Berkeley Audio Design Announces Alpha DAC Reference Series 3

[Joe P]

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/art...esign-announces-alpha-dac-reference-series-3/

"Experienced industry listeners who have heard the Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 are unanimous in their praise, saying that the Reference Series 3 clearly outperforms any other DAC they have heard, including those at six figure retail prices, and even the much admired DAC portion of the Pacific Microsonics Model 2 studio ADC/DAC."

 

[Elberoth]

Still no USB and no DSD. I'm not even mentioning Ethernet input with Roon ready feature.

I wonder what the real changes are. The details are sparse.

 

[Alpinist]

Still no USB and no DSD. I'm not even mentioning Ethernet input with Roon ready feature.

I wonder what the real changes are. The details are sparse.

Hi Adam,

I totally agree. Berkeley is still lagging significantly behind the industry leaders with their DAC’s features. It wouldn’t even warrant consideration if I was shopping.

I think RH and JV have lost touch with reality. Magnepan 30.7’s the TAS product of the year and nearly as good as the Magico M6’s? I listened to them both the same day. They’re delusional. And I’m not even a big Magico guy.

Bracing myself for the tomatoes!

Ken

 

[Mike]

Hi Adam,

I totally agree. Berkeley is still lagging significantly behind the industry leaders with their DAC’s features.

I think RH and JV have lost touch with reality. Magnepan 30.7’s the TAS product of the year and nearly as good as the Magico M6’s? I listened to them both the same day. They’re delusional.

Ken

Agreed. The 30.7’s really didn’t sound good.


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[asindc]

Still no USB and no DSD. I'm not even mentioning Ethernet input with Roon ready feature.

I wonder what the real changes are. The details are sparse.

I don't think they are ever going to incorporate USB in their DACs. It seems to be a design philosophy they are committed to. As for DSD, they might as well build a DSD-only DAC... if they go that route.

 

[mdp632]

I don't think they are ever going to incorporate USB in their DACs. It seems to be a design philosophy they are committed to. As for DSD, they might as well build a DSD-only DAC... if they go that route.

Me neither. But, but btw before the new MSB DACs were the hottest digital item ( on these forums ) the Berkeley reference was praised and owned by many here.




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[The Sandman]

None of the things mentioned in this thread matter a whit to me.

Experienced industry listeners who have heard the Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 are unanimous in their praise, saying that the Reference Series 3 clearly outperforms any other DAC they have heard, including those at six figure retail prices, and even the much admired DAC portion of the Pacific Microsonics Model 2 studio ADC/DAC.

If this is truth, I upgrade. If not, not.

 

[Odyssey]

I count myself in that number of former Berkeley owners. I was quick to experiment and quick to dismiss. Fewer “redheads” and “blondes” turn my head these days. I’m starting to find my sea legs on what I like.

Me neither. But, but btw before the new MSB DACs were the hottest digital item ( on these forums ) the Berkeley reference was praised and owned by many here.




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[Alpinist]

I count myself in that number of former Berkeley owners. I was quick to experiment and quick to dismiss. Fewer “redheads” and “blondes” turn my head these days. I’m starting to find my sea legs on what I like.

Big +1, Le Roy. I had high hopes when I added the Berkeley Reference 2 DAC to my rack in 2017. But it did not live up to expectations in terms of sound quality and consequently had one the shortest stays on my rack of any source component I’ve owned. It’s lack of USB, DSD and Ethernet did not help its case any.

Ken

 

[Alpinist]

None of the things mentioned in this thread matter a whit to me. If this is truth, I upgrade. If not, not.

Hi Howard,

If I still owned the Berkeley Reference 2 DAC like you do and the Reference 3 offered a substantial improvement in sound quality, I would spring for the upgrade too. If you decide to go for the upgrade, you can let us know how much real improvement is derived in sound quality rather than having to go by RH’s opinion.

Ken

 

[kzhtoo]

Big +1, Le Roy. I had high hopes when I added the Berkeley Reference 2 DAC to my rack in 2017. But it did not live up to expectations in terms of sound quality and consequently had one the shortest stays on my rack of any source component I’ve owned. It’s lack of USB, DSD and Ethernet did not help its case any.

Ken

I remember when Alpha Ref Series 1 first came out, there was some internal photo comparing it to Alpha 2 and they were quite similar albeit their price disparity (somehow I can’t seem to manage to find it now). That and given its price, I never got really interested in it. It seems I got lucky a bit there.