Hear the New Breakthrough Audio Quality Products from Berkeley Audio Design at AXPONA 2025, April 11-13, Room 2 Nirvana A at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel.

The Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 Receives An Outstanding Review In The Absolute Sound Podcast “Best DACs Search” Click on the image below to watch the review.

Introducing The New Alpha USB Series 2

Breakthrough audio quality - much more information with much less noise

Berkeley Audio Design DACs Receive 2023 TAS Golden Ear Awards

Berkeley Audio Design DACs Introduced Two And Four Years Ago Outperform New Modular DACs That Cost Five To Ten Times More. What Makes That Possible?

Unlike other manufacturers who use performance limiting modular construction, our first design priority is audio quality. Period. An excellent example is clocking. Placing the conversion clock extremely close to the conversion device is essential for the best audio quality. That means the conversion clock must be on the same circuit board as the conversion device. With modular designs the clock is a considerable distance from the conversion device on a separate circuit board or worse, in a separate enclosure. The clock signal goes through drivers, connectors, cables more connectors and receivers before it arrives at the conversion device. Unless the clock’s full performance arrives at the conversion device it is wasted. That is why Berkeley DAC designs place the conversion clock a fraction of an inch from the conversion device and connect the clock signal using an impedance-controlled transmission line which is impossible with a modular design.

"Magazines naturally focus on presenting to their readers what’s new, but it’s also important that we don’t overlook those previously reviewed products that spectacularly over-perform at their price point. The Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 is such a product. I’ve reviewed all three generations of the DAC and used it as my reference for many years."

Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound, September, 2023

"The Reference Series 3 extends the Alpha DAC Reference’s status as the ne plus ultra in digital decoding, and will remain at the front end of my reference system."

—Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound, October 2019

"The Alpha DAC Series 3 is a terrific bargain and an unqualified triumph."

—Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound, October 2021

All Berkeley Audio Design Products Receive 2023 TAS Editors’ Choice Awards

Alpha DAC Series 3 and Alpha USB Receive TAS 2022 Editors’ Choice Awards

Alpha DAC Series 3 Receives TAS 2021 Golden Ear Award

The Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 Receives 2020 SoundStage! Australia Outstanding Performance Award

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2019 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest The Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 Receives Two Best of Show Awards

Neil Gader’s Best of Show

by Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound

Best Sound (Cost No Object) read more

…my heart kept returning to the Joseph Pearl 3 with Berkeley Audio Design sourcing Doshi Audio power. Even in a smallish room the sound was effortless, and brimming with musicality and warmth. Take my money, please.

Steven Stone’s Best of Show

by Steven Stone, The Absolute Sound

Best Sound (Cost No Object) read more

…The digital side used the Aurender W20SE server ($22,000), Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB ($1995) and Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 ($22,000). Analog tube-based electronics included the Doshi Audio V3 phonostage ($17,995), V3 linestage ($17,995), and V3 monoblock amplifiers ($36,996/pr.). Loudspeakers were Joseph Audio’s new Pearl 20/20 Graphene ($37,995/pr.).

Field-Installable MQA Rendering Upgrade   

MQA Rendering and Greatly Improved PCM Audio Quality    
Now Available for Every Berkeley Audio Design DAC   

unsolicited comments from owners who installed the MQA Upgrade:

"I am completely amazed. It only took a couple of seconds to know this is a huge improvement."
"It took about 0.5 seconds to begin the laughing in glee at the difference. Astonishing.....truly."
"I performed the upgrade this past weekend, and am delighted with the audible improvement!"
"The results are absolutely brilliant. The whole thing just sounds as close to live as I've heard."
"MQA sounds terrific but PCM is too good to be true. Don’t know how you did it, but it’s genius."

The Field-Installable MQA Rendering Upgrade is available directly from Berkeley Audio Design or through your Berkeley Audio Design dealer if they perform the installation. The Upgrade is provided as a complete kit sent by FedEx Express that can be installed by an owner in less than 30 minutes.

To order the MQA Rendering Upgrade kit please send an email to info@berkeleyaudiodesign.com with the serial number of your Alpha DAC, Alpha DAC Series 2, Alpha DAC Reference Series or Alpha DAC Reference Series 2.  The Alpha DAC Series 3 and Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 include MQA Rendering as standard. We will respond promptly with an email that provides complete ordering and payment information.

Reviews & Awards