BCD-1 as transport vs. player alone

Listening to my BCD-1, I've noticed significantly better SQ when it's used as a transport feeding digital out to a BDA-1, than as a player straight analog out to my B100 preamp.

Anybody know why?

I use the digital (AES/EBU) output of my BCD-1 into my BDA-2. It also sounds better and I assume it is due to the fact that the BDA-2 is a much better D/A converter than the onboard one in the BCD.

You should go with whatever it is that you prefer.

To shed some light though, when the BCD uses its internal DAC; both the drive and dac use the same clock and allows for really low jitter figures. It's this design that allowed the BCD to sound so great. The BDA-2 (not sure if this applies t the BDA-1, sure mike can answer that) will reclock the data using an appropriate crystal and divider and thus produces some of the lowest jitter figures known. Then hands over the reclocked signal to much newer dac chips.

Still like my BCD-1 with BDA-1 as DAC. Using an RCA-BNC cable, as I found AES to be a tad bit less "alive", on my system. To each his own.

Happy Holidays to all here!