Review: Berkeley Audio Alpha USB

**mimesis** · 10-05-2011, 08:22 PM

The one thing I enjoy about this forum and less so about most others is that the comments that are shared are candid and honest and when people hew to a negative line that invites unsubstantiated speculation, they are normally willing to reveal their identity. It is easy to do a hatchet job anonymously and while it is just as easy to extoll to the skies, one's reputation is generally not enhanced by fawning comments to the extent that it is diminished by excoriation.

**amirm** · 10-05-2011, 11:58 PM

Post deleted. Please stay on topic of Berkeley alpha USB.

**firedog** · 11-10-2011, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by WDW

...this product is intended to be heard with the Berkeley Alpha DAC, recommended to be heard without a pre-amp, likely without a Windozes OS, and facilitated by someone who would, at least, in some level of courtesy, find the appropriate cabling and playback equipment. (you have this in your shop)
That you now expect to sell this product is amazing...you Microsoft'ees may have made too much money and are now too flabby; this little shop of yours is, I suspect, just a hobby but if entering this market your customers deserve better attention to detail ...former Madrona customer, WDW

The product is "intended" to be used with any PC or MAC /DAC combo that the user wishes to bridge between Computer USB and DAC SPDIF. Use of BADA DAC is optional.

**garylkoh** · 11-10-2011, 07:44 AM

I'm eagerly waiting for mine to come. The original BADA DAC driven by the Weiss INT202 was one of the best DACs I've had in my room - after it has been on for at least 10 days continuously. But turn it off, and it takes 4 days to warm up again. Not a deal breaker for most, but I can't use it for demos as we have at most 2 days for set-up.

I was told by the Berkeley folks that that shouldn't be the case, and it should warm up immediately (even that it takes only 2 days to break in from new) and that I probably had a bad one. So, they are sending me the new version to try out, and the Alpha USB as well. Woo hoo!! Can't wait.

**amirm** · 11-10-2011, 08:31 AM

That's great. If you are coming to the user group meeting tonight, you can see the Berkeley in operation (DAC and USB Bridge). We leave ours on all the time so I have no data on warm up time.

**flez007** · 11-10-2011, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by rblnr

Only on this forum could a bunch of bnc plugs qualify as great pics

Jaja, a good one!

**fas42** · 11-10-2011, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by amirm

That's great. If you are coming to the user group meeting tonight, you can see the Berkeley in operation (DAC and USB Bridge). We leave ours on all the time so I have no data on warm up time.

With regard to warm up time, especially on the latest offerings from manufacturers, do you or Gary find it makes a significant difference if you exercise the DAC heavily prior to serious listening, irrespectively of how long it has been left running?

Frank

**amirm** · 11-11-2011, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by fas42

With regard to warm up time, especially on the latest offerings from manufacturers, do you or Gary find it makes a significant difference if you exercise the DAC heavily prior to serious listening, irrespectively of how long it has left running?

Frank

I don't have any experience here so I will leave it up to Gary to respond.

**garylkoh** · 11-11-2011, 08:11 AM

If I exercise heavily before serious listening, I'm sweaty, and my heart is pounding so my listening experience is usually slightly worse.

**fas42** · 11-11-2011, 02:24 PM

I tend to exercise heavily on the inside, when I put on the "wrong" music at higher volume, i.e., driving R&R. I'm pretty much wasted by the end of the album with such a session. Aaah, but it's a good feeling ...

Frank