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For me, trial is big-time more fun than error. [emoji56]

Not sure where you got that impression. I have a N100H and it passes up to 24/192 for me, the max definition PCM files I have.

Could the limitation you're perceiving be due to the DAC?

True, kinda.

Several months ago, when I spoke with one of the two Michaels who started Berkeley, he said that $3.5K price for the upgrade is only for original owners.

But if you bought your...

Sorry they didn't include the Chord DAVE.

I love the holographic and rich sound of the Focal Elear headphones. It's one of the reasons I'm spending more of my music-listening time with headphones instead of speakers.

I've had several...

Larry, don't think that's accurate.

Take the Chord DAVE, for example. There are currently 424 pages over at Head-Fi devoted to that combo DAC and headphone amp, focusing on the latter function and...

A Pass Labs HPA-1 headphone amplifier arrived here in the Hudson Valley yesterday -- thanks to Mike's help.

Spoiler: Even just warmed up but not broken-in, the HPA-1 offers richer and deeper music...

I back up my Aurender N10 by storing copies of my music files arranged in the same folders, by name, as on the N10's internal drive.

A new review of the DAVE from HiFi+ is here:

http://www.signals.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Chord-Electronics-DAVE-review-HiFi-Plus-issue-141-November-2016.pdf

A rave for the DAVE...

Saw Mary Fahl a few months ago in Beacon NY. And deep, rich voice, great performer, really happy to attend that concert.

Very interesting how her singing voice is so much deeper than her very...

This is now officially confusing for me.

I (slightly) prefer the Chord DAVE over the Berkeley Ref 1 for my all-PCM music served up by an Aurender N10.
But I still have the Berkeley Ref 1, and now...

That is both surprising and perhaps not new.

I bought my DeVore Gibbon 88 speakers after seeing only two older reviews, but mainly after an in-store audition. I love their deep and rich sound...

In terms of sound, what do you mean by "directional"?

And "very directional" compared to what? All unbalanced interconnects and RCA or BNC digital?

I've also had the bias that AES/EBU sounds better than USB.

And then I started to audition the Chord DAVE, and its USB input seems just a little richer than the AES/EBU one, when output from my...

As book rep in late 1970s, sold books to both Sacto Tower stores. Selling books and partying (if you know what I mean) went together there.

My brief, preliminary comparison of the Chord DAVE and the Berkeley Ref is in the main DAVE thread, found here:

http://www.audioshark.org/showthread.php?t=9859&page=3&p=175690#post175690

Dave on DAVE

I've had my Chord DAVE for less than a week now, and I've got lots to say, and yet little to say. For now, I'm very very very happy with DAVE. I've found that the AES input sounds...

My first and admittedly limited impressions go the other way, with my hearing more details with the Bricasti and more depth of sound, more musical, with the Berk Ref.

Grains of salt, and pepper...

This comment got my attention, because I'm at the starting line of comparing the Berkeley Ref 1, which I've had for awhile, with a barely used Bricasti M1, which has been in my system for a week,...

Okay, it's the tone and not the words then.

I'll look to be more aware.

Oh please.
I own a Berkeley, I like the Berkeley. A lot.
But I am in no other way connected with Berkeley.
Only an advocate as every person on this forum might be about components that bring them...

Is looking alike enough to determine whether they actually are, or are not, identical?

So deeply happy with how music sounds in my main system, and in that sense satisfied.

So curious about how certain other components might sound in my main system, especially DACs, which leads me...

Bruce, what specifically are you "uneasy" about?
It's not at all clear, at least as I read it.

And that's sad because why...?
Really, Keith, why?

I mean, the Alpha DAC 2 offers about 85% of the same rich and clear sound quality as the Reference, and as you rightly note, "at such an...