Any insight with the Berkeley Alpha DAC ..??

Thanks Steve. I look forward to seeing those products at RMAF. I assume you'll provide pointers to brands and room as the date approaches?

I think you need the sound card in order to pass the 24/192 in all its glory.

Steve, is there any inherent advantage to any of the three approaches? Specifically, on a Mac, one could go out via any of the three -- USB, Firewire, or S/PDIF via the optical out. Which is better? And for the future, when we can hopefully expect to start downloading 24/96 or even 24/192 music, which solution will support the high rez stuff and be most future proof?

Thanks Steve. There are an increasing number of USB-capable DACs out today, including the Benchmark, the Bel Canto, PS Audio, and several Wavelength models. At least for the first three, my impression is that their USB inputs are not exactly setting the world on fire. Why is that? Is there a trick to processing an audio signal via USB?

Back to the Berkeley Audio unit, I wonder how the new Bryston DAC stacks up against it. The Bryston, at 40% of the price of the Alpha DAC, seems fairly comparable features-wise, with the exception of no volume control and no HDCD. Just curious to hear peoples' impressions of both of these as they start to get out into the market. Given the price difference, you would think the Berkeley would be in another league -- and it may be -- but Bryston is, after all these years, probably quite efficient at design and manufacturing and they maybe can deliver more for less than a small company like BAD can. Maybe.

A bump to Waltersalas -- how's it going with the Berkeley?

Thanks -- great comments!