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Any insight with the Berkeley Alpha DAC ..??

Reference Recordings, which had had some spectacular CDs on the market is launching a "HRx" DVD-A product which is 24bit and sampled at 176.4 or 88.2 kHZ ...They recommend using a Windows XP desktop fitted with a Lynx AES 16 card and a Media Monkey as it's player and play this 2 channel DVD-R disk through a BERKELEY Audio Design Alpha DAC.

This has been favorably mentioned as a breakthrough in the Absolute Sound April/May edition....has anybody had any experience with this???

I would appreciate your response. Thanks
128x128jafo100
arthursmuck
451 posts
 
What's the price tag on the Berkley? Can't find too much about it on the net, any comments on it's sonics? Comparisons to previous digital you've owned?
maxx2man
24 posts
 
it costs $5,000 US. this dac is capable of converting PCM from redbook up to 24/192. i've spent most of my time listening to CDs, and couldn't be happier with it's translucent resolution and timbral accuracy. there's an overall coherency from top to bottom, three-dimensionality and ease which is frankly a steal for the $.
waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
952 posts
 

Maxx2man,

Are you running straight into the amp, or do you have a preamp in the chain?

Thanks.
jafo100's avatar
jafo100 OP
17 posts
 
I also read that the Berkeley sounds best running directly to the amp. Am I guessing correctly that the gain (or volume) controls are in the PC for this preferred arrangement??
maxx2man
24 posts
 
i think the Berkeley is the best sounding digital i've heard running directly into the amps. however, in my system i still prefer using my Blowtorch preamp. my guess is that only the finest preamps could best the Alpha dac direct. fyi, when using the Berkeley, the volume is controlled on the front panel or by the dac's remote - in 1/10 db increments.
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