Best DACs Search: Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 Review

[@johnrobins795]

I have come to LOVE this DAC over all others for what it is paired well with it, N Series Aurenders. So am thrilled to see it being reviewed again by you after reading Robert Hartley's past musings about it.

[@Odin412z]

IMHO this is the most interesting review on this channel so far. Thanks for your efforts in thinking about digital playback artifacts and for finding DACs that sound less 'digital'. I am excited to follow your search for other DACs that meet your criteria.

[@chewy560]

Be interested to know your thoughts on Playback Designs dacs if you have had the opportunity to listen to these.

[@jarms40]

This is truly excellent. One of the best videos TAS has ever done. Absolutely vinyl falls short of digital in all sorts of measurable parameters and absolutely an "open minded person" would investigate why it's still prefered by many. I feel like there's a lot of talk about recording standards, but little action. I also feel like the problem of bass in real rooms has been getting more attention lately and have real hope that there will ne major improvments on this front. The problem of spacial imaging seems to get much less attention, maybe because quad and multichannel were commercial failures. Extra speakers (particularly at the rear reflection) really are likely the answer, but we've yet to figure out what information we should be sending to them. (I think David Hafler was on to something with the Hafler circuit.) The problem of dynamics doesn't seem to get the attention it deserves. Maybe because it is both a recording and a transducer problem, and those two ends of the chain rarely compare notes? Anyway, kudos for a truly fine video.

[@High-Fi-Stereo]

Great review, I have Grimm MU2 and feel that it changed my view on digital , hope to see you review MU2 , to me it is most human Digital Music player

[@Cardinalement]

This has to be the most interesting and best produced review I have seen so far of this channel. Bravo

[@TASmagazine]

Thanks! We've been trying our best to improve the quality of each video over time. We've come a long way. And, likely, have a long way to go. Turns out trying to make simple, good videos which are both informative and engaging is challenging. But learning is its own reward! Of course, the occasional nice comment isn't too bad either.

[@unclewilbur8976]

@@TASmagazine Apparently the system and room shown in this video is yours. And I was hoping you would tell me the brand name of the racks. Thanks! PS… Great video! …thoughtful, clever, very informative…

[@saint6563]

Playback Designs MPD-8, a neighbor of Berkeley Audio, is a must comparison. Congrats on the listening room. Thanks & enjoy.

[@wa2368]

OCD Mikey? Is that you?

[@rogerhuston8287]

I would also say the EMM 2i is in this category.

[@greencraig8570]

I appreciate TAS's thorough reviews. I have a simpler method. If my foot starts tapping and my body swaying and I enter a flow state, then it's a good system.

[@mattkozink7488]

Excellent review. I particularly appreciate your comments at ~12:30. You describe the "unpacking" of transients which is insightful to what I experience. I thought of it in terms of compression but that doesn't adequately describe what I am hearing. Compression is part of it but not all of it. Unpacking is better at describing the effect because I tend to visualize what I hear as a 3 dimensional volume of information (analogous to a voxel in digital imaging). That's a different subject and I don't want to digress from my main point. Your use of the term "unpacking" in my mind describes the event more completely and helps me articulate more effectively what I am hearing; thanks.

[@wavemechanic4280]

Would love to hear your thoughts on the Mola Mola Tambaqui, which if I understand correctly operates on a different principle to both ladder and delta-sigma dacs, and has been highly rated.

[@razisn]

It is basically a delta-sigma dac. There are no other but those 2 principles in many incarnations.

[@wavemechanic4280]

@razisn "According to the Mola Mola website, the Tambaqui upsamples incoming digital audio to 32-bit/3.125MHz then converts it to noise-shaped PWM (pulse width modulation) format, after which it is channeled to a "discrete, 32-stage FIR [finite impulse response] DAC and a single-stage fourth-order filtering I/V converter" that converts PWM to analog with a specified S/N ratio of 130dB."

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM☕️🍩 I’ve gone from Denon flagship cd players..to Theta Digital DAC ,then onto BelCanto DAC ,a Topping DAC …and now run a Denafrips DAC …so yes,things sounded better with each step up and in some cases a decade or more between DAC progressions ….what’s the best DAC ..who knows…my hearing ,system and musical tastes have also changed….BUT you’re fundamentally correct since 1985 ..nearly 40 years of progress and innovation. Have a great weekend

[@Andrea-f3d]

Which Theta Digital dac did you have?

[@carminedesanto6746]

@ I think it was the 3…I do believe..man that was literally a lifetime ago.

[@Andrea-f3d]

Gen V..?

[@carminedesanto6746]

@ Hard to remember..I traded it for the BelCanto…..

[@appearnowappearlater]

Always been intrigued by Berkeley, even if their DAC’s look like my digital cable box from 1999 😂

[@Integrator22]

Amazing video. Thanks ❤

[@BrentLeVasseur]

It looks like a 1980s era VCR, which is cool if you are into that nostalgia look.

[@jonathanmoore8886]

When Tom's reviewing kit I know it's a little too expensive for me but it's nice to hear about.

[@net_news]

yes, just a little 😂

[@TASmagazine]

Sometimes you have to call in the cavalry!

[@funkychicken2119]

Even in Zimbabwean dollars I cannot afford.

[@net_news]

@@funkychicken2119 😂

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Prefer long, narrow DAC's Fit better in the audio rack

[@jloffsite]

Will you be reviewing other top tier DACs like the Lampizator Poseidon and the Playback Designs MPD-8 - both in the same price range?

[@thomasmartin2219]

I’ll add them to my “possibilities” list. Thanks.

[@jloffsite]

@ thank you

[@chrislj2890]

Oh boy, it's pretty deep with this one.

[@mediascapes2011]

Live is best, full stop. Can food is what it is, even an expensive can will never be more than can food, good, excellent, ultimate, best of the best, it's still can food.

[@carlos2bass]

I wonder how much better than my Bryston dac3 which was rated at Stereophile class A+.

[@TriAmpMyFi]

. I don't know but I think of Bryston as a great analog company. Seems to me they're just responding to their name loving fans and aren't exactly custom digital designers. But Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊

[@paulpaulzadeh6172]

Naim reference DAC has not this issue, try to test one😊

[@TheEquinoxeHD]

How old are you and how's your hearing? Where does it stop? 14kHz? Less?

[@regisvoiclair]

For this price, it has not even a USB input ! Crazy.

[@paulpaulzadeh6172]

Problem with it is that it is not CE markt. You can't buy it in Europe

[@JD-mm4ub]

Why no USB?

[@TASmagazine]

Berkeley believes AES/EBU is a better system, but they offer the Alpha USB Series 2 converter for those wanting to use USB. We tested the DAC with the Alpha USB.

[@paulomontero12]

What does distortion sound like? Can the human ear detect it?

[@yippie6862]

Another component reviewed where 95% of audiophiles can't afford it.

[@DBravo29er]

Tom posts a review, I watch it. Pretty simple. 🤌👍😎

[@Nugglashine]

anytime someone says "a-musical distortions" instead of "distortion" you can immediately switch it off because you already know where its going haha

[@TASmagazine]

Research indicates that the ear/brain is more sensitive to certain kinds of distortion in that these distortions conflict with expectations of musical sounds. These conflicting distortions are commonly called a-musical. Pre-ringing is an example, whereas low-amplitude even order harmonic distortion is less problematic.

[@ernestporee3697]

DAC of the week club ! And this weeks winner is Only $28.0000 ! Get em while their still relevant ? Does it have scamware ? Scam Likely

[@zaldam]

No USB input to be seen. I guess a degree of pain is inherent if you are an audiophile.

[@freekwo7772]

Keep guessing…

[@TriAmpMyFi]

There's no i2S output, No clocking connections & No SFP glass fiber optic ports either.

[@thomasmartin2219]

As I mentioned, for USB I used the Berkeley Alpha USB Series 2.

[@freekwo7772]

@ I understand that it should have i2s input, but for hi tech 28000$ dac, i don’t see why it should have the output? According to the review there is only few devices to compete with, so why would they design and implement something unnecessary and possibly harmful like that? It like installing tow hook on formula 1 car because maybe formula 1 car will one day with its raw power tow a boat???

[@zaldam]

@@thomasmartin2219 Well, after carefully watching your review three times, I could not find the spot where you mention this. If you can point it out to me I would be most grateful.

[@theomindschrddr7983]

It looks like a old vhs recorder😅

[@razisn]

You know, there ARE audiophiles, very many of them I believe, who much prefer good modern digital to any high end and ridiculously expensive vinyl reproduction. For them any digital distortions you assert to are rendered negligible by the huge distortions and inconsistent behaviour exhibited by analogue reproduction systems. Problem is, those people are not heard and they are not asked by elitist people like you in this industry.. Such elitist people refuse to recognise that what they like to listen to is the analogue distortions themselves and, even more so, they are attracted to the exclusivity and other extra-auditory characteristics of the vinyl reproduction process so that they cannot change their mind even when they are faced with the reality that most vinyl recordings they listen to are produced from a digital chain early in the production process. having passed through a digital to analogue conversion process before being committed to the analogue media. Take classical music for example. Since the early '80s virtually ALL classical recordings have been digital ones and they continue to be. This fact causes such a cognitive dissonance to elitist 'analog lovers' that most of them refuse even to consider this issue... So your first assertion here, on which you base the rest of your assumptions, is standing on thin ground in my view. I have absolutely no issue with anyone liking anything. The problem I have is people like you who try to rationalise their preferences by scrutinizing digital performance to the nth degree seeking out, or imagining, the subtlest of issues when the elephant in the room which is the comparatively abysmal vinyl reproduction performance is ignored or glossed over.

[@jeffreythurston1822]

I don’t think Tom is saying digital is bad. You don’t have to be an “elite” audiophile to note that digitally reproduced (not recorded) music often just sounds off. I have significant experience with live music, often unamplified. My digital front end sounds great but it does sound fake in comparison. My vinyl side of things has a more real approach to the way it presents music. More lifelike and the inherent harmonic distortions to me sound more like true music.

[@freekwo7772]

@rasinz - I must say that you have missed your target. It is very good, not a review but seminar about reproduction of audio in home. It addresses the main issues about it. I was astounded by the fact that I can hear the most of issues especially regarding violin but I always thought that is the problem of my system. I do not have a gramophone but I have listen LP enough yo say something about it. Problem with digital, in nuce that it alters the music itself, while the noise in LP reproduction is outside music, like you are at concert and there are some background noises that bothers you more ore less but not in the way they obstruct the music itself. Another issue about digital process of recording is mentioned at the no.1 place so there is another layer for the discussion totally and deliberately not discussed in this video. And that probably affects and have different impact of problem discussed. Those people worked on HDCD so no wonder they are solving the problem previously identified in white papers of MQA such as pre ringing. So I do not have 28000$ unfortunately, but I want to hear the sound of violin properly. Which means probably I will have to buy myself a record player and LPs to listen to classical music.

[@razisn]

@@freekwo7772 Gobbledygooks. Noise is the least of vinyl's problems. Think of the myriad of factors creating distortions, starting from the turntable speed stability itself and the obvious differences between belt and direct drive turntables, moving to the geometric and resonance issues of the tonearm to those of cartridge and stylus alignment and so on and so forth. All this before even considering the curvy frequency response of ANY vinyl system as opposed to the almost ruler flat response of a digital system. If that were not the case you wouldn't have turntable systems costing from $500 to $500K where one can EASILY recognise the differences because they are NOT subtle. You wouldn't have a myriad of different cartridges each one producing an EASILY differentiated sound of its own and you wouldn't have a myriad of very different engineering solutions attempting to overcome these well recognised problems. Which one of the myriad combinations is a good reflection of the recording? Are all these distortions 'musical' while the subtlest of digital issues are 'extra musical' as our host puts it? I call this BS. Scrutinizing the almost imperceptible issues of modern digital while at the same time glossing over the HUGE issues affecting vinyl just shows that elitism, hype and extra-auditory considerations as well as commercial interests rule this game . BTW Closed miked violin, which most modern violin recordings are, is supposed to often sound edgy, screechy and harsh. If it's not, then you are listening to an abstracted, glossed over and 'beautified by subtraction' version of the recording and the instrument. Ask any violinist because they, by definition, hear the violin from close proximity not sitting in the audience chairs of a concert hall. I put it to you that the best of the best of vinyl reproduction systems, obtainable only at small house prices, tend to approximate modern decent digital and then only in a good day reproducing a pristine and meticulously cleaned and de-staticed record and then only in its outer tracks..

[@jacobjacoby7802]

It is true that big chunk of analog recording has been issued from digital files but those that are analog recorded and produced through analog only chain will blow your mind if you let it be open in the same manner you described the "elitist" analog guys. This door that you open swings both way and you don't have any monopoly on that. In fact you are the elitist who tries to preach his agenda to the rest of the audiophile community and I think you should go back to your imaginary digital hole and live us to to listen to whatever we want whenever we want and however we want. Whoever you think you are by expressing this limited p.o.v. seems to justified what frank Zappa said that minds are like parashute they don't work if there not open

[@dt9019]

I prefer digital mostly for convenience reasons, i have a great streamer/dac. Naim ndx2. It is the best one i heard for the money. I listen to it all the time.

[@gurratell7326]

I doubt you could hear any difference between this and an Apple dongle costing just a tiny fraction of this thing in a properly setup blindtest. This is just a status symbol for people with too much money and nothing else.

[@dt9019]

My wife cant hear subtle differences that stand out to me. Although when i played adele for her on my new naim system she had tears in her eyes. Not in the car, not in my old system which cost 1/4 the price. Ive heard the alpha dac, it really doesnt ADD anything. It gets out of the wayand gives you all of the information.

[@gurratell7326]

@@dt9019 Yeah it gives you all of the information, just like any other DAC today.