I recently had a chance to audition the Berkeley Reference 3P and the Wadax Studio Player switched back and forth in the same system. Both are high end, top flight products and either would make me very happy. I kind of assumed the Wadax would be the easy winner, but that was not the case. The Wadax was great, very natural, tonally dense sound, a bit more musical than the Berkeley. The Berkeley, however, was the most transparent, detailed sound, with pinpoint imaging that I've heard from a DAC short of the $300k monsters. To my ears, it accomplished this without in any way sounding bright or sharp-which was not what I expected. I listened to tunes that expose a bright or sharp sound, and the Berkeley was rock solid to my ears. Very impressed.
DAC UPGRADE
I currently have a Weiss Dac 204 with a Modwright linear power supply. I have found that upgrading the DAC brings out music that I didn't know was on the recording. The 2 contenders are the Meitner MA3i and the Berkely Alpha Dac Series 3. I am leaning toward the Meitner MA3i as it comes with a network card to allow for streaming. I have partly asked this question before in a prior request, but my revised question is the difference in performance between the current and upgrade "substantial" enough to justify the upgrade. The difference in price between the two DACS is about $8500.00. I'd be willing to make the move if the difference in sound quality is substantial. I realize in this hobby there is the law of diminishing returns as you upgrade. I will endeavor to compare the new proposed DAC with my current dac, if possible. I know I am asking a question about value which is subjective to a great extent. Would appreciate any opinions regarding my question.
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The best DAC (or any audio gear) is the one reproduces the original music faithfully. Every gears I heard any audio gear that bring out new sounds are all about the sound. Not the music. Alex/Wavetouch audio |
My dealer sent me home with a bluenode sound Icon to try and told me anything more would be throwing money away! Hard to believe a shop owner who also carries Lumin would steer me to the budget piece? I've read so much positive about the Chord Dave that I wonder if you guys think it still holds its own being over a decade old design? |
Yes. I do. I make microphones which were sold to many recording studios and I was in few recording sessions. My mic records close to the original music. Also, my audio system reproduces the closest sound of the original record playing. All my system and gears (inc. DAC) are modded by me to sound the close to the original recording. The original music (and the original recording) delivers the best musicality and sound. Listening my system (the world’s best cleanest audio sound) makes my ears to be picky. I can’t hear the bad sound (they hurt my ears and brain like many wives refused to hear bad hi-fi, just more severe in my case). Only other audio systems I can listen for few minutes in the world (except my systems) are carlos269 and toddalin systems. Alex/Wavetouch audio |
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