Berkeley Audio Design
Alpha DAC and Alpha USB Interface

Read the review by Robert Harley on Perfect Vision

There are those that would argue the Alpha DAC from Berkeley Audio is the best sounding DAC you can buy, at any price. Their contention is that the Alpha DAC, more than any other competing model, serves up a sound which is more like good analog than digital.

I first heard the unit (and was blown away) at Winston Ma’s First Impression Music suite at last year’s CES. Winston’s been developing a music server and, after listening to virtually everything on the market, is recommending the Alpha DAC to decode the digital data stream. Winston has some of the best ears in the industry and everything he has recommended to me has always been a winner - the Alpha DAC is no exception. It’s smooth and refined (just like good analog), and yet resolves every last nanogram of subtle detail (like the very best digital). A feat every DAC aims for and very, very few achieve.

There are indeed a good number of outstanding DACs on the market, but I’ve heard nothing that bests the Alpha DAC at its price point. Wait a second, forget the price point; there may not be a DAC on the Planet that is better overall! Pretty strong words, but I think you’ll agree when you listen to one, the Alpha DAC is a stunner, and at the asking price of just $4995, truly a remarkable bargain.

• 2008 Product Of The Year Award in The Abso!ute Sound, January 2009
• 2009 Golden Ear Award in The Abso!ute Sound, June / July 2009
• Best D to A Converter rating in Computer Audiophile Suggested Hardware (CASH) List

"The Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC is the best-sounding outboard digital-to-analog converter I’ve heard. The fact that it decodes high-resolution sources of any sampling rate and word length is icing on the cake. Although the Alpha DAC is spectacularly great on CD, this converter really shows its prodigious resolution, dynamic agility, and soundstaging capabilities when fed 176.4kHz/24-bit digital audio. Moreover, the Alpha DAC’s feature set, operation (instant locking to changing sampling rates, for example), and ability to drive a power amplifier directly expands the product’s utility and makes it ideal for the next generation of high-resolution music servers that is just around the corner.

The real story, however, is that this performance and functionality is possible at $4995. Although not inexpensive, the Alpha DAC nonetheless competes with, and outperforms, much more expensive converters. At $5k, the Alpha DAC is a spectacular bargain. It is my outboard converter of choice for both CD and high-resolution sources—regardless of price." Robert Harley, The Perfect Vision

"There is a very valid reason why Berkeley Audio Design is selling Alpha DACs as fast as it can produce them. The Alpha DAC is simply stunning. The Berkeley Audio Design team is one of the most respected in the industry. They have succeeded in their goal of making a very high level of fidelity available to music lovers everywhere." The Computer Audiophile

"The Golden Ear and Product of the Year Award-Winning Alpha DAC is not only one of the best-sounding digital-to-analog converters, it's also an amazing bargain. In addition to world-class decoding of CD sources, the Alpha DAC can handle any sampling rate to 192kHz and word lengths to 24 bit. Its robust analog output stage  and variable output level allow it to drive an amplifier directly. This feature is significant, becuase the Alpha DAC is capable of such resolution, timbral purity, and dyamics you'll want to hear it without the limitations of a preamp in the signal path. When used at its best - fed by true hi-res sources from a music server, and driving an amplifier directly - the Alpha DAC delivers stunning resolution of the finest musical detail, throws a spectacularly large and well-defined soundstage, and plays back music with gorgeous tone color and purity. A reference-quality product at a moderate price." - Recommended Components, The Absolute Sound

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:
• Unequaled interpolation technology up-samples 44.1kHz CD’s to provide almost 176.4kHz quality and
produces superb fidelity at all sampling rates from 32kHz to 192kHz
• IR remote control of all functions including volume and balance allows direct connection to power amplifiers
• Advanced input signal jitter rejection
• BADA encrypted input allows future support of HDMI and other DRM formats

CONTROLS & INDICATORS:
• Input selects AES, SPDIF, Toslink or BADA inputs
• Lock LED indicates input signal lock
• HDCD LED indicates HDCD code detected
• Phase sets absolute phase
• Invert LED indicates absolute phase inverted
• 3 digit LED display of Stereo/L/R attenuation, Sampling Rate and Filter type
• ± controls set attenuation level and select Filter type
• Mode selects Stereo/L/R attenuation, Sampling Rate and Filter type display modes
• Dim selects multiple display brightness levels

SPECIFICATIONS:
• Input sampling rate: 32kHz to 192kHz
• Input word length: 24-bit
• Two channel analog stereo outputs: XLR balanced and RCA unbalanced
• Digital Inputs: AES - Single XLR 110Ω, SPDIF - BNC 75Ω, Toslink – Optical, BADA encrypted - RJ-45
• HDCD decoding detects 16-bit flag at 44.1kHz or 24-bit flag at all sampling rates
• Multiple digital filter options
• Multiple units can be combined for multi-channel/surround reproduction
• Balanced analog output level: +18dBu maximum, +12dBu or lower recommended
• Unbalanced analog output level: 3.25Vrms maximum, 2Vrms or lower recommended
• Digital attenuation and balance control: 0.1dB/step with .05dB/step trim, 60dB range
• Frequency response at ≥ 88.2kHz sampling rates: ± 0.1dB from < 0.1Hz to 35 kHz, - 3dB at 59kHz
for 176.4kHz and 192kHz sampling rates
• Distortion at recommended levels: all products ≤ -120dBFS
• THD+N at maximum level: < -110dBFS
• Firmware field upgradeable through signal inputs
• Enclosure dimensions: 1.75”H X 16.5”W x 10.4”D, 19” rack mount option
• Mains voltage: 100/120/240VAC, 50/60Hz
• Power consumption: 25W
• Price: $4995

Alpha USB Interface

The Alpha USB is an asynchronous High Speed USB to digital audio interface that provides the highest possible audio quality from computer audio sources.

The Alpha USB features a High Speed USB 2.0 input data connection and selectable audio output signal type – either coaxial SPDIF using a BNC connector or balanced AES using an XLR connector. Sampling rates up to 192 kHz and word lengths up to 24 bit are supported.

Great care has been taken in the design of the Alpha USB to isolate the noisy computer/USB environment from the digital audio output. The USB receiver and processing are powered by the computer, while the output master clocks and line drivers are powered by a separate linear power supply.

Two key factors account for the amazing audio performance of the Alpha USB: the unprecedented electrical isolation between USB input and audio output and the ultra low noise/low jitter performance of the custom audio output master clocks.

The Alpha USB is designed to work with both Apple Macintosh and Windows PC computers and also works with some versions of Linux.

Apple Macintosh computers using Snow Leopard or later operating systems have a High Speed USB Audio Driver that interfaces directly with the Alpha USB. It is not necessary to install a special driver. For optimum audio quality, use of high resolution music server software such as Pure Music® is highly recommended.

Microsoft Windows PC’s require the included Alpha USB Windows driver which works with Windows XP, Vista and 7. A User Guide, Windows driver CD and 6’ power cord are included with the Alpha USB. A USB cable is not included.

CONTROLS & INDICATORS:

• Output Select: switch selects SPDIF or AES type output
• Status LED: Green indicates USB Lock, Amber indicates Standby

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Input: High Speed USB 2.0 connection - type B receptacle
• Output: switch selectable, coaxial SPDIF - BNC, 75A or balanced AES type - XLR, 110A
• Supported sampling rates: 44.1kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz,192kHz
• Supported word lengths: up to 24 bit
• Supported operating systems: Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows
• Enclosure dimensions: 2.3”H X 10.5”W x 5”D, 2.55”H including feet
• Mains power: 100 or 120 or 240VAC, 50/60Hz, IEC power input connector
• Power consumption: 3 Watts line, 1.5 Watts USB, designed for continuous operation

Price: $1695