WORD of Bryston’s BDP-2 digital music player has already got out, but here are more intimate details the Canadian company has just announced. The new model is an enhanced version of the ageing (in digital terms) BDP-1 and accommodates larger music libraries with quicker loading times.
Like the older player, the BDP-2 plays music files of up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution from a USB storage device, which can be directly connected to it via standard USB cable or a thumb drive.
New features are six USB 2.0 inputs and upgradability to USB 3.0, ensuring it is future-proof. The BDP-2 also has eight times the internal memory and three times the processing speed of the older unit (which, however, will continue to be in the line-up).
“The user interface and sonic qualities of the BDP-2 are identical to the BDP-1,” Bryston vice-president James Tanner said in a statement.
“We have given the BDP-2 NAS and eSATA drive connectivity, UPnP/DNLA client/server support and much more speed for those customers with very large libraries of music files,” he added.
“The BDP-2 is the logical step-up product in terms of features and functionality, based upon the success we have had with the BDP-1.”
The BDP-2 features two RS232 ports for control system connectivity and two Gigabit Ethernet connections, along with an Intel Atom-powered motherboard. A robust 10A-peak power supply ensures sufficient juice to accommodate these changes.
Importantly, a user-supplied internal 2.5-inch SATA-compatible drive can be installed in the BDP-2, but should be done by an authorised Bryston service facility. This and NAS-connectivity certainly ensure that the new player will appeal to a broader market.
The BDP-2 will retail at US$2,995 and is available in January, 2013.
