I use the BNC to BNC connection on my Baetis server, as the older model I have does not have balanced digital output. The new Baetis Reference Server has balanced digital out.....but it's 12k. I do use the balanced digital out on the Bryston BDP-2. I have a Nordost Valhalla and Stealth Audio Varadig Sextet digital AES cables that I use. Silnote Audio's Morpheus AES cable also does a great job with that combo.
Berkley Alpha Reference DAC (mini) Review
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
I use the BNC to BNC connection on my Baetis server, as the older model I have does not have balanced digital output. The new Baetis Reference Server has balanced digital out.....but it's 12k. I do use the balanced digital out on the Bryston BDP-2. I have a Nordost Valhalla and Stealth Audio Varadig Sextet digital AES cables that I use. Silnote Audio's Morpheus AES cable also does a great job with that combo.
Have you tried the Shunyata digital?
Back to the BADA Reference...
I have their digital A/C Zitron cable. But the Stealth Silver M-7000 cable demolished the Shunyata. I really wanted the Shunyata to be at least close, as it is so much more manageable (read pliable) then the monster Stealth cables. But I could not give up that much SQ for ease of use. I think I tried a couple of Shunyata's digital cables via the Cable Company. It didn't work out.....whatever models they were.
very nice.
Has anyone out the BaDA ref next to the Nagra Hd. I have heard the Nagra and was impressed. Curious how it stacks up to the BADA ref.
we need a high end Dac shootout !
1) BADA ref
2) Nagra HD dac + mps
3) Trinity
4) EMM DA2
5) Boulder 2120
there can only be one....
bmichels
New member
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- Dec 25, 2013
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it will be indeed VERY interesting since they take 2 totally different approach: NAGRA convert everything to DSD while BaDA play only PCM !
Any updates on how the Berkeley RS is breaking in?
I'm about to "pull the trigger" to upgrade my digital front end. The Lumin S1 and the Berkeley RS are my two finalists. As much as I would like the Berkeley, the fact that DSD is not avail through it is a significant drawback - at least in the configuration I would use it with the Bryston BDP-2.
In contrast, the Lumin S1 does offer the flexibility (PCM & DSD), looks, ease of use and excellent sound.
I'm about to "pull the trigger" to upgrade my digital front end. The Lumin S1 and the Berkeley RS are my two finalists. As much as I would like the Berkeley, the fact that DSD is not avail through it is a significant drawback - at least in the configuration I would use it with the Bryston BDP-2.
In contrast, the Lumin S1 does offer the flexibility (PCM & DSD), looks, ease of use and excellent sound.
bmichels
New member
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- Dec 25, 2013
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Why don't you consider the TotalDAC D1-Dual isntead of the Berkley ? and you can add to it a TotalDAC D1-Server. It is supposed to be superbe sound, do DSD, and is supposed to offer a silk but precise signature (like most R2R DACs). I may get this combo soon....
- Thread Author
- #109
I'm looking at the TotalDAC server for the Devialet.
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Julot
New member
I tried the TotalDac combo recently, with a big Ayon amplifier and TAD speakers. It was quite remarkable, though I wonder if it was worth the 15k it goes for (I have yet to hear a streamer that I don't find renders a "noisy" sound with an artificial liaison between the notes and a similar sound from one recording to the next -- and Mike, I'm finally due for a Lumin demo at my showroom in two weeks).
The Sandman
Member
I love my Berkeley Reference DAC. And with JRiver, all you need to do is pre-convert all your DSD files to PCM and store them like that on hard drive.
veindoc
Member
Just as a side note in regard to the Berkeley REf. dac. Chris Connaker of computeraudiophile now uses this DAC without a preamp. I think this has 2 potential values for our consideration. Sans preamp may allow more people to financially add this dac to their system after selling their preamp. Secondly, assuming Vinyl is not a big part of your listening, doing critical listening without one additional interface and cables and its sonic signature may provide even more accurate and hopefully listening pleasure. I hope some of our members will give this approach a shot. I personally like my preamp and dac combo but perhaps a ref. dac like the Berkeley may be a totally different animal that excels going directly to amp.
Nick
Nick
I now have the S-1 Lumin as well as the Berkeley Reference and Lampi 7 dac in house. First off, the Lumin is awesome to use. The software is a dream come true. It does 1X and 2X DSD and will soon be a streaming champ per Mike. So it is overall a real winner in my book. The Berkeley is better on redbook. Any audio adjective you wish to compare, the Berkeley does it better.....maybe 10% better. But I have not yet found the digital NIRVANA that Robert Harley and others gushed about. The Berkeley DSD playback via conversion through J River sounds as good as the Lumin on several tests. So no winner there.
The Lampi 7 is the DSD champ in my book so far. It has a real organic truthfulness to my ears, that is more faithful to the real thing. The tubes give it a very romantic and engaging sound. I believe the Berkeley may be a tad more resolving, but not quite as enjoyable as the Lampi.
At this level, there are no losers. The Berkeley price is still un-justified (IMHO) at 16k, without world class DSD. The Lampi is a great DSD dac and a very good redbook piece, which has several price points to choose from. And the Lumin is a sit back and enjoy the music player, that gives you probably 90% of the best possible sound quality available. The Lumin has a couple of different models available at differing price points. So the best choice comes down to what is most important to the end user.
I myself am going to keep all three. I will use the Lumin in system one.......and hand off its redbook playback to the Berkeley dac. In system two, I will use the Lampi dac. I do have a smaller third system that I use the Oppo 105D player for SACD/redbook/DSD playback. It also picks up the Lumin L-1 storage drive very nicely, via the network connection.
Of course these observations are very system dependent. As always, I suggest you perform an in-home demo before a purchase.
Happy listening.......Jerry-
- Thread Author
- #115
Great feedback Jerry. You have the three top digital pieces available today! Sweet.
I'm glad you love the Lumin.
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I'm glad you love the Lumin.
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veindoc
Member
any biases using these 3 units with and without a preamp?
Only the Berkeley has volume control. My Lampi does NOT have a preamp, and neither does the Lumin. With the Pass XS-150's/ MBL 101E's/Berkeley combo........I prefer a preamp. With D'Agostino mono's/MBL's/Berkeley combo........I prefer a preamp. But, with the Cary 211FE monos/Spatial Masters/Berkeley combo........I prefer no preamp.
Previously, I also found I preferred no preamp when using the Direct Stream with the VAC 200 mono amps. On solid state combos I tried with the Direct Stream.......I always preferred to have a preamp in line.
So, I found a better synergy using a preamps on an "all solid state" systems..........and NO PREAMP with tube amps. As always, YMMV.
- Thread Author
- #118
Lumin does have volume control on the app, but it's not recommended to be used. I've used it direct and it was fine, just have to make sure you don't accidentally turn it up to quick.
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Howard,
Esoteric manages to include an inboard USB connection and DSD capability in their reference level Digital Players and DACs without any sonic degradation. I would hardly consider this all purpose, more like a basic requirement these days.
Ken
I guess Mike did mention the volume control, but I heeded the warning. I did not try it. If the manufacture doesn't suggest it, I avoid it.