Bryston is well known for its high-end equipment, and its latest two products are no exception. Exclusively available through authorized Bryston dealers, the BDP-1 Digital Music Player and SP3 Processor will start shipping in Q4 2010.
The BDP-1 is a Linux-based digital music player. However, instead of packing thousands of tracks under the super-slim chassis, the unit is actually designed to tap into audio on a connected USB storage device. There's no internal drive, CD player or streamer, and no networking is required. However, when connected to any external drive or DAC, it can support resolutions of up to 24-bit/192kHz. Expect that type of playback to cost around $2150.
The SP3 surround processor may look a little familiar -- probably because we reported on it back in 2008. Apparently, it's taken Bryston some time to bring it to market. However, it is the same product.
Available in two versions, the SP3 can decode all of the latest audio formats, but does not include video or any type of 3D pass-through. Bryston plans to offer a video processing board sometime in the next year. A rep also says that the company hopes to add 3D as a future upgrade.
For now though, you'll have to settle for plenty of input and output options. Under analog inputs, the SP3 has two pairs of stereo balanced XLR, a single-ended analog bypass (7.1), six pairs of single-ended analog, and one microphone jack. On the digital side, the SP3 has eight HDMI inputs, along with options for two AES-EBU, three optical, four SPDIF coax, and one USB port. For your output needs, there's a set of analog 7.1 balanced XLR, a set of 7.1 single-ended RCA outputs, slots for one zone (stereo), one headphone jack, and options for a VCR and tape loop. For digital, there's one optical SPDIF, two HDMI outputs, and options for RS-232, Ethernet and IR control.
Bryston hasn't announced the official price for the SP3 yet, but it's expected to be between $9000 and $10,000.
Bryston will be showing off both products at next week's CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, GA.
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