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Asynchronous USB vs. SPDIF with regard to DAC upgrade

My system consists of the following:

  1. Weiss 204 DAC with Modwright Linear Power Supply
  2. Lumin U2 Mini  streamer with LHY Linear Power Supply
  3. Conrad Johnson Et-7 linestage
  4. Bryston 4B3 cubed power amplifier
  5. JBL 4349 horn loaded loudspeaker (sounds great at moderate levels)

Seeking a dac upgrade with a budget of $14,000.00. (new only)

At first I was only looking for Coax via SPDIF, but then an audiogon member educated me to the fact that with a USB Audio connection the internal clock is controlled by the Dac and not the streamer  as streamers usually will  not have the same clock quality as a high end Dac. I should mention do not use my computer in my system. The two candidates are the Weiss DAC 501 MKII and the Berkely Audio Alpha Series 3. I was advised that the Berkely does not come with a USB port and this is an add on.  I believe Berkely did not want to put the USB intterface in the Dac itself to avoid USB noise that comes from a computer.  My reading and research tells me a asynchronous USB port will sound better, less jitter than a coax SPDIF.  Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestion?  Thank you. 

 

kjl1065
zlone
1,357 posts
 

I will second @audphile1 advice to consider a DAC that supports Ethernet and serves as an endpoint. I recently picked up a Bricasti M3 to pair with my Innuos Zenith streamer using USB. On a whim I bought an Antipodes CX server at a good price and set it up as a Roon server and ran a direct Ethernet cable to the M3. There was no going back. I did all sorts of comparisons with the Zenith and USB, even tossing in a DDC so I could compare with SPDIF via AES. 

Now my thoughts are on upgrading the Bricasti, or trying the Meitner or Tambaqui, but I don’t think I will be going back to USB or SPDIF. It looks like the Weiss 501 supports this, I would give it a try, and don’t overlook a server upgrade as well. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,993 posts
 

There are dealers that would allow a home audition if you’re buying new. 
Berkeley’s lack of USB, no network card makes it a tough sell. Being s straight DAC only it will be much harder to resell on a used market and you will most likely take a significant hit. 
I would suggest finding a dealer that can allow you to audition and compare several DACs in your system or buy with return policy. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,993 posts
 

@kjl1065 here’s another valuable option in your price range

https://tmraudio.com/fresh-arrivals/dcs-bartok-apex-dac-d-a-converter-1-13/

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
1,181 posts
 

You need AES/EBU and USB because AES/EBU is limited to 24 bit and 192 kHz.

USB can play virtually anything including DSD and can also be converted to I2s. Don't buy a DAC without I2s.

I mostly use AES/EBU for PCM and USB for DSD.

There are much better DACs than the ones you mention. 

kjl1065's avatar
kjl1065 OP
89 posts
 

This is to lordmelton.  I have no doubt that there are better dacs. I believe in dealer service.  My dealer is always there for me and supports everything he sells and is always a phone call away to come to my premises and work on any issue that I may have, I find this invaluable. Both the Weiss 501MK II and the Berkely Alpha Dac series 3 are both excellent.   The Mola Mola Tambaqui,  T&A200, and Bricasti, as well as others, may be better. But I believe that it is not worth giving up superior service for a slightly better DAC. 

 

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