Description
Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series 3
Ultra low phase noise clocking with MQA, HDCD decoding, multiple filter options, and a volume control
“The Series 3 extends the Alpha DAC Reference’s status as the ne plus ultra in digital decoding, and will remain at the front end of my reference system....The Series 3’s deeper bass, wider dynamic expression, superior bottom-end articulation and textural resolution, and enhanced top-end openness are clearly major advances....With less accomplished DACs, it sounds as if a whole layer of very low-level information has gone missing.”
“The best DAC I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing. It’s a profoundly transparent window into the music. It provides cognitive insights into the musicians’ intent in ways that no other DAC has communicated to this level. It’s tonally exceptionally accurate and it is balanced in terms of not emphasising any area of the bandwidth – it’s never harsh nor shouty, not soft nor bass-bloated. And man, that resolution...”
The Alpha DAC Reference achieves a very high level of realism by focussing on mitigating time-domain errors. The Series 3 takes this immediacy and palpability to a whole new level. Berkeley DACs use a commercial delta-sigma convertor, but turn off all filtering and DSP functions except for the central conversion circuit. All digital filtration and process is done using custom code and components, carefully created for the best possible sound.
If you have a streamer with a USB output, use the USB out of the streamer into a Berkeley Audio Design and the AES/EBU output into the DAC for the highest sound quality.
Features
- Unequaled MQA rendering to 384 kHz and above
- Ultra-low phase noise conversion clocking
- Ultra-low distortion variable output attenuator
- Outputs can connect directly to power amplifiers
- HDCD decoding detects 16-bit flag at 44.1kHz or 24-bit flag at all sampling rates
- Multiple digital filter options
- Firmware is upgradeable through signal inputs
Specifications
Sampling rate: 32 kHz to 192 kHz, 24 bit
Inputs: 1 x AES/EBU XLR, 2 x BNC S/PDIF, 1 x TOSLINK
Outputs: 1 x stereo pair XLR balanced, 1 x stereo pair RCA unbalanced
Digital volume (60 dB range): 0.1 dB/step
Balance control (60 dB range): 0.05 dB/step
Dimensions (WHD): 17.5" x 3.5” x 12.5”
Weight: 30 lb.
Shipping & Returns
For all orders exceeding a value of 100USD shipping is offered for free.
Returns will be accepted for up to 10 days of Customer’s receipt or tracking number on unworn items. You, as a Customer, are obliged to inform us via email before you return the item.
Otherwise, standard shipping charges apply. Check out our delivery Terms & Conditions for more details.
