Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB Reference Series Interface

Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB Reference Interface Convert the USB output of your streamer into low-noise, low-jitter AES/EBU or S/PDIF for your standalone DAC Audio streamers are essentially specialized, optimized computers, and many of them offer only USB output. USB is a convenient way to offer high-resolution music, but is often not cleaned up enough for high-fidelity audio. The Alpha USB Reference Series USB converter lets you use a USB output streamer, music server, or even, at least for a short while, a laptop, and converts the often noisy and jittery USB signal into a clean AES or SPDIF output. These signals are far less jitter-prone, and in addition, the Alpha USB Reference uses ultra-low phase noise reclocking technology from the Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P. In addition, this reference unit uses increased enclosure mass and vibration isolation. The result is an unprecedented level of time domain coherence that results in dramatically real music reproduction. More USB Reference The Alpha USB Reference Series is a noise isolating, reclocking digital audio interface with an asynchronous USB 2.0 high-speed audio input optimized to connect to modern high speed, low latency USB 2.0 high-speed audio drivers. It has selectable coaxial SPDIF or balanced AES/EBU digital audio outputs.  The USB input is galvanically (DC), capacitively, and inductively isolated from the digital audio output which is re-clocked using the proprietary ultra-low phase noise clock technology in the Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P. The result is an unprecedented reduction of time and frequency domain noise and dramatically improved audio realism. The Alpha USB Reference Series has a proprietary USB 2.0 High Speed Audio input data connection and switch selectable output signal type – either coaxial SPDIF using a 75Ω BNC connector or balanced AES/EBU using an XLR connector. Sampling rates up to 192 kHz and word lengths up to 24-bit are supported.   Great care was taken in the design of the Alpha USB Reference Series to isolate streamer/server noise on the USB input from the AES/SPDIF digital audio output. The USB input receiver and processor are powered by the USB input source, while the AES/SPDIF digital audio output ultra-low phase noise master clocks and line drivers are powered by a separate isolated linear power supply. There is also no DC connection and a very high degree of capacitive and inductive isolation between the USB input and the AES/SPDIF digital audio output.  Three key factors combine to achieve the unmatched audio performance of the Alpha USB Reference Series; ultra-low phase noise audio output master clocks using the same technology in the Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P, high speed, low latency input software and an unprecedented degree of electrical isolation between the USB input and the AES/SPDIF digital audio output  The Alpha USB Reference Series is designed to work with modern Linux based music servers and Apple Macintosh and Windows PC computers.  A User Guide and 6’ power cord are included with the Alpha USB Reference Series.   Specifications Input: USB B Audio 2.0 Standard asynchronous connection Outputs: 1x Coaxial BNC SPDIF, 1 x AES XLR Sampling rates: 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz, up to 24 bit Supported operating systems: Apple, Windows, and Linux Dimensions (WHD): 10.5" x 2.3” x 5.38” Weight: 2.8 lb.