Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series 3P Digital-to-Analog Converter

The Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series 3P brings the company’s newest Perfected Technology from the flagship Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P into a more compact reference-grade digital-to-analog converter. New proprietary RF waveguide technology, ultra-low-noise reclocking and extremely low-noise software are engineered to improve time-domain accuracy while preserving the spatial, transient and timbral information contained in the recording. Berkeley Audio Design

Designed specifically around high-performance PCM conversion, the Alpha DAC Series 3P supports 24-bit PCM from 32kHz through 192kHz, MQA Rendering to 384kHz and above, HDCD decoding, selectable digital filters and ultra-low phase-noise precision clocking. Its balanced XLR and RCA analog outputs incorporate precision variable level control, allowing the DAC to operate through a preamplifier or directly into a compatible power amplifier. Berkeley Audio Design

Perfected Technology

The Series 3P incorporates Perfected Technology originally developed for the Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P. Berkeley's engineering emphasis is specifically on reducing time-domain distortion—the timing errors and noise that can obscure subtle spatial and timbral information even when conventional distortion measurements appear extremely low. Berkeley Audio Design

Rather than defining the new model around a higher advertised sampling rate, Berkeley concentrated on the accuracy of the complete conversion process.

Proprietary RF Waveguide Technology

A central advancement of the Alpha DAC Series 3P is Berkeley's new proprietary RF waveguide technology.

The architecture is designed to control radio-frequency interference around the DAC's sensitive digital conversion and analog circuitry. Berkeley combines this with new low-noise software and reclocking technology as part of the Series 3P's time-domain-focused design. Berkeley Audio Design

This is one of the major distinctions between the new Series 3P and the previous Alpha DAC Series 3.

Ultra-Low-Noise Reclocking

Berkeley employs newly developed ultra-low-noise reclocking together with ultra-low phase-noise precision conversion clocks.

Dedicated precision clocking supports:

44.1kHz • 48kHz • 88.2kHz • 96kHz • 176.4kHz • 192kHz

with a specified input tolerance of ±100 ppm. Berkeley Audio Design

By reducing timing uncertainty before digital-to-analog conversion, Berkeley targets improved transient definition, image localization and low-level resolution rather than relying solely on downstream jitter correction.

AES/EBU, Dual BNC S/PDIF & Toslink Inputs

The Alpha DAC Series 3P provides four dedicated digital inputs:

• 1 × AES/EBU — 110Ω XLR
• 2 × S/PDIF — 75Ω BNC
• 1 × Toslink optical

All accept 24-bit PCM with sampling rates from 32kHz through 192kHz. Berkeley Audio Design

Berkeley intentionally does not incorporate a conventional USB input. For USB-equipped servers and computers, the separate Alpha USB Reference Series can convert asynchronous USB to precision-reclocked AES/EBU or 75Ω BNC S/PDIF while providing extensive electrical isolation between the USB source and DAC. Berkeley Audio Design

That architecture is particularly relevant when pairing the Series 3P with a high-performance music server.

Balanced XLR & RCA Analog Outputs

The Series 3P provides both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA stereo analog outputs.

Balanced XLR output reaches a maximum of +18dBu / 6.15Vrms, with Berkeley recommending +12dBu / 3.1Vrms or lower for normal operation.

The RCA output provides a maximum of 3.25Vrms, with 2Vrms or lower recommended. XLR wiring follows the standard Pin 2 positive configuration. Berkeley Audio Design

The adjustable output architecture makes the DAC suitable for both conventional preamplifier-based systems and direct-amplifier configurations.

Precision Digital Volume & Balance Control

The Alpha DAC Series 3P includes a high-resolution digital volume and balance control with a total operating range of 60dB.

Volume adjustment is available in 0.1dB steps, while independent left/right gain trim operates in extremely fine 0.05dB increments. Berkeley Audio Design

This allows precise system gain matching and enables the DAC to connect directly to compatible power amplifiers when eliminating a separate preamplifier is desirable.

MQA Rendering to 384kHz and Above

The Alpha DAC Series 3P automatically detects an MQA Core-decoded signal and performs MQA Rendering to 384kHz and above. Berkeley Audio Design

The distinction is important: Berkeley specifies MQA Rendering, not full first-stage MQA decoding of an untouched MQA stream.

HDCD Decoding

For legacy digital libraries and CD transports, the Series 3P retains HDCD decoding.

It detects the 16-bit HDCD flag at 44.1kHz and the 24-bit HDCD flag at all supported sampling rates. Berkeley Audio Design

That gives owners of large CD and ripped-disc collections access to HDCD information without adding another digital processor.

Multiple Digital Filters

Berkeley provides multiple selectable digital filter options, allowing the reconstruction filter to be chosen according to the recording and system configuration.

The front panel displays the selected filter along with sampling rate and attenuation information. Absolute phase can also be inverted directly from the front panel or remote control. Berkeley Audio Design

Direct-to-Power-Amplifier Capability

The combination of precision variable output, fine balance adjustment and substantial maximum analog output means the Alpha DAC Series 3P can function as both DAC and digital preamplifier.

For a digital-only reference system, the signal path can therefore be reduced to:

Music Server → Alpha DAC Series 3P → Power Amplifier → Loudspeakers

Berkeley explicitly specifies that its outputs can be connected directly to power amplifiers. Berkeley Audio Design

Exceptional Measured Performance

At Berkeley's recommended output levels, the Series 3P is specified for distortion of:

≤ -120dBFS

At maximum output level:

THD+N < -110dBFS

At sampling rates of 88.2kHz and higher, frequency response is specified at ±0.1dB from below 0.1Hz to 35kHz, extending to -3dB at 59kHz with 176.4kHz and 192kHz material. Berkeley Audio Design

Purpose-Built PCM Architecture

The Alpha DAC Series 3P is fundamentally a PCM digital-to-analog converter. Berkeley specifies input sampling rates from 32kHz to 192kHz with a maximum 24-bit word length. The manufacturer does not list native DSD input or DoP support for the Series 3P. Berkeley Audio Design

For SEO accuracy, I would not describe this product as a DSD DAC. Its engineering proposition is exceptionally accurate PCM conversion rather than maximizing the number of supported digital formats.

All-Metal IR Remote

The Series 3P includes Berkeley's all-metal IR remote control, providing access to the DAC's principal operating functions from the listening position.

The front-panel interface provides controls and indicators for input selection, signal lock, HDCD detection, absolute phase, attenuation, sample rate, filter selection and display brightness. Berkeley Audio Design

The Alpha DAC Series 3P is offered with either a Silver or Black front panel. Berkeley Audio Design

Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series 3P Technical Specifications

These specifications match Berkeley Audio Design's current Series 3P documentation. Berkeley Audio Design

Alpha DAC Series 3P vs. Reference Series 3P

The Alpha DAC Series 3P and Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P share the core Perfected Technology philosophy, including RF-control technology, ultra-low phase-noise clocking and Berkeley's emphasis on time-domain accuracy. They also share the same basic input formats, output levels, volume-control resolution, published frequency response and headline distortion specifications. Berkeley Audio Design

The Reference Series 3P remains Berkeley's flagship implementation, with its more elaborate RF waveguide isolation architecture, substantially heavier construction and larger 30-pound chassis. The standard Series 3P measures just 2.3 × 16.7 × 10.6 inches and weighs 11.6 pounds, compared with the Reference model's 3.5 × 17.5 × 12.5 inches and 30 pounds. Berkeley Audio Design

That distinction is worth making clear on The Grid's product pages: the Series 3P is not simply the Reference 3P in a different enclosure, but it brings Berkeley's newest-generation technology into a significantly more accessible implementation.

Alpha DAC Series 3P at The Grid HiFi

The Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series 3P is an exceptional foundation for a high-end digital front end, particularly when paired with a dedicated music server offering AES/EBU or 75Ω BNC digital output.

The Grid HiFi can build the complete Series 3P system around an Aurender N20, N30SA, N50 or other reference digital transport, with the appropriate digital interface, amplification, cabling and loudspeakers. For USB-based sources, the system can also be configured with Berkeley's dedicated Alpha USB Reference Series reclocking and isolation interface.

Considering the Berkeley Alpha DAC Series 3P? Call The Grid HiFi at (713) 218-8120 to build the complete digital front end around it.