Has anyone compared the DacMagic with the Azur 840c digital inputs? You would think they would be close or nearly identical, but things often don't work that way.
Praise for DacMagic
Just wanted to give some very positive feedback for the Cambridge Audio DacMagic DAC. It doesn't seem to get much attention around these forums, but I am enjoying it immensely. In my opion, terrific value for the money.
During the past few weeks, I have used it with great success both within a PC music server and 2-channel environments.
Who knows, I may end up switching it out for a better DAC in the future, but for now I am quite pleased.
As a side note, I was not impressed with it at first when used to enhance an NAD C541 CDP. On a whim, I switched out the NAD for a modest Sony DVD player that is around 5-7 years old. Then, everything came into place and the music was rich and detailed. The Sony DVD/DacMagic combination blew the doors off the NAD/DacMagic combination. Go figure...
During the past few weeks, I have used it with great success both within a PC music server and 2-channel environments.
Who knows, I may end up switching it out for a better DAC in the future, but for now I am quite pleased.
As a side note, I was not impressed with it at first when used to enhance an NAD C541 CDP. On a whim, I switched out the NAD for a modest Sony DVD player that is around 5-7 years old. Then, everything came into place and the music was rich and detailed. The Sony DVD/DacMagic combination blew the doors off the NAD/DacMagic combination. Go figure...
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I have the DacMagic hooked up my pc and listen to itunes downloads, to streaming jazz, to Mariner baseball games. Its a great little dac. Fits nice on my desktop. I have it running side by side to a $6,000+ combo transport (Accustic Arts) and Dac (Audio Note). The difference is maybe 10% and some tunes there just is not much difference. I have an upgraded usb cable coming so imagine it might take another step forward. Amazing value from my point of view. |
Auronthas, the sound is warm and musical, you will be pleased. We kinda listen to similar genres and I can tell you that jazz and vocal jazz are the two that semm to perform best in my set up. When you do get the DacMagic, give it some time to settle down. But even out of the box, from my experience at least, it improved the soundstage, imaging, detail, and tighter low end, but still maintaining the warm character of the system. Hope this helps. |
I currently own both a Benchmark DAC 1 and a DacMagic. I use both in my main system. They're both very good (and the DacMagic is a very good value, to boot), but they sound quite different from each other. The Benchmark is noticeably leaner sounding and, as with many components that are tonally balanced for this character, it is very revealing. The sense of transparency to the source is very high. From the upper mids through the treble (to the limit of my 51 year old hearing, anyway), the DAC 1 is "laid back" which provides a nice octave to octave balance. A bonus is superb imaging with dramatic depth. The Cambridge is both warmer and a touch brighter. It might sound less "transparent", but more dynamic. Imaging is quite good, but not at the DAC 1 level. To me, this is a system dependent choice. I rotate 4 different speakers (Merlin, Verity, Ohm+Velodyne, Magnepan+Velodyne) in my main system and each one sounds a bit different when a different DAC is rotated into service. The added dynamics of the Cambridge benefit both of the sub/sat combos, which are getting more time these days, so the DacMagic is my choice. OTOH, I prefer the Benchmark with the Verity and the Merlin is a toss-up. All, of course, IMHO. Hope that's useful. Marty |
4est, I would like to hear the difference between DacMagic vs DAC-1, initially i was thinking to buy Benchmark until the launch of DacMagic. Currently, my CDP is Cambridge Audio 540C V2, i believe DacMagic will well match with CDP since they are from the same manufacturer. I would also connect external DAC to Squeezebox V3 to bypass its Burr Brown internal DAC. |
Audiowoman, the music gets cleaned up. This can be apparent in different ways but overall there's better resolution. This can lead to other perceptions, for example: image fills out, becomes less flat. Leading edges of notes are clearer so that instruments and rhythms too are better defined. Harmonics are sweeter and timbres more natural. Soundstage gets bigger. IME there is no downside to mechanical and electrical isolation/damping and the cost is minimal for the improvement gained. They have to be regarded as tweaks because there is the question of degree: they don't make as large an improvement in the above areas as the right component upgrade. However they are worthwhile tweaks, just as essential in my book as quality cables, and if an upgrade ( or any other kind of grade ) does come along, they will work with the new piece too. |
OT: Ihcho, I concur that the NAD player ( I have a 541 without the i ) is very good by itself. Back on topic, sort of : anyone using a DACMagic and wondering about the effect of a better transport might first try applying the tweaks I have used with success on the NAD, to wit : vibration-damping footers ( Bright Star or Herbie's ) and an isolation transformer for the AC. Final icing on the cake is a Herbie's Black Hole damper on the CD itself. Isonodes Herbie's feet Black Hole Isolation transformers can be found on eBay. 125 VA to 250 VA rating should be fine. |
I also own a DACMagic and my experience is similar to yours. When I first received it, I hooked it up with a modestly priced Onkyo CD player which I used only as a transport. However, when I substituted a far more expensive Pioneer Elite universal player, the change was dramatically better -- and I am something of a skeptic about revolutionary changes in performance. Sam Tellig, in the May issue of "Stereophile", reports similar results when switching from a Marantz CD player to a more "robust" one manufactured by Denon. |