Search the Community

I have a Berkeley Alpha DAC 1st Generation (not upgradable to mkII). I have been running Pure Music through an old Mac G5 with a Lynx sound card AES into the Berkeley Alpha DAC. Time and software upgrades have conspired to pretty much force me out of the G5. I bought a mac mini recently so no more AES out. My thought process was to get a Berkeley Alpha USB and problem solved. Then I started reading pretty good things about the Auralic Vega. My questions is whether to keep a 1st generation Alpha DAC and add the Alpha USB or just get an Auralic Vega. Any thoughts? Happy to provide any additional information required. Thanks.

Hello All, Haven't made the leap to the Berkeley Alpha USB (have the DAC) and am ready to pounce but if I consider the cost of the unit then add in a USB cable and a second balanced digital cable...throw in a power cord...I'm now knocking on a door in the neighborhood of the Debussy. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks WDW

ROON – The Ultimate Tool for the Music LoverComputer Audiophile Review and Video Every once in awhile a new software program comes out that re-imagines the way you can enjoy your digital music collection. ROON is exactly that type of program and is specifically designed to help you experience your music like never before. ROON transforms files and streams into a music collection that you can enjoy everywhere. Most people have ripped CDs, downloads and streaming services across multiple devise and users. ROON brings it all into a single music experience beautifully connected by rich images and a host of information. ROON introduces you to a world of information for your collection with album covers, artwork, artist and composer bios with up to date new releases- all while noticing trends in your collection to suggest other tracks you may enjoy. You can even use Focus Mode to organize your collection in different ways based on how you want to view it. All of these features provide Audiophile quality playback, with Direct Path and Signal Mode features. From earbuds to Hi-Fi DACs to network players, listen in one room or around the house with AirPlay, with more streaming formats to come. It runs on a windows computer or Mac, with the capability to be controlled from another computer or tablet (android or iPad). Not only does ROON do all of these things, but also does so while providing an amazing user experience that is both intuitive and visually stunning. We’re really digging ROON and even more excited to offer you a lifetime subscription for 25% off, 50% off or even completely FREE with the purchase of one of the following DACs or any component we sell (some restrictions apply). These offers are a great way to get into computer audio or to take your existing digital playback system to the next level. Recommended 25% off ROON offers* Ayre Codex DAC/headphone amp/preamp The Ayre Codex can blend seamlessly between working as a stand-alone DAC, DAC/Preamp combination, or Headphone Amplifier/DAC. It’s got a sleek casing that is filled with Ayre’s latest technologies that allow the versatility of being used as a serious home stereo set-up or a basic desktop headphone system. The Codex also features a high-quality analog power supply, which is almost unheard of at this price. The Codex offers an outstanding value that is sure to impresses even the toughest critic. All of its features and versatility make the Codex a perfect fit for ROON. Auralic Vega DAC The Auralic Vega is a wonderful Digital Audio Processor t has Flexible Filter Mode, which has six built-in modes, a linear phase filter, a minimum phase filter, a slow roll-off filter, and several noise filters for native DSD conversion. To maximum usage of these filters, VEGA lets you customize according to different formats, tuning sound best to personal preference. The VEGA also has the Femto Master Clock. This gives the DAC and Up-Sampling circuit an ultimate clock with minimized jitter and low phase noise. It utilizes a crystal oscillator that is aerospace quality, and generates a master clock with extremely low jitter at 82 femtoseconds by also using an ultra-low noise linear power supply and temperature compensation technology. Recommended 50% off ROON offers* Luxman DA-06 DAC “The music made by the Luxman DA-06 is rich, resolute, refined, and oh so smooth. Regardless of my music’s pedigree, I found myself enjoying entire album’s worth upon album’s worth, getting sucked into their sounds and moods to the point of being completely lost in tunes. I cannot think of a higher compliment to pay a piece of hi-fi gear.” - Michael Lavorgna, Audiostream June 2013 (Full Review here) Luxman’s DA-06 DAC is one fine piece of gear and one of the most musical we offer at any price. Advancing the state of the art, the Luxman DA-06 can handle up to 24/192 though its AES and S/PDIF inputs, and up to 2x DSD via USB and there are user-selectable filters for both PCM and DSD. Digital inputs are upsampled and processed at 32/384 and there are USB, SPDIF, AES/EBU and Toslink inputs on the back. DSD files played back on the Luxman DA-06 have a musicality and fluidity that we rarely hear from digital playback ever before. Its smooth and rich presentation is never etched or harsh. We can listen to this piece for hours and hours without the slightest hint of listening fatigue. Bricasti M1 USB DAC “The Bricasti M1 USB DAC is a state-of-the-art design offering impeccable performance and a wide selection of digital reconstruction filters so that you can fine tune its performance to both your preference and the personality of your system.” - Frank Berryman, Ultra High End Review The Bricasti M1 digital to analog converter is a dual mono design; there are two completely isolated channels, each with its own dedicated linear power supply, D/A converter, DDS clocking, and analog circuitry. This design insures that analog cross talk is virtually non-existent, that the necessary power requirements for each channel are well met and isolated from each other and the digital processing is isolated, having its own power supply. With their twin DAC design, using the stereo ADI 1955 D/A converter in a mono configuration optimizes the dynamic range for each channel. The M1 also includes Bricasti's own proprietary filter technology, further opening new territory with what is achievable in a modern D/A reference. Recommended FREE ROON offers* Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC RS "The Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC Reference redefines what we can expect from digital playback" - Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound The Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series (RS) is easily one of the top performing DACs in todays very crowded market. Let’s face it, as good as hi-res files can sound, most of our collections are made up of standard Red Book (16/44.1) files. This is where this DAC shines above the rest. By using multiple filter options and ultra-low phase noise precision clocking, it has the ability to extract every last detail and nuance of the performance. EMM Labs DAC2X “The updated DAC2X may provide the best DSD playback I can remember hearing in my system, but it also shines with PCM as well." - Chris Connaker, computeraudiophile.com (Full Review Here) Re-introducing the EMM Labs DAC2X – built with the award winning reference technology in the XDS1. The DAC2X features the latest generation MDAT2™ up-converting DSP, MFAST™ jitter removal system, MCLK™ master clock and Ed Meitner’s hand built 5.6Mhz proprietary discrete dual differential D-to-A converters. MDAT2™ works by taking all digital audio (PCM and DSD) and does real-time transient filtering and up-conversion to 2xDSD (5.6Mhz/6.1Mhz) before being sent to Ed`s proprietary custom made 2xDSD (5.6Mhz/6.1Mhz) DACs (MDAC modules) for conversion to analog. *Please note that these special offers with Roon cannot be combined with any other offer. Also, these offers were simply recomendations, so contact us if you are interested in packaging ROON with something else on our site. Buyer will receive code for ROON via email after purchase is complete and product has been delivered. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to Live Chat, Email, or call us at 1-844-242-6272 and we’ll be happy to help! Want more exclusive offers and a chance to earn rewards? Create a FREE Club Ciamara Membership Rewards Account. Don’t forget that most orders include free shipping! Click here for details. 1.844.CIAMARA (1.844.242.6272) High End Audio Store NYC - Experience Ciamara

We've got some great deals on a variety of gear from Black Friday through Cyber Monday (11/25-28). In many cases we may only have a limited number of these at this price, so be sure to put your order immediately to take advantage of these fantastic deals. Click either image to see the specials.

Putting up for sale this excellent sounding and award winning, $5000 DAC. Here is what Robert Harley had to say: ""The original Alpha DAC was a groundbreaking product, both in absolute performance and in its spectacular value." This is a series or version 1 unit and I am the third owner. It is an 8/10 on the Audiogon scale. I have the original box, manual, and remote. Buyer pays actual shipping costs from 03049. Payment via PayPal is preferred, but if you pay in such a way that it incurs fees, the buyer is responsible for covering the fees. Please let me know if you have any questions. George

We've got lots of new products that we'd love to show you. New and Forthcoming Products from Auralic - Altair Wireless DAC/Streamer/Headphone Amp ELAC - Discovery Music Server and Uni-Fi Speakers Luxman - DA-250 DAC/Headphone Amp/Preamp and L-590AX MKII ENIGMAcoustics - Athena A1 Headphone Amp Berkeley Audio Design - Alpha DAC Reference Series 2 Shunyata - Denali Series Pioneer - SE-Master1 Headphones and XDP-100R Player M2Tech - Joplin MKII A/D Converter, Marley Headphone Amp and Young DSD DAC For full details, click here to link to our latest newsletter. 1.844.CIAMARA (1.844.242.6272) High End Audio Store NYC - Experience Ciamara