Berkeley Alpha USB

[Mike]

After months of discussions with my Berkeley rep, I finally caved and put the Alpha USB in the system today.

I felt it was redundant given that the N10 has an AES/EBU output which feeds nicely and simply to the AES/EBU input on the Berkeley REF2 DAC.

I've tried a bunch of different AES/EBU cables. All had different flavors.

Well, I popped in the Alpha USB today. I used Wireworld Platinum 7 USB/Siltech Royal Signature AES/EBU cables. Power cord for the Berkeley Alpha USB is the Shunyata Alpha Digital.

Damn it, if it doesn't sound better. Much better. This makes absolutely no sense how adding a box in the middle between the N10 and the DAC AND introducing USB into the picture which is inherently noisier than AES/EBU. The sound has much more "jump", better definition, better tone, better everything.

If you have a Berk REF2 DAC, I would strongly encourage the Alpha USB.

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[Elberoth]

It seems it is just a better USB/SPDIF converter than the one there is onboard the N10.

I had once written a shootout of 15 different USB/SPDIF converters, and the BADA USB outperformed them all.

 

[Alpinist]

It seems it is just a better USB/SPDIF converter than the one there is onboard the N10.

I had once written a shootout of 15 different USB/SPDIF converters, and the BADA USB outperformed them all.

Aurender should just buy the Berkeley Alpha USB Converter technology and put it in their premium music servers.

Ken

 

[Mike]

Aurender should just buy the Berkeley Alpha USB Converter technology and put it in their premium music servers.

Ken

Berkeley told me the key, they believe, is to keep it separate. "Noise is the enemy of digital." It even has its own PSU.

 

[cmarin]

Mike,

It would be interesting to compare the Alpha USB and the new Playback Designs USB Converter (USB-XIII).


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