Bryston BDA-1 DAC, any thoughts?

Coffeey, how many manufacturers endorse modding of their products and by implication auggestthat they are not done their best for their units?
Well, if I have a manufacturer I won't endorse any such upgrade.
FYI I bought 95% of my stuffs without audition because I m not as fortunate as some of u since I m fr Malaysia where we hardly got chance to audition products before purchasing.
I did some research, the cost was affordable, so the upgrade cost was a reasonable risk to take when I have PC that cost a lot more and LPs costing as much as USD500. Fortunately I like what I heard so far. So this is my logic and my own opinion. Right or wrong is very subjective

correction :
coffeey, how many manufacturers you know of, endorse modding of their products and by implication ( at least to me) that means they have not done their best for their units?

I have owned the Benchmark and now own the Bryston BDA-1.
To my ears the Bryston(non modded)is more analog sounding than
the benchmark.I found the BDA-1 very close the Bryston's BCD-1
Definately to me the benchmark is too digital sounding,we
all listen different,muisicians,non musicians ect.
Try them both, afterall you are the one that has to listen to either one,NOW ABOUT THAT WARRANTY.
I really like my Bryston cdp,and if their dac is that close,
WHY MESS WITH IT.Just a note,I preferred the Bryston's cdp over a 8000.00 tube cdp(and I really wanted the tube cdp),
but MY EARS told me different.

Larry Greenhill has a review of the BDA-1 in the new (February 2010) issue of Stereophile. He concludes:

The Bryston BDA-1 let me enjoy the best-sounding digital playback I've ever heard in my listening room, outshining even Bryston's own BCD-1 cd player. This might be related to the fact that the BDA-1 has two Crystal CS4398s vs. the BCD-1's single chip.... I give the BDA-1 my heartfelt recommendation for the highest recommendation in Stereophile's "Recommended Components."

I haven't heard the BDA-1, or the Benchmark's for that matter, but fwiw I own a BCD-1 and I've been very pleased with it, listening mainly to classical music.

Regards,
-- Al

i purchased a BDA-1 after chatting with Drubin about them vs. Berkeley.

have had it a year and have felt NO reason to upgrade at all. i like having all the digital inputs as well---since i run my BD and DVR through the Bryston....therefore only 1 set of analog interconnects are used in my system.

i also took it to a professional musician who put it in his rack/studio for a few days---to say he was impressed is an understatement.

computer audiophile reviews both and says the berkeley is a tad better, but better off saving 3k and buying more music.

cheers