astaroth

I'v been searching for a while trying to know witch filter, 1 to 4, do people use on their Alpha Dac but without finding anything. Berkeley guy's recommend filter 1.16 as it's the default one. At first, when i tried between different filters, i didn't find any difference. But recently, after upgrading my system to better components, i find myself liking filter 2.16 more than the first one. I think #2 enlarge the sondstage quite a lot and plunge you deep into the music compared to #1 that seems more focussed. I didn't tried filter #3 and 4 yet but i would like to have your perception on this for those of you who have been playing with their filters. Thanks. Btw, can't wait to hear Berkeley's upcomming Alpha USB. Specialy the AES/EBU connection.

Sorry to bring back this thread from a certain death. I'v just discovered "cbarber" applescrip for renicing Amarra, itunes, and coreaudio. After some experiments with the "sudo renice" on the terminal, it's was pretty clear just after the first try that this little tweak was a no brainer. Much better soundstage. Voices and instrument are much more fuller. So i have setup the applescrip from "cbarber" and it's perfect! But i'm a little on the freak side when it comes to extract the most from my system. From what i'v read, The maximum value we can attribute is -20, giving the most ressource the the reniced process. And if you check the scrip, the renice values for amarra, itunes, and coreaudio are -17, -16, and -15 respectivlely. So is there a reason that those 3 values are not at -20? I did change the scrip with all 3 values to -20 and quite frankly, didn't realy heard any differences from the scrip with the original values. Did i miss something or it's perfectly normal? Is there any reasons for these specific values? Thanks!

Great to know Chris is reviewing it! But i think there's really something wrong with the way the internal battery is charging. Sincerely i cannot be the only one in this situation. What i mean by that is if Amarra is running on the mac, even when there is no music playing, my alpha dac still shoes the sample rate. Like the connection between Amarra and the dac is still active. The way i read it, the wavelink battery only charge when there is no music playing. I don't know if others sees the problem like i see it, but the is no way the thing will charge if amarra is running, even without music playing. And to answer the question that might be asked, stopping Amarra and loading it is not really and option since i would have to open my 50" flat screen just to do that. Right now i'm controlling the playlist on the macmini via "Remote" on the IPad! Sorry to put the emphasis only on this cause beside what MIGHT be a inconvenient, the wavelink looks great.

Maybe nobody noticed but Wavelenght finally just released his new USB 24/192 Wavelink HS interface. Can't wait to read some reviews and maybe if i'm lucky hear it by myself if my seller can receive one someday. Can't stand any longer the optical link between my mac and the alpha dac! From what i can understand, and somebody stop me if i'm wrong, the wavelink gets it power from a liIon battery just like their Proton device. The literature on Wavelength website specifies that: " The battery is recharged when the computer is not active, asleep or off on many desktops" So logically and by reading this, when the mac is off=the battery is not charging. Since it's recommended to disable sleep mod, and thats what i'v allready done=the battery will not be charging. So the only thing left is if my computer is not active. I'm not sure about that one cause the mini is always on and so is amarra. The way amarra behave seems to always be active since when amarra is open, my alpha dac is showing the sample rate even when there's no music playing. So it would be like Amarra=active computer=the battery will not be charging! So basically what i'm asking is if there's a way to charge the thing one way or another? I'm looking forward to purchase the Wavelink but If i's not possible(in my case) to charge the battery, then it's a no go! Thanks!

Hey guys, maybe someone can help me cause perhaps i'm dumb or i simply don't understand. I'm trying to play HRX files from the DVD that came with my Berkeley Alpha dac on my macmini. Here's the deal, copied the first wav track from the hrx dvd to itunes and it WILL play on itunes but amarra stays neutral and won't convert the sample rate and the alpha dac shows 44KHZ. The mac mini is connected to the alpha dac through optical built-in output. Amarra will play 16/44 files no problem but with those 24/176 wave files it wont take over like it should. Did i make a mistake or did i miss something!

I know about mutine, but 2 times i have been trying to contact them without any answer. The guy doesn't respond his email. So it's kind of frustating, I can't buy it anymore from tweekgeek because of the new canadian suplier and that canadian suplier doesn't have any way of purchasing the thing beside contacting him by email. No online shopping, and not even a physical adress. Talk about a great way to promote a product!

Ok thanks for all your help! Finally i'm gonna go with a Hiface. I think it's the wise choice for the money. But look's like it's impossible to purchase that in canada anymore! Anybody have an idea?

To DacBuyer I will make it clear, every time i'v listned to the optical output from my mac book pro or mac mini against my Devilsound DAC or the HIface, the toslink is nowere near the sound of my other device. When i auditionned the berkeley alpha dac, the same thing appened again. Once i connected my Occotocoupler MKII from the toslink output of the macbook pro to the berkeley, everything became wrong. The soundstage collapse, sound becomes flat and dull, not inviting anymore. I woudn't say that it's crap, but there is a lot more better solution out there.

Yes exactly. The combination of Hiface coupled with Siltech SPDIF cable connected to the DCS Debussy is far superior than connecting the mac directly to the USB input. The sound is much more analog without being dull or flat or irritating HISS. Could a really good USB cable, like a locus design, would have made a difference? Maybe but the store didn't have such a cable. As for my comment of the berkeley USB interface being out in a year or two. When my seller called berkeley last week for when i would recieved my unit, i ask him if he could check for any USB interface the the compagny is working on. So told me that the Berkeley alpha dac will not change, and that they are indeed working on a USB interface but would be release only in about a year or two. Now, i don't want to start a war on this. But if it was true that the interface woud be out this year, my seller would had told me so cause he surrely knows i'm a potential buyer.

I know these topics hot by now but sincerely, too much is like not enough. Let me explain. First, i'm a proud new owner of a berkeley alpha dac. Well, will be when it's gonna be siting in my house! I auditioned it for about 3-4 hours and all i can say is wow! Compared it with the Devilsoud i had with me and although it's not a fair match, at least i know what i was missing. Then last week with one of my buddy, we had the chance to hear the new integrated amplifier DSI200 from Audio Research and while being there, listen to the new debussy from DCS. I was told that the DCS was so good that even the DSI200 was a bottleneck for this dac. True or false, the thing is that it's a great match. Can't say with Dac, alpha or debussy, is better cause the audition was completely different. Not same place, amp, cables, or speakers. While testing the DCS debussy, we tried the usb integration of the DCS + a Cardass usb cable vs a M2tech Hiface coupled with a pretty expensive Siltech coax cable vs a Ayre QB-9. To make a short story, the usb input of the DCS was no match and not by a small margin. What a surprise! Didn't know that little thing could sound so great. As for the QB-9, great little machine but again, no match for the DCS I was pretty much sold on the new Halide Bridge since it's already BNC(great for the alpha dac) and async. But with what i'v heard with the Hiface with this kind of cable, i'm back to square zero. The thing is, contrary as some had speculated earlier, supposedly berkeley will indeed be releasing a usb to AES/EBU interface but not until a year or two from now! So a future purchase but for now i have to find something that gives great sound without killing my wallet since it' a temporary solution. So here is the choices i think is great for my kind of situation: -M2tech Hiface=(24/192)Great price, but to get the kind of incredible sound i heard from it, well the siltech spdif cable is about 1200$ and once the berkeley interface is out, i wont have any uses of this cable. -Halide Bridge=(24/96)Seems great but not enough reviews yet. And without judging just by look, it would be suprised that the lack of isolation for the usb cable of the Halide would give an edge over the Hiface, but then again, i could be wrong! -Wavelengh Wavelink=(24/192)I think this will be the best converter on the market. The problem is, it's not out yet. And i wont wait another month or two. I'v waited a year to buy my alpha dac! -ART Legato=(16/44)From what i'v read, looks great but impossible to buy the thing . Seems there's too much demand. -Empirical Offramp 3=(24/192)This thing have the AES/EBU output the alpha dac would dare to uses but i hate the marketing for the thing! Ultraclock this, superclock that! PLEASE, without being on the negative side, i"m no engineering. So it is possible to make simpler like "I'm 5 years old and just want something between my mac min and my berkeley alpha dac" thanks you! All those solution seems great, maybe better that the coming solution from berkeley, who knows! If someone can help me making the wiser choice. It would be appreciated. Thanks!