Bryston SP1.7 Bypass or Digital In ????

I have been using the Bryston SP-1 for several years as my sole pre/pro. I use the SP-1 as the DAC for all of the digital sources in my system (both 2-channel and surround processing), as well as the analog preamp for my vinyl playback system (see system link for description of my system). I think the quality of the DAC is excellent -- it was a clear improvement over the DAC in my Rega Planet CD player.

The SP-1.7 is essentially the same unit as the SP-1, except for the inclusion of additional channels of surround processing, analog inputs for SACD or DVD-A, and the inclusion of Dolby Pro-Logic 2. Both the SP-1 and the 1.7 use the analog circuitry from the Bryston BP-25 preamp.

There are better stand-alone DAC units on the market (such as the Chord DAC-64), but you will have to spend a lot more money to do much better (and none come with Bryston's 20-year unconditional warranty). I cannot comment on the quality of the Krell unit you mention, siuce I have no direct experience with it. What I can say, however, is that the Bryston SP-1 and 1.7 pre/pros offer very high value / sound quality for the money.

I used to use a Rotel RCD-971 in bypass mode with my SP-1 for two channel music. I now use a very cheap Sony DVD player (approx $150) wth my SP-1.7 in digital mode with much better results. I have the RCD 971 hooked up to the SP-1.7 with analog and digital interconnects. I have tested it several times and found the sound to be more to my liking in digital mode vs bypass. In my non-expert opinion, I think the Rotel's DACS are either emphasizing the midrange, or lopping off the highs and lows, compared to the Bryston's DACs.I haven't heard an expensive CD player connected to an SP-1.7 in bypass mode, but my experience may give you some idea of the quality of the Bryston's DAC's. I don't want to detract from the SP-1.7's bypass mode. It's just that I'm happy with the DVD player. There's a Bryston discussion forum at audiocircle.com which might provide more information.

Use 'em both. I have digital out from my CDP and both analog sets of outputs hooked up. This way I have choices. Two different ICs and the inboard DAC if I choose.

I prefer analog bypass using the CDPs DACs. I guess its the tube output..? or maybe its the full analog signal path you get in bypass. Either way, all you have to do is select the input, bypass, or digital from the front of the unit or remote. The Bryston offers a ton of flexibility and sounds fantastic.

There isnt "A" bypassed input, ANY/ALL the analog inputs can be bypassed at the touch of a button. Which is great. You arent bypassed if you choose "digital," then obviously the inboard DAC is doing the decoding, hence no bypass. But the beauty is, you can have 'em all hooked up at once, and select which you want to hear.

RCA only inputs is an issue for some. Most of the time the source is close to the Pre/Pro anyway. Mine are, so its really not an issue for me, I do use XLR to the amp for the front channels.

This is a serious performing Pre/Pro and I bet your going to love it.

I use a Phillips DVD963SA as a digital source and prefer the 2 channel bypass over digital. The digital input has good detail and sounds very clean but sounds a little thin. The analog bypass gives much more "air" around the instruments. Everything seems more like real instruments in a real recording space. Instruments seem to have more "weight" with the bypass. I had just the opposite results with an AVP2 that I previously had. That sounded significantly better through the digital input.

I don't mean this as a knock on the digital input of the Bryston, I just think that the analog input is extraordinarily good. One of the great things about this preamp is you have the option for analog bypass on every input. Overall I agree that the SP1.7 is an excellent preamp, especially if you have quality analog inputs (ie vinyl).