weiss /Berkeley DAC

Drubin,

May I ask what "sonic character" did you hear on BADA? The 40% saving is substantial!
Does the Bryston has any drawbacks compared to the BADA?
what music and what system did you use in your audition?

I think your answers to these question will help the original poster and me understand the basis of your comparison as none of us could audition them.

Thanks

I just heard the Berkeley paired with the full recommended PC setup including Lynx sound card. Hi-rez material was out of this world. It also provided by far the best redbook playback I've ever heard. It's really a remarkable achievement.

Kent,

The "character" I heard from the BADA is difficult for me to describe, but I would say it sounds as if the music is playing against a background "fabric" that is visible and has a mid- to light "color." In contrast, the Bryston's background is closer to being genuinely transparent or invisible. (Gosh, I hope this makes some sense.) I wonder if this is a shortcoming of the IC output stage in the BADA (vs. the discrete stage in the Bryston).

Drubin,

did you audition Alpha DAC direct or via preamp? Maybe your preamp is not so transparent?!

In one case, it was direct. In the second, I don't remember, but its character was clearly evident in a direct comparison with the Weiss Medea.