Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference 3P

The Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 contains breakthrough technology that redefines the potential of digital audio quality. Experienced industry listeners who have heard the Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P are unanimous in their praise, saying that the Reference Series 3 clearly outperforms any other DAC they have heard, including those with six figure retail prices.

Reviews

"The Perfected Technology Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P achieves a level of time domain coherence never available before in an audio D to A converter. The result is profound musical realism. Time domain incoherence erases subtle spatial and timbral audio information essential to the experience of live music. Perfected Technology goes beyond sounding excellent to simply sounding real."

"...a stone bargain in today’s world of mega-priced DACs. In my view, they deliver the highest price-to-performance ratio of any digital front end I’ve heard."

"The Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P and Alpha USB Reference Series combination is competitive with the world’s best digital conversion but without the six-figure price tag."

"The Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P’s ultra-high resolution of each instrument’s transient structure, spatial separation, complete lack of blurring, and lifelike portrayal of the mechanism by which the instrument created the sound was nothing short of thrilling."

"Berkeley has upgraded its Reference DAC platform over the years, with each new version improving the product’s sound quality (I’ve reviewed all three models)…This new version, called the Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P, delivers an increase in musical performance that exceeds all the previous upgrades combined. Indeed, it sounds almost like a new DAC that competes in the top tier of digital converters regardless of price."

Specifications

•  Input sampling rate: 32kHz to 192kHz
• Ultra low phase noise Precision Clocking at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz sampling rates ± 100 ppm
•  Input word length: 24-bit
•  Two channel analog stereo outputs: XLR balanced with pin 2 positive and RCA unbalanced
•  Digital Inputs: AES - XLR, 110™; SPDIF1 - BNC, 75™; SPDIF2 - BNC, 75™; TOSLINK – Toslink optical connector
•  HDCD decoding detects 16-bit flag at 44.1kHz or 24-bit flag at all sampling rates
•  MQA Rendering and multiple digital filter options
•  Balanced analog output level: +18dBu (6.15Vrms) maximum,
• +12dBu (3.1Vrms) or lower recommended
•  Unbalanced analog output level: 3.25Vrms maximum, 2Vrms or lower recommended
• Digital volume & balance control: 0.1dB/step with .05dB/step L/R gain 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: 3.5”H X 17.5” W x 12.5”D
•  Weight: 30 lbs.
•  Mains power: 100/120/240VAC, 50 /60Hz
•  Power consumption: 25 W

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