Results 1 to 11 of 11
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April 9, 2021, 03:26 PM #1
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- May 2016
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- 574
*NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
Just checking out the latest digital issue of TAS and noticed an ad for the yet un-announced Alpha DAC Series 3.
Visually looks the same but, of they are promoting trickle down tech from the Ref 3.
I'm personally looking forward to reading more about this DAC as well as the MSRP.
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April 22, 2021, 04:19 PM #2
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- May 2016
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- 574
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
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August 31, 2021, 07:53 AM #3
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- Jun 2020
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- San Antonio, TX
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- 6
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
I'm in the market for a DAC and am wondering if the Alpha DAC 3 is really viable. For just a little more I could buy a used Alpha Ref 2. Thoughts?
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August 31, 2021, 08:34 AM #4
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- Aug 2014
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- lachen / sz
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- 1,061
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August 31, 2021, 09:09 AM #5
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481
"We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."
Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.
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August 31, 2021, 09:46 AM #6
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
I nice sounding unit, not the 3, but in my opinion no contained USB interface is why a lot of want ta be users bypass this dac as they don't feel like having to purchase the Berkeley USB interface ( or another manufacturer) to use this unit. If they, Berkeley, didn't believe in USB they would not have developed a USB interface that really is a nice top notch unit.
2chl : Vincent Sp331MkII, W4S STP-SE Stage 2, Kef 201/2, KEF 140, Vapor Breeze, Lumin, Bryston CD, BHA-1, Quicksilver Headamp, HD650, HD800s, HD820's, Dan Clark 1.1, Focal Stellia, OPPO 203, 105. ( Boxed up: Pass Xa-30.5, VPI Classic, Dynavector DV-20XL, Manley Chinook, Cadenza Bronze)
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August 31, 2021, 03:21 PM #7
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Wyred 4 Sound ISO Recovery, DC Recovery | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105
“One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
"You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
― Neil deGrasse Tyson
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August 31, 2021, 03:56 PM #8
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- Apr 2013
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- Valrico, FL
- Posts
- 408
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
I've had the Berkeley Ref DAC in all of its incarnations since soon after it launched. To me, it has always been a great sounding DAC although like everything else digital it continues to evolve over time.
The guys at Berkeley believe that having USB onboard will detract from the sound. Likewise, they believe that having the ability to decode both PCM and DSD will lessen its performance. If you want/need USB going into the DAC you must use their Alpha USB unit. It is an added expense but the reasonable price for the Reference DAC makes it more palatable. I used the Alpha USB with my Ref 1 and 2, as it sounded better than AES/EBU from my Aurender N10.
It's a different story with the Aurender WE20SE / Ref 3 combination - in order to use the Aurender's upsampling feature you must use either the AES/EBU or S/PDIF outputs. In my system, to my ears the upsampling via AES/EBU sounds better than the non-upsampled via USB (by way of the Alpha USB).
For me, the lack of DSD decoding is a non-issue... I have two viable options for playing DSD. The Aurender is fully capable of converting DSD to PCM on the fly (again, only as long as I'm not using USB out of the Aurender), or I can take DSD files (either purchased online or ripped from SACD) and convert them to FLAC (or whatever flavor PCM you like) via JRiver on my PC, then uploading the decoded files to the Aurender's hard drive.Howard
Pass Labs XS 300's, XS Pre | Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series 3, Alpha USB Series 2 | Aurender W20SE, ACS10 | Magico S7's with MPOD's, QSub 15 x 2 | Shunyata Denali 2000T x 2 with Sigma HC | Shunyata Everest 8000 w/ Omega XC | MIT Heritage and Oracle Interconnects and speaker cables | Critical Mass Maxxum rack
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August 31, 2021, 04:19 PM #9
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
Sure any file can be converted with JRiver or other software. We all have our preferences also, of course. Why would anyone download DSD files if they are not DSD fans? Anything you can D/L in DSD can also be gotten in several PCM flavors.
My point was that some of us prefer the sound quality of DSD, all else being equal. Some companies, such as T+A, do not intertwine PCM and DSD internally, but instead have two totally separate paths to be used with each including completely different decoding processes.
Of course Berkley is not the only company that does not support DSD, while others convert everything to DSD .McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Wyred 4 Sound ISO Recovery, DC Recovery | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105
“One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
"You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
― Neil deGrasse Tyson
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August 31, 2021, 04:26 PM #10
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Location
- Valrico, FL
- Posts
- 408
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
JRiver is what Berkeley recommends. They seem to think it's best for conversions.
The only DSD material I have is from ripped SACDs. Very often the SACD content is a totally different version from any of the non-SACD versions of the same album (and often the only hi-res version available). I certainly wouldn't download DSD files only to convert them to PCM unless they also contained unique material unavailable in PCM format.Howard
Pass Labs XS 300's, XS Pre | Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series 3, Alpha USB Series 2 | Aurender W20SE, ACS10 | Magico S7's with MPOD's, QSub 15 x 2 | Shunyata Denali 2000T x 2 with Sigma HC | Shunyata Everest 8000 w/ Omega XC | MIT Heritage and Oracle Interconnects and speaker cables | Critical Mass Maxxum rack
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August 31, 2021, 04:47 PM #11
Re: *NEW - Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Series 3
McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Wyred 4 Sound ISO Recovery, DC Recovery | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105
“One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
"You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
― Neil deGrasse Tyson
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Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
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AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.
We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!
Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com
Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team
Unfortunately I was not able to hear the Auditoriums at AXPONA 2024. Based on what I did hear, the Piccolo, the Auditorium must be stupendous. The amps are the WestminsterLab Rei monoblocks (I've...
Going active in Washington State