Cambridge Audio Dac Magic DAC $240 shipped conus

muncybob
muncybob Posts: 3,042
in For Sale (FS) Classifieds
I bought this just 2 months ago as an open box item from a dealer. Originally planned to start streaming from our computer but have since decided to get the turntable back in the mix and need the funds for a cartridge. Still in like new condition. I did not receive the stand to use in a vertical position. Plenty of info/reviews out on the internet. Will be shipped in original box(double boxed of course) along with the manual and power supply.
Yep, my name really is Bob.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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Comments

  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    Great DAC, pairs VERY WELL with the Black Cat Veloce BNC/RCA cable (so plan on buying one :smile: ). I should know, its what I run and dont feel the need to upgrade.

    Free bump
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    Gents, a lot of dac for the price.....this should be gone already.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    i can only pull up info on the 100 and plus. is this a current model?
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    This is it:
    http://www.whathifi.com/cambridge-audio/dacmagic/review

    I have no idea on manufactured date.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    The ol' original...

    Whoever buys this, pick up the Pangea power supply to replace the wall wart. You will be happy happy happy.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    deronb1 where are u?? This will do a great job for ya!!
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    how does this compare to the dacmagic-b or are they the same? they look the same.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    This is the only dac I have used or heard so I can't make a comparison for you. It is interesting though to switch between the different inputs and the 3 filters to see how the sound does change. I did not get to use the usb input though.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    Am I asking too much? Paid $275 shipped 2 months ago. Forgot to mention, I have a 1 year dealer warranty on it.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • scubalab
    scubalab Posts: 3,101
    OK, I'm going to ask what I consider a stupid question... BUT, I really don't have any experience with DACs. I know they do what the name suggests - convert digital (1s and 0s) to analog. I also know that most devices (iPods, mp3 players, CD players) have built-in DACs. I also realize that many members use DACs to stream music from mp3 players, computers, etc. My question is this... could I use this to improve the sound of my mp3 player? I currently just use the headphone out (on the mp3 player) to an available RCA input on my receiver. I always find that even with the mp3 player's volume up, I never get the same volumes/sound quality as I do with other sources CD player, etc.

    Additionally, how would the hookups go? Would I use the same cord (3.5mm to RCA) to connect the mp3 player to the DAC, then from the DAC to the receiver with interconnects? Isn't the signal already converted by the mp3 player using the headphone out? OR, would it be better to use the mp3 player's usb output to connect to the DAC's USB input and let the DAC do it's job?

    So sorry to thread-jack, but I'm confused. I am somewhat interested in this if it could solve my sound quality issues. Bob, you're in PA, right? Muncy, I assume? :) I'm in State College.

    Thanks in advance for the schooling to come! ;)
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    Yep, about an hour from you. I'll let somebody with more experience with DAC's answer your question.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    scubalab wrote: »
    ......My question is this... could I use this to improve the sound of my mp3 player?

    Well depends on a couple things.

    1. Type of MP3 player. MP3 player is a bit generic. We talking a iPod, Zune, etc?\
    2. Format of music on player. If its only 128 bps music aint nothing ANY DAC is going to do make it sound tons better. Its too low quality. If we are talking Apple Lossless/FLAC, etc then it should make a difference audio wise.
    scubalab wrote: »
    I always find that even with the mp3 player's volume up, I never get the same volumes/sound quality as I do with other sources CD player, etc.

    Thats got to do with the input voltage on the player. Likely it is NOT as high as a CD player is, hence the volume mismatch. This would take care of that, but in regards to higher fidelity, see above section.
    scubalab wrote: »
    Additionally, how would the hookups go? Would I use the same cord (3.5mm to RCA) to connect the mp3 player to the DAC, then from the DAC to the receiver with interconnects? Isn't the signal already converted by the mp3 player using the headphone out? OR, would it be better to use the mp3 player's usb output to connect to the DAC's USB input and let the DAC do it's job?

    The ONLY way to hook it up and get good quality (assuming your files are of a high enough quality) would be to send the signal digitally to the DAC. You would want to use Optical/Coaxial or USB if possible. If you use a 3.5mm input, then your already converting the signal at the player and the DAC becomes somewhat pointless.

    So you'd want a docking station of some sort with a digital output to send to the DAC. Unless your player happens to have a optical/coaxial or usb output which most of the big players (iPod/iPhone/Android) dont.

    From the DAC, you'd connect RCA's to your AVR and then your headphones to the AVR.

    Hope that clears things up. To sum take advantge of this DAC properly with a media player you need

    1. High quality source files
    2. Way to send the signal digitally to the DAC

    Any other questions just ask.


    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    Plus your using an MP3 player.....that's one reason why your SQ isn't the same as your cdp.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • scubalab
    scubalab Posts: 3,101
    Dan - thanks for the detailed answers! I'll have to check on the quality of the music files. I suspect some are higher quality and some are lower quality. I use an older Samsung (android) player, and we have iPods and iPhones. The only outputs are 3.5mm headphone or micro-usb on the samsung. Just for convenience, I connect them to the gear using the 3.5mm to RCA adapter to play music. I need to learn a lot about how I download or convert music going forward! Most music is mp3 files purchased from Amazon or iTunes. Other music is ripped from old CDs.

    Tony - agree! It's a convenience thing... :)

    Bob - that's great to know! I'm going to have to think about some other things to see if this would work. So if there are any others interested please don't consider me "in line". Best of luck with the sale and if I think this will work for me (and it's still here) after some more "learning", I'll be sure to let you know. Would be nice to meet you someday!

    Thanks - Al
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    Al, if you like take a trip out here and we can see what can be done with whatever hardware/tunes you care to bring.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • anton.chigurh
    anton.chigurh Posts: 239
    PM sent
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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    I can't believe someone hasn't snatched this baby up yet????????????/
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,042
    Pending sale to anton.chigurh
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • scubalab
    scubalab Posts: 3,101
    Bob - congrats on the pending sale to Anton! Thanks for the offer to audition, but the timing was bad... Glad someone else jumped on this!
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