Cambridge DACMagic - Should I buy One?

bklynNupe

Please give give me your opinion on the Cambridge DACMagic with my current set up. I assume I can also my Directv to this baby as well as my digital music?
I’m looking to upgrade my DAC from my current Pro-ject USB. I think I can spend up to 500 for a new DACthis new/used. The Project USB made a substantial improvement on my digital music, I'm thinking I can get a lot better?
Late summer I’m also looking to replace my Onkyo 806 with a processor, perhaps the new one from emotiva? I’m still researching this one.


Onkyo 806
emotiva xpa-2 to fronts ( Rtia5’s).
emotiva xpa-3 for center ( csia6) and surrounds ( fxi3’s)
SVS PB12-NSD sub
Pro-Ject III
Bellari VP129
Pro-Ject USB
Mac mini

Samsung LN46A650

TG Meat

I did try one of these when they first came out. I was not that impressed though. I expected a large improvement to my sound as I was using a DVD/CD changer for CD playback and a Pioneer Elite as a processor. I returned it inside the 30 day time period and used the money to buy a used California Audio Labs CL-10, which made a huge improvement in sound and still provided the abiltities of a CD changer. The only weak link in the chain for me with the Dac Magic was my digital connection cable, it was not a high dollar connection, but don't think that would have held the dac back that much. Find a retailer that will give you 30 days to try it and see what you think.

Face

Keep the onkyo, pick up a DacMagic and your choice of preamp with HT bypass and you should be good to go.

I have a DacMagic in a similar setup and am very happy with it. Depending on how revealing your speakers are, it will show you how poor the DAC is in your Oinkyo.

Be sure to break in the DacMagic before making any real judgments on it.

Ender

I don't know if it's a fact since I am not really educated in electronics, but I hear the Cambridge DacMagic has relatively low quality components, but people like it for some reason.

bklynNupe

Thanks Face.
I just agreed to purchase a Belles Soloist 3 Black Preamplifier. I was eyeing the Adcom 750 but I found it hard to catch one for less than 700.I’ve also been told about the wonders of Audio Research, I wasn’t too sure about the older used models available to me at my 5-800 dollar allotted budget for a Preamp?
I also wanted HT bypass in a pre and I want to take my digital music up a full notch hopefully with a good DAC.

bklynNupe

Any comparable DAC’s in the used market with the ability to connect multiple devices?

Face

Ender wrote: »

I don't know if it's a fact since I am not really educated in electronics, but I hear the Cambridge DacMagic has relatively low quality components, but people like it for some reason.

Other than using a wall wart, I don't know what you mean.

Face

Also check out used Benchmark and Music Hall 25.2 DACs.

jabrax

Face wrote: »

Also check out used Benchmark and Music Hall 25.2 DACs.

Started out researching the DACMagic and have since shifted focus to the Music Hall 25.2 DAC. Even opened a thread looking for experience with it. No bites :eek:


If you go with the Dacmagic, would be interested to know whatcha think.

Face

I believe there is a thread or two over at Head Fi and one at AudioKarma about the Music Hall DAC.

bklynNupe

jabrax wrote: »

Started out researching the DACMagic and have since shifted focus to the Music Hall 25.2 DAC. Even opened a thread looking for experience with it. No bites :eek:


If you go with the Dacmagic, would be interested to know whatcha think.

Ok, I just squeezed the trigger and let off two for the Belles Soloist 3 preamp and the Music Hall DAC 25.2!
I was eyeing the Cambridge DAC Magic, however I couldn't stand that everyone has it on back order. Also a few online claim the Music Hall is superior, except for price. Hopefully I will think the extra roughly 150 bucks will be worth it? I have been somewhat content with my Pro-ject USB up into now, so hopefully hear something spectacular when this baby arrives!:D

mizthuphee

Cool! let us know how it sounds. I'm contemplating between PS Audio DL III, MH DAC 25.2 & MF V-DAC.

Music Joe

John Atkinson of Stereophile just did a measurements follow-up on the heels of a recent Sam's Space mini review of the DacMagic.
His results show, very low power supply noise, good linearity, very low jitter, merely average/mediocre usb performance. He judged near 19 bit capability and it measures like many other well engineered modern mass produced dacs.
He wrote 'a bargain' for the $400 street.

I've read somewhere that parts beyond the well recieved Wolfson dacs used aren't anything special also that power supply upgrading ain't easy.

The samspace review wasn't much of one... however the measurements, low price, 3 filter settings and returnability make it tempting.