambience to this track. The bass again became a bit overwhelming, hence I lowered the volume. Even though it emphasises on the bass, it did not at anytime drown the vocals and the shredding guitar works. With the Syzygy, it definitely added more grunt to this track which suits the musical genre that Ammarah carries.
The Session - Home Theater (5.1.2)
I also took the liberty to hook up the unit to my ATMOS set up replacing my SVS sub which is also on wireless mode. Paired with PMC 20.23 fronts, PMC Centre, SVS rear and Elevate speakers, the Syzygy was set up using the apps again and the I rerun the calibration on my Denon AVR.
Playing The Justice League movie, the Syzygy gave out quite a forceful bass response; enough to feel the vibration on my sofa. It does not give out the grunt that I get from my SVS but it is adequate to rumble some of the basic HT set ups I have seen around. Maybe the 12" model will give a more satisfying low frequency effect.
Conclusion
I was first skeptical about adding a sub to my 2 channel set up especially having the PMC speakers which are known to be bass heavy with its ATL technology. But given that the PMC 25.23 is inadequate for my hall, the Syzygy complement the speakers nicely. What confuses me is that the fact that I have to change the volume on the sub for different musical genre. It does a good job with creating the fulfilling envelope that wraps listener in emotion but having to change the volume, it gets a little bit troublesome. But if you get that sweet spot, having a sub in your 2 channel system will give you wonders towards your low notes and that warmer ambience. And with the wireless technology, you do not have to run long RCA cables if you wish to place your sub further from your set up. You do need a spare plug point though for the transmitter.
The Syzygy is a compact unit but offers flexibility of placement and can be set up for both 2 channels and HT. Room size still is important but there is always a bigger model that complement a bigger room.
Thank you to AV Designs for loaning both the PMC 25.23 and Syzygy sub.
Syzygy and PMC are exclusively distributed by AV Designs. For a demo, please call Tony on 012-2330771 or James on 016-3280237
Recently I reviewed the PMC twenty5.24 where I pair it with my resident set up, mainly Musical Fidelity M6i amplifier. While PMC is synonymous with Bryston electronics, I feel that it was flexible enough to sing with amps from other brands. Nevertheless, AV Designs being their usual accommodative hifi retailer, suggested that I should hear the PMC with a full Bryston suite of electronics. Must I even think about the proposition? NOT! A few days later, James Tan popped in with the following Bryston equipment:
BDP2 digital medial player
BDA3 DAC
BOT-1 optical drive
...and about 1 week after that, the B135 SST2 integrated amp
WyWire USB cable
There is an individual review of each component but also a review as a whole system.
I believe I am bit late getting into the reviews of these items as it was already available since last year if I am not mistaken. Nevertheless, the experience here is something that surpassed my enjoyment when I listened to them in AV Designs or KLIAV show. For nearly 2 months, my home was basically converted into AV Desigsn listening area :)
Now lets get down to business.
THE SPEC & THE INS AND OUTS
BDA3 DAC
The BDA3 DAC it is not short of inputs to cater for all the needs of the modern digital world. In fact, this is the first time I come across a DAC that has a HDMI in. The DAC is built around a dual 32Bit AKM DAC and able to support up to DSD 4x sampling and PCM up to 384 Khz. The HDMI is a 4K video pass through with audio out.
It weighs at 3.9 KG, light enough for easy installation onto the rack.
Inputs:
2 USB 2.0 Type B
4 HDMI
2 SPDIF (1 BNC and 1 RCA)
1 optical
1 AES/EBU
Ouputs:
HDMI
RCA
XLR
BDP2 DIGITAL PLAYER
Based on Linux OS, Bryston further enhanced the already superb BDP1 player to another level of digital audio nirvana. With the Integrated Audio Device card (IAD), it provides an improved performance. It can handle most audio files available out there including DSD. It can perform playback from USB flash drives and USBand eSATA HDD. No news yet whether it can handle SSD. It is a network based player and support NAS connectivity, DNLA, UPNP and also online internet radio and music host TIDAL. It is fully controllable by PC, laptops, phones and tablets. One of the beauty and ingenuity of Bryston is that this player does not rely on iOS or Android app. It is basically controlled via web browser through the player IP address. This avoid the situation of support requirement from apps company.
Inputs:
6 USB 2.0
1 eSATA
Outputs
SPDIF
AES/EBU
USD
BOT-1 OPTICAL DRIVE
This is one special CD transport in which when its connected to the BDP2 player, it can be fully controlled as a CD player for direct CD playback or it can act as a CD ripper to rip CD directly onto your chosen directory of HDD, NAS or USB flash drives.
It just have one USB output to be connected to the BDP2 player and a power supply.
B135 SST2 Integrated Amp
A relatively unique power rating of 135 wpc into 8 ohms, this integrated amp Bryston all in one integrated amp with options to have digital inputs to replace the analogue inputs. It boast a separate ground paths for digital and analog, allowing a cleaner path for the two types of signal.
Inputs:
6 pairs of SE RCA
1 pair of RCA Record In
2 optical (optional)
2 SPDIF (optional)
Outputs
2 pairs of SE RCA for Record Out and Preamp Out
1/4" headphone jack
Built wise, all of the items here crafted and built with precision and its sturdiness is unquestionable. Bryston is known for its tank-like industrial built and these items are not exempted from that BUT I must say the fascia has improved a lot. With soft touch buttons and cool dimmed green LED, it fits well in the WAF category.
THE EQUIPMENT
The review was done with 3 different speakers:
ProAc Response D18
PMC twenty5.24
Arpeggio Pensato
Besides the Bryston, the following was also used:
SONY HAP Z1 ES HDD player
For cabling, a mixture of cabling was used:
Power cables : Siltech and QED
USB Cable : WyWire
RCA : Siltech from M1 ViNL, MatYeoX from SONY HAP Z1 ES, Gotham from Bryston BDA3 and also from B135 SST2 to KOGA Aimez Power Amp (when tested as pre)
Speaker cable : Siltech Classic Anniversary 330L for PMC, Vermouth Audio Black Pearl for ProAc and Pensato
THE TRACKS
Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson - DSD
Where Did The Boots Boy Gone? by ACAB - WAV
Temptation by Dian Krall - AIFF
Unchained Melody by Willie Nelson - DSD
Billy Jean by Michael Jackson - DSD
I Will Remember by Toto - WAV
Take Five by Dave Brubeck - DSD
THE SESSIONS
By the time the session was conducted, all the equipment have already seen at least 500 hours of music pushed through them.
SESSION 1 - WITH PROAC D18 AS A HOLE BRYSTON COMBO
Girl is Mine
This is such a simple track but the Michael - Paul combo and its melodious tune was played through with a big and airy soundstage. The chimes during the intro sounded very clear and had the right highs to it. Michael's and Pauls' vocals were lively in its own mellow way, giving the overall tune a really bodied presentation. Emotions runs high on this track with vocals clarity seems to be the most evident trait.
Where Did The Boot Boys Gone?
I purposely chose this track because of its lack of vocals clarity and transparency. Most probably because of its level of mastering or recording. People may ask why am I using a 'non audiophile' track in a review but hey, as far as I am concern, I buy hifi to listen to music that matters to me. Not music that makes the set up sounds good. Lo and behold. Playing this track via the BDP2 and BDA3, Megat's vocal sounded clearer and more energized. It further convinced me that clarity is one of the strongest trait of this Bryston combo. Even the angst of the rhythm guitar and the melodic lead guitar sounded very open and it was filling up the hall. Something that it is really important in tracks like this. Guitar must sound authoritative to pump up the adrenalin to the listeners.
Temptation
Do I need to even sum up the performance of the Bryston on this track? Just listen to the percussion and the bass guitar in the introduction. That single hit of the snare fills up the entire room with the right level of highs. Its in no way shrilling but more like making a statement that demands listener to listen. The bass guitar just sounded melodic with the right lows that digs deep into your listening area. And when Diana's vocal comes in, I was totally mesmerized by the overall performance of the Bryston kit. The sound stage sounded big and layer and layer of music interface can be experienced.... and its not even paired with a PMC yet.
SESSION 2 - WITH ARPEGGIO PENSATO TO TEST THE B135 SST2
Unchained Melody
I started with a slow number with these Pensatos. Pairing the Bryston kit with this gave me another perspective of the Bryston B135. Clarity remains as expected. Emotion runs deep as well. Dispersion of of the snare sounded crisp which I like it that way. The liveliness was however taken down a notch. Most probably its due to the change from a floorstander to this huge bookshelf. The Bryston still did not loose in delivering the big sound and clarity but the 'kick' or 'energy' was limited. I suspect that the B135 and Pensato are not really the perfect match for each other. Need further challenge.
Money For Nothing
You really want to test the energy of your system? This track provide a good test. The way the momentum of the track builds up on you, even though it was musically arranged properly, play it on the wrong system, Dire Straits will kill you for not respecting their masterpiece. This time around the B135 sounded more authoritative, providing the muscular percussion and synthesizer sound. It lets the music wraps around you and make you feel like you are in an envelope of true music. I didnt feel that the drums were in my face nor I feel uneasy with the decibel level in my chest. It was just overall lively at the right level. The test with Willie's rendition of Unchained Melody might be focusing too much on vocal.
SESSION 3 - B135 SST2 AS A PRE AMP TO KOGA AIMEZ AND PMC
Billie Jean as a Pre Amp
No issues at all to connect the B135 to the 30 watter KOGA Aimez hybrid power amp via RCA. In terms of sound, its definitely different from using the B135 as an integrated amp. However, the sound I am hearing is predominantly was a KOGA Aimez sound. A refined bass but with big sound stage.
SESSION 4 - THE FULL BRYSTON SUITE WITH PMC TWENTY5.24
Temptation
Replaying the Temptation track provided me with a more refined and classy sound signature. Although the PMC is known for its bass prowess, it delivered a more refined bass rather than the slam I heard from ProAc. This is actually a compliment as the Bryston-PMC combo where most people would expect a thud thumping action, actually provided a more musical experience. In my previous PMC review, these babies gave me a brute slamming bass sound paired with my MF M6i. But with the B135, a more relaxing and involving musical experience was presented to me. Worried that the Bryston killed off the PMC bass? Read on folks!
I Will Remember
Listen to the intro of this track. A full bodied bass can still be delivered by the B135. Playing this track on a full Bryston electronic suite, the overall presentation was not only involving but also the clarity and that musical element that I mentioned before was even further surfaced into the overall experience. The warm vocals and sharp percussion fill the room with quite a big sound stage compared to pairing the Bryston kit with ProAc D18.
Take Five
Musical and more musical. As I keep on playing various genres on this combo, I realise how refined Bryston equipment are. Its not about being loud (which they still can) but it s about juicing out every drop of musical detail(or in this case, every digital bit). The combo of BDP2, BDA3 and B135 gave an overall clean, detail and transparent sound with high level of refinement. I can listen for hours without feeling fatigue. Just listen to the airiness on this track, from percussion to the wind instruments used here. Dave Brubeck himself would be mesmerized by the overall soundstage from this combo.
OTHER BITS AND PIECES
CONTROL INTERFACE
Its a web browser based control interface. Just key in the matching IP address where the BDP2 is connected to and you will be able to perform all the control on the BDP2 and also the BOT1 optical drive. Need some getting used to but if you are already into Computer Audio System, this can be learnt within minutes. On the same page, you can see what is currently playing, data of the playing track, list of tracks that you have selected, all the sources that are connected to the player and the control panel. Its not the most elegant looking interface but you do not have to worry about apps missing apps support in the future.
INTERNET RADIO AND ONLINE MUSIC SERVER
The BDP2 offers unlimited connectivity to internet radio. Searching for my all time favourite Classic and Jazz station from Paris was seamless. Up and playing within minutes. For online music server, its a shame that it does not support Spotify so I cannot test it as I do not subscribe to TIDAL.
BOT-1 RIP QUALITY
For any CAS enthusiasts, they would know how important is the ripping process is. Ripping from the drive is definitely straight forward and it can be done via the control interface. A full album can be ripped into WAV within 4 to 5 minutes. Comparing a WAV file of Hotel California ripped by this BOT-1 and the one I ripped using my laptop, I could hear that the version ripped by BOT-1 sounded bolder and livelier. Somehow it has more zing to it compared to my previous rip. For the sake of trying, it can also be connected to my SONY HAP Z1 ES and similarly, it took about 4 to 5 ins to rip a full album to WAV. Compared to my Archgon DVD rom, the rip quality also sounded livelier. Makes me wonder what exactly is happening to the theory of ones and zeros are all the same.
CONCLUSIONS
BOT-1 OPTICAL DRIVE
Yay:
One of the fastest yet accurate ripping I have heard so far
Certain 44.1 ripped WAV files sounded similar to CD playback on this unit
Nay:
Physically noisy. When reading the CD initially especially. Knocking sound can be heard.
BDP2 DIGITAL PLAYER
Yay:
Throw any files at it and it will just smile back. No fuss player.
Truly versatile in sound and style. Bryston hit the highest note by using Linux as the OS for this unit. From the sound quality, I know that Bryston did everything not to compromise on this. Best sounding player at this price I must say. The player brings out the best of your digital files. Bass is tight and clarity is the main virtue of this player. The highs do not develop fatigues for long hours listening.
Simplicity in its front display LED screen. Not cluttered with any unnecessary info.
Stability. Not once did the player crashed on me over hundreds of hours of playback.
Support at least 1 TB HDD. It took about 20 mins for the unit to fully recognize the 15000 tracks I have on the HDD. Direct connection is the best way to listen.
No issues in detecting my 2 TB NAS as well. But it does take sometime to fully scan the NAS
Nay:
Reduce number of inputs. This may reduced the offering price a bit.
Think of a way to have the web based browser to have a simplified version for direct play.
Need Spotify. Thats my preference.
BDA3 DAC
Yay:
Inputs galore. With the number of inputs it offers, you will never be short of any. Playing my MD deck and also an Oppo BDP player through this DAC, it brings up the sound quality to another level. Really defines what digital music is all about.
Playing DSDs through this DAC is the highlight of this review. May it be from the BDP2 or the Sony HAP Z1 ES feeding through it. The level of details that it brings up from your digital files is very impressive.
Nay:
Nothing at this price range
B135 SST2
Yay:
Refined sound reproduction. Pair it with the right speakers and you are heading towards sound nirvana. In my review, the best pairing was actually with the PMC. It really compliments the overall musicality of the PMC. However, the PMC twenty5.24 to me deserves a bigger Bryston amp. Wattage is not everything but I feel the PMC can deliver more with bigger Bryston amp. It is a a truly a neutral sounding pair with overall best musicality reproduction but the B135 may pair even better with the smaller siblings of the twenty5 series.
Various options of inputs and ability to act as a pre amp
Decent headphone sound quality as well
Nay:
I need a remote as a standard accessories
AS AN OVERALL SYSTEM
No doubt the BRYSTON-PMC synergy is one of the most beautifully sounding pairing. It scores very high in every aspect of hifi terms. May it be musicality, clarity, bass, treble, sound stage etc, it gives you an overall musical pleasure even for long hours listening. You will not get bored with this pairing. Its just a matter of choosing the right PMC speaker for the respective Bryston amp.
If you are in the market of getting a digital audio player, you owe it to yourself to demo the Bryston BDP2. You can start off with this and pair it with your existing DAC. This is a fuss free player that only have one track mind - Purest and Highest Sound Quality for your digital files.
Of course, you will get the full benefit if you get the BDA3 DAC as well. This digital pair will ensure the utmost bit retraction from your digital files and reproduce it with highest level of details. I may be exaggerating this but at this price, they are are not many contenders out there.
The BOT-1 is optional if you have just started to get into CAS. If you already have a a decent digital file collection, you may not need this. But if you just started, this will completely make your PC or laptop redundant for music ripping.
A big thank you to AV Designs for entrusting me to review these excellent products.
The RRP of the whole combo of Bryston BOT-1, BDP2, BDA3, B135 SST2 and PMC twenty5.24 is just slightly shy of RM100,000.
If you are interested to hear what these items can do, do visit AV Designs at:
