Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference
- Thread starter joeinid
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veindoc
Member
I spoke to Chris at CAS. He said Deviate eval is going on but he would never incorporate it due to the need to eliminate other great pieces of equipment ( like his dacs and new Pass gear)
He did finally leave Spectral but still loves his CR-1
Nick
He did finally leave Spectral but still loves his CR-1
Nick
dlb2
New member
M
mauidan
Guest
It's got two SPDIF BNC inputs.
You're right Mike. Looks like no native DSD capabilities. Hmmm...
BlueFox
New member
Berkeley finally put some info on their web-site about it. Since around last November, it has said, "Coming soon".
The DSD part is a cop out. You need to use Jriver on a PC or Mac to play your files. That leaves out dedicated music servers, such as the Bryston BDP2.
The DSD part is a cop out. You need to use Jriver on a PC or Mac to play your files. That leaves out dedicated music servers, such as the Bryston BDP2.
M
mauidan
Guest
Since this DAC was announced last year, Berkeley said it wouldn't do DSD(see the first post in this thread).
Why is it a surprise now?
As JDaudio points out the units are back ordered, so I guess there are lots of people who buy into Berkeley's point of view on DSD.
Mike, tell the truth, what percentage of the files on your S1 are DSD?
Since buying a Lumin, I've stopped reading about DAC's....they are inferior in every way to a network streamer IMO. I've owned 20 DAC's like the DAC2X, MA-1 and demoed many more. It just seems that every month there is a new DAC, then, people try it and become disappointed. Why? Because there is no constant!! Everyone has different USB cables, different computers, different software, different everything. All of these front end items negatively affect the sound. Computers do no belong in high end audio systems. Period. Yes, and I've even owned modified MAC's, CAPS 3.0, etc. Companies like Lumin, Linn, Bryston, etc. are on the right track IMO.
NOW, the exception to this for me would be to use the Lumin as the player/controller and run BNC out into a separate TUBE DAC to experiment. But buying a DAC, USB cable, windows or Mac computer, JRiver, no thanks.
As for DSD files, I'm the wrong guy to be asking that question in hopes of a low number. The number is north of 10,000 (from more than 1000 SACD's plus downloads). I've been promoting DSD for years.
As I said, I would love to hear the Berkely DAC and it's accompanying USB gizmo combo in my system and be convinced. And if Jerry is getting one (he is the undeniable king of DACS), then I may get a chance since he is local to me. And if it beats the Lumin S1, I will be happy to say so. I'm not married to anything except my wife.
My DSD brother, permit me to disagree on just one point.
I am hearing that a modded PC (or Caps) running Windows 2012 Server R2 with Audiophile Optimiser with Jriver/Jplay playback in CORE mode is da bomb and will take on all comers. Asio USB connection of course. Such a setup will be in NYC for the show...my pal is loaning his setup (running into a Big7). Stay tuned for feedback... The Mac guys are saying that if one gets HQ Player and a Dac that can run the Decibel promoted Asio Driver for Mac, you are also getting outrageous DSD performance.
As a computer guy you know that the background processes are a killer for SQ and that consumer/business OpSys are running like a 1,000 "useless for audio" things in the background. Well the server version of Windows is more no frills that ome/office stuff and start with the advantage of having just about 150 such parasitic processes and its much easier to shut them down. Apparently ate the extreme, core mode only has like 2 to 3 of the most essential processing running and so the parasitic effect become negligible...or so I am told.
Yes, I also do beleive you that a Lumin or Aries as streamer is VERY viable and is probably more convenient/user friendly. However, be warned. DSD LOVES tubes.
asindc
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- Jul 19, 2013
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- 784
I respectfully disagree. I think they just decided to focus on PCM sound quality without compromise. They believe having the DSD processing inside the DAC would unnecessarily degrade the signal and that software like JRiver does just as good a job of it anyway. I'll leave the technical debate to the experts, but given Berkeley's track record, they have earned the benefit of my doubt.
INTERESTING! Server 2012. Now, as for DSD loving tubes....that's why the Allnic D5000 has me intrigued. But more research is required into how it exactly handles DSD files.
Norman - you need to get ahold of a Lumin S1 to try. Your opinions may change forever.
DSD processing? Now you done gone fwrong from the start. DSD only needs filtering any DSP/Decimation/processing will kill it. And this can be done in the same box. BA just does not want to go that route and I am fine with it, just not the misleading marketing spin.
First chance I get, you betcha ..given that you and Joe are happy that makes me curious (if it was in Florida or LI, you guys would be getting a bang on the door, LoL). Just dont rest on your laurels, the field continues to shift. Many great concurrent developments are happening. I still keep an open mind about the quality of this BADA RS and will also actively seek out a listen, though they are NOT RoHs compliant for Europe.
I heard the Big7 in NYC without core mode and was floored (totally demolished 2 "hot/highly touted" Dacs....it was not pretty! LoL. I am upgrading soon and after that its all about transport...whether waiting on Mac Asio driver with HQ Player, Aries or Core Mode Win2012.
Agreed. Bryston, Lumin, Linn and a few others. To not add native DSD (and no USB??) is indeed a cop out.
We will always agree on one thing Norman.....digital really does sound better with tubes (at least somewhere in the chain). This Allnic D5000 really has peaked my interest. I could use my Lumin's BNC digital out to the Allnic D5000 digital RCA in (just needs a BNC to digital RCA cable). Have you done much reading on it Norman?
asindc
Member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2013
- Messages
- 784
Ok, I'll substitute out the word "processing" for "filtering":
I respectfully disagree. I think they just decided to focus on PCM sound quality without compromise. They believe having the DSD filtering inside the DAC would unnecessarily degrade the signal and that software like JRiver does just as good a job of it anyway. I'll leave the technical debate to the experts, but given Berkeley's track record, they have earned the benefit of my doubt.
Quite a bit. They seem to be well engineered and use a small FPGA to control the Sabre chip they use. They also seem to do a lot to control microphonics. I am not in love with their tube selection as they seem puny for DHTs. I do like that their preamp is $29k and that they "only" charge $12K for the Dac (with bling looks), so they resisted price gouging. Perhaps the L7 restrained them. The L7 preceeds this Dac by at least 8 months and will NOT be easily challenged in DSD by any comer! The PCM on the L7 surprised me how good it was as it takes on the DSD side full on. Finally the L7 now can accomodate 3 tube types, ie 45 and 101d triodes as direct swaps and 2A3s with the flick of a switch. I am off hunting NOS output tubes now, as I hear that recti rolls from the supplied tube will not make a big difference.
In summary, the Allnic seems fine and seems to be a good choice for people both from SQ (Albert Porter recommends) and looks. I personally will go with the Lampi thermionic solution, as I know the passion that went into it and the possibility of a refresh later on after Lukasz tweaks the design even further over time!
I have heard JRiver decimation..I have it. NOWHERE near native DSD playback on a Lampi.That is not even debatable for people who hear it...and I have even had this debate with Thorsten. Once you hear REAL DSD, then no amount of marketing spin will sway you.
And I can tell you that a filter box in a Faraday cage in now way compromises PCM playback, especially as it would be bypassed when PCM is playing, so unpowered.
That said, the RS should be a great PCM Dac and I am not putting it down in terms of SQ. I reserve judgement.