Well...I borrowed a Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC (the original, from 2008) for audition this weekend. I'm been toying with the idea of buying a Mytek 192/DSD DAC but this came in and I can get it for the same price. But its older...so how far have things progressed in 4 or 5 years?
It doesn't have a USB input so I'm using a Musical Fidelity V-link USB/Coax converter (asynchronous).
So far its just sort of warming up. A bit harsh at first glance but it seems to be calming down and I'll leave it on this evening. I wish I had the Mytek to compare it to.
This was one of the best reviewed DACs at any price, though there's now a supposedly improved Version 2 out. I will be doing a direct comparison to my NAD M51, which is a brand new design, and I'll be using the V-link with that just so its apples to apples, even though the NAD has an excellent USB connection. This isn't to replace the NAD (which I absolutely love), but for use in my main system. The NAD is the pre/DAC in my other system...which is actually a better system than my main one.
I'll update this as I listen over the weekend. I might get some more time in tomorrow evening, though I really don't spend much time at home these days.
Anybody have or have heard one of these? I'm really looking forward to it. Even in the 45 minutes I've had it going, its shaken its cobwebs out and really sounds good now.
The system its in is:
MacBook Air running Decibel as a server. USB to the Musical Fidelity V-link, then Vertere RCA cables to the Alpha DAC. Accuphase E-303x and Harbeth SHL-5.
I may try it out in my other system for audition, as its just better at revealing differences in things. Pass Aleph 30 into Quad 63pro.
It doesn't have a USB input so I'm using a Musical Fidelity V-link USB/Coax converter (asynchronous).
So far its just sort of warming up. A bit harsh at first glance but it seems to be calming down and I'll leave it on this evening. I wish I had the Mytek to compare it to.
This was one of the best reviewed DACs at any price, though there's now a supposedly improved Version 2 out. I will be doing a direct comparison to my NAD M51, which is a brand new design, and I'll be using the V-link with that just so its apples to apples, even though the NAD has an excellent USB connection. This isn't to replace the NAD (which I absolutely love), but for use in my main system. The NAD is the pre/DAC in my other system...which is actually a better system than my main one.
I'll update this as I listen over the weekend. I might get some more time in tomorrow evening, though I really don't spend much time at home these days.
Anybody have or have heard one of these? I'm really looking forward to it. Even in the 45 minutes I've had it going, its shaken its cobwebs out and really sounds good now.
The system its in is:
MacBook Air running Decibel as a server. USB to the Musical Fidelity V-link, then Vertere RCA cables to the Alpha DAC. Accuphase E-303x and Harbeth SHL-5.
I may try it out in my other system for audition, as its just better at revealing differences in things. Pass Aleph 30 into Quad 63pro.