Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 2 Announced

j2020 said:
That is fantastic brand loyalty - to upgrade before details such as DXD, DSD, MQA, usb input?
Admittedly, the upgrade cost isn't much. I would do likewise if I had the Ref 1.

I am going to go out on a limb here for the lark of it that the upgrade will be plus DXD but minus DSD, MQA or usb input.
The show opens in a few hours. Can't wait.
Click to expand...

I also heard MQA upgrade if chosen will be easy upgrade. I spent more on a power cord last month than on this upgrade. It is all relative.
 
Dpod4 said:
I also heard MQA upgrade if chosen will be easy upgrade. I spent more on a power cord last month than on this upgrade. It is all relative.
Click to expand...

That's good to know, about MQA.

From the pics at CA, looks like no usb/ethernet inputs.
They may come out with a new alpha usb/ethernet to accommodate this.
 
Anatta said:
A BADR1/2 vs Bricasti M1 comparison would be interesting as both are implementations of the AD1955 DAC chip.
Click to expand...

2 different animals, here. it depends on what your system goal is, or what your taste is.

BADR1 lets you hear more of the details of the recording, which is a spectacular engineering achievement. But even with the older version of the Bricasti, I found myself responding physically and getting more involved emotionally with the music. Bricasti has a brand new upgrade available for $1K (I think the call it Special Edition) that supposedly improves the unit by 40-50%, and that should get it closer to closing the gap with the outstanding Chord DAVE. YMMV!
 
Boogieman said:
2 different animals, here. it depends on what your system goal is, or what your taste is.

BADR1 lets you hear more of the details of the recording, which is a spectacular engineering achievement. But even with the older version of the Bricasti, I found myself responding physically and getting more involved emotionally with the music. Bricasti has a brand new upgrade available for $1K (I think the call it Special Edition) that supposedly improves the unit by 40-50%, and that should get it closer to closing the gap with the outstanding Chord DAVE. YMMV!
Click to expand...

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 are fine right now.
 
Cycleman said:
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 are fine right now.
Click to expand...

I guess we hear differently. I heard these 2 back to back to back to back in a friend's system. I was coming off a cold... He played the Berk Ref 1st, and I thought I still had the cold. He then put the older Bricasti M1 in, and I felt so good, my cold had gone...

He put the Berk Ref back in, and my cold came back....
 
I was fortunate to get early in the queue for an upgrade. Love it when manufacturers allow an upgrade path.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top