The biggest benefit of BCAA's over straight protein is the fact that free form amino acids are readily absorbed, much more so than those available in protein powders.
Candy, your commenst about them reducing DOMS is interesting. A nice fast absorbing protein should do this too when well timed, but the fact you have mentioned you benefit from BCAA's more, further supports the theory here that rapid absorption is beneficial.
So, if you are going to have BCAA's, do not add them to your protein powder, have them seperately. People often ask me if they shoudl add them to their protein, doing this completely negates the largest benefit from them. Protein powders have masses of BCAA's in them anyway.
The largest issue most people have with BCAA's is due to the leucine content. Leucine (which should make up close to 50% of BCAA's) is non polar by nature. This means that it won't dissolve in water.
If you get BCAA's that do miraculously dissolve then I'd be very suspicious, there may not be much leucine (and other aminos) in there.
Given the problem with leucine, BCAA's aren't the most practical to take unless you blend them with other aminos. At Bulk Nutrients we offer a new product - flavoured BCAA's which are quite popular. Thanks to the addition of Citrulline Malate, they end up mixing very well, and Citrulline malate has a double effect of reducing a lot of the bitterness.
Citrulline Malate is a fantastic ingredient to add as it is assist nitric oxide levels, more so than arginine.