So why would Bryston introduce a CD player... now?

So here we are in 2008, well into the age of Blu-Ray, MP3, HD-DVD and SACD. Certainly, an interesting age of successful but also failed media formats. Now Bryston is offering their CD player with the capability of reading CD's and CD-R's. That's it? Are you kidding? Isn't Bryston arriving too late for the CD party?

At first glance, the Canadian made Bryston BCD-1 could be accused of introducing a good product a good decade - late. But the reality it is - a high quality, reference level but reasonably priced CD player is long over due. it just makes sense. All of us have a significant investment in CD's and some of us aren't looking to invest in a high quality server, or burning our entire collection to 192 bit rate MP3's. for an IPOD. MP3's may be convenient but they are from a being high-resolution format.

Formats have come and gone, but the benchmark CD standard has remained. While the press still talks about downloads, many of us are still buying new releases on the standard (often called RedBook) CD format.



The BCD-1 is exceptionally well thought out and constructed. The CD player uses fully discrete Class-A analog circuitry and a 192K/24Bit Crystal DAC. The machine prevents jitter by synchronizing the player's master clock and drive. The BCD-1 is all hand assembled and each one is individually tested before leaving the factory. It has a three year parts and labor warranty. The player sells for $2395.

Hi-Fi manufacturers are constantly releasing products that are pitched as the "latest and greatest". With the BCD-1, Bryston has thoughtfully restrained from introducing a product that uses unproven, here today, gone tomorrow technology and formats. It is this conservative and "designed for the long-term" philosophy that has distinguished Bryston from the competition over the years. So it's no surprise that Bryston would offer such a "back to basics" product. Simply put, the Bryston BCD-1 is internationally regarded as a reference CD player using a proven format.
Isn't it refreshing that a world leader in the technology arena implements technology in a sensible fashion.

Read what the experts around the globe have to say:

"The BCD-1 didn’t embarrass my digital front end, but it did demonstrate that good old Redbook digital is still evolving after 25 years. What’s even more encouraging is that you can get bleeding edge sound from a BCD-1 without the bleeding edge price. There may be better sounding players available, but I suspect the cost of doing any better than this will cut very deep indeed"
- - Aaron Marshall, Audio Ideas Guide (Canada)

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,..."With the BCD-1, Bryston has succeeded in building a CD player worthy of the company name. I haven't heard flagship players from other companies, but the BCD-1 is the best digital component I have heard. There may be better disc spinners out there, but I guarantee that many that are competitive with the BCD-1 cost multiples of its price and more than likely offer a different sound rather than one that's obviously better.