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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: SonicSound on March 21, 2008, 06:03:17 PM

Title: BADA DAC
Post by: SonicSound on March 21, 2008, 06:03:17 PM: I am in the market for a referance DAC.

Has any one listened to the Berkeley Audio Design Associates Alpha DAC?

I wish Spectral had a 24bit unit :(

(http://www.berkeleyaudiodesign.com/files/QuickSiteImages/Picture_006b.jpg)

Berkeley Audio Design Associates Alpha DAC

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

•Highest audio quality DAC

•All distortion products below one part per million

•Sophisticated interpolation algorithm provides superb fidelity at all sampling rates up 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

•Designed by Pacific Microsonics Model One and Two design team

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

•Setup stored in non-volatile flash ROM

•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: 120/240VAC, 50/60Hz

•Power consumption: 30W
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: Tim on March 21, 2008, 06:16:20 PM: out of curiosity, what else are you running? That's a killer DAC, good luck with your search
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: SonicSound on March 21, 2008, 06:52:00 PM: DAC = Nuendo/Steinberg [RME] 8 I/0 96K
Pre Amp = Spectral DMC-30SS
Power Amp = Spectral DMA-250
Speakers = Avalon Acoustics Eidolon Diamonds

Quote from: Tim on March 21, 2008, 06:16:20 PM
out of curiosity, what else are you running? That's a killer DAC, good luck with your search
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: Tim on March 21, 2008, 07:01:58 PM: Thanks! Great rig - recording and playback ;D
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: SonicSound on March 22, 2008, 01:24:49 PM: Here are a couple links:

http://www.avguide.com/news/2008/01/23/ces-2008-robert-harley-tackles-disc-players-transports-and-dacs-at-ces/4/

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?postID=6382#6382
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: noahbickart on March 23, 2008, 06:05:55 PM: Looks nice, does anyone know if HDCD encoding survives the transfer to FLAC? Most of the Dick's Picks, etc. have the HDCD logo on them, now that they have been converted to flac and played off my server, would a dac like this recognize the signal as HDCD?

-Noah
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: RebelRebel on April 11, 2008, 11:32:51 AM: Digital Audio Denmark http://www.digitalaudio.dk/ax24.htm

http://lavryengineering.com/lrg_images/DA2002.jpg or the lavry black

http://www.weiss.ch/dac1/dac1.html

http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/dcs_scarlatti-dac.html
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: BC on April 11, 2008, 03:13:08 PM: No idea about the Berkeley, but the new Bel Canto DAC3 looks very well engineered!

http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/1107bc/
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: SonicSound on April 17, 2008, 12:46:37 PM: Teddy,

Have you listened to the DAD unit?

This is in about the same price range as the BADA [base unit I believe is $5K upto $20K].

Quote from: Teddy on April 11, 2008, 11:32:51 AM
Digital Audio Denmark http://www.digitalaudio.dk/ax24.htm

http://lavryengineering.com/lrg_images/DA2002.jpg or the lavry black

http://www.weiss.ch/dac1/dac1.html

http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/dcs_scarlatti-dac.html
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: RebelRebel on April 17, 2008, 04:21:54 PM: Digital Audio Denmark http://www.digitalaudio.dk/ax24.htm

http://lavryengineering.com/lrg_images/DA2002.jpg or the lavry black

http://www.weiss.ch/dac1/dac1.html

http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/dcs_scarlatti-dac.html

[/quote]
[/quote]

I have used their modular system before on a remote recording(when I was living in Heidelberg) and thought that the sound quality was superb, practically invisible(what a good DAC should be imo). I was very impressed. The mic amp is also very nice, and for a taper, the package should be a dream(great mic amp and ad/da in one). I know that the DAD has quite a few devoted users and pretty much every review ive seen is very favorable. I would certainly use it in my system, and when/if my mytek ever dies, I may grab one. DAD, the StageTec "True Match" (http://www.stagetec.com/stagetec/e_truematch.htm) and Mytek Stereo 96 are the only 3 DACs ive used that ive been thoroughly pleased with.
http://www.stagetec.com/stagetec/e_truematch.htm
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: Chilly Brioschi on May 12, 2008, 09:10:06 PM: not that it's in my budget, but it should be mentioned that Nagra makes a very formidable DAC
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: SonicSound on June 03, 2008, 08:42:25 PM: I just pulled the trigger...unit ships in one week.
Title: Re: BADA DAC
Post by: Tim on June 03, 2008, 08:50:40 PM: :drool: could you tape your stereo for me?

congrats man, let us know what you think.