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Berkeley Alpha DAC: cabling and breaking-in time

Hello all,
I'm a new BADA DAC owner and my questions to experienced users and owners are about to obtain the best as possible with redbook 16/44 files from this great DAC.
How much has to be considered as breaking-in time for the Berkeley?
Which is the configuration that in your opinion and experience is the best in cabling (power,digital and signal) and source/transport? My first impression the bass frequencies, especially the lowest ones, are not so impressive as I hope.

For complete information, I'm inserting the DAC into this system:
- EAR Acute CD player now used also as transport, waiting to make a decision on a valid source
- EAR 912 preamp
- EAR 534 power amp
- Cardas Clear cabling

Thanks in advance,
Massimo
maz65
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
I got mine used so it was already broken in. I wouldn't doubt at least 200 hrs. I use the aes/ebu input (purist audio anniversary) and balanced outs (Tara labs the one) with a shunyata python ac cord. My source is a squeezebox touch into an esoteric g25u upsampler/clock, feeding the dac a 176.2 signal (1.24 filter)and it absolutely sings. The dac sits on herbie audio tender feet and 2component top weights. The dac really hums. The herbs really did reduce the transformer noise. Enjoy the dac. It is awesome. My bass frequencies are articulated, deep and very well defined. The dac is capable of it. Try the 1.24 filter.
maz65 OP
40 posts
 
Thank you Cerrot,
it's sound intresting to me the adoption of G25U in conjunction with the Squeezebox Touch. Could you please describe your imprssions about the improvements on sound of the Logitech with Berkeley, with and without the G25U?
Thanks in advance!
-Massimo
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
Gladly. The Berkeley replaced a benchmark dac. The Berkeley is more resolving and threw a wider and deeper soundstage. The biggest difference was that the music through the bada just sounded right. The touch into the dac sounds great but up sampling the touch with the g25u (replaced a monarchy combo which up sampled to 96k) brought it to a fascinating level. Increased air, detail and resolution. Picth black backgrounds and an absolute ease in listening. No fatigue at all. I can hear deeper into the music and have more tonal colors (the reeds, vocals, cymbals, bass strings). They sound much more like the real thing. Eerie, actually. I use 172k instead of 196k as it is a natural multiplier of 44.1. I will experiment with the 196k again in future.

Dennis
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