System Upgrade – Berkeley Alpha in the house

[HiFiFan]

I have had the Berkeley Alpha USB and Berkeley Alpha DAC Series II in the system for about the last week and they are sounding fantastic. I have been running it with Mac Mini and PureMusic (as a side note I noticed JRiver is coming for Mac OS) and via a Wadia 2000 Transport.

It is a huge step up from the Resolution Audio Opus 21. There is significantly better bass, better resolution and soundstage and overall it just sounds right producing natural sounding music. It is in no way harsh, decay around instruments is stunning, great dynamics and the separation of complex pieces is tremendous. We are hearing things we never heard before and that is not just “oh I never knew there was a cow bell/triangle there” but real differences. It is meant to have about 200 hrs break-in and the DAC is probably about half way there, the Alpha USB has been in the system for about 2 months already.

I think it is definitely a keeper though I have an Audio Research DSPRE and possibly a DCS Debussy coming in a week or so on trial.

[Diapason]

Sounds exciting. Wonder how the others will compare?

[Sligolad]

I have been breaking in a Meitner MA-1 for the last couple of weeks and it sounds amazing.
If you are interested in doing a comparison with all the other kit let me know and I can bring it along for a run out anytime?

Cheers,
Pearse.

[Diapason]

Meitner, eh? Serious kit too!

[HiFiFan]

I have been breaking in a Meitner MA-1 for the last couple of weeks and it sounds amazing.
If you are interested in doing a comparison with all the other kit let me know and I can bring it along for a run out anytime?

Cheers,
Pearse.

Hi Pearse,
That would be interesting, unfortunately I am not currently living in Ireland. I have read great things about the EMM Labs DAC2X and given that the Meitner MA-1 is from similar lineage I would imagine it sounds great. There are so many good DACs out there now I think it is more a matter of personal taste and system synergy as to which DAC to get. Thanks for the offer, I’m sorry I can’t take you up on it, it would have been an enjoyable evening.

[Sligolad]

Shame that as it would have been a good mix of Dacs to hear together.
I went to the UK to hear the EMM labs Dac2x compared to the Meitner with a view to purchasing the Dac2x after the reviews and after lots of switching back and forth between both I could not hear a significant difference to warrant an extra 10k.
Some tracks I could hear no difference and some tracks I could hear a difference.

The one thing that put me off is that we could not get the Dac2x to work off Jplay from my laptop yet no issue with the Meitner.
Oddly enough that was the real deal breaker at the time for me....just as well as I would have broke the bank otherwise.

[tony]

How are the art audio mono's working out for you Pearse?

[Sligolad]

I am really liking them Tony, there is a lot of weight in the midrange which I like.
They will certainly keep the house warm in the winter!!
If you want to drop around some time for a listen just give me a call, I would be interested in your opinion.

[tony]

I am really liking them Tony, there is a lot of weight in the midrange which I like.
They will certainly keep the house warm in the winter!!
If you want to drop around some time for a listen just give me a call, I would be interested in your opinion.

Will take you up on that Pearse would really like to hear all that new gear. I think the meitner is out of the question for me.Anyway I couldn't bear upsetting poor John by switching to meitner.

[Diapason]

I am really liking them Tony, there is a lot of weight in the midrange which I like.

Any chance of a pic? I do enjoy a bit of audio porn...