Praise for DacMagic

Interesting.
How about NAD vs NAD/DacMagic?
How about NAD vs SonyDVD/DacMagic?

My mhdt Paradisea+ did not match well with NAD C541i at all. Paradisea+ works quite well with cheap CD/DVD players, a little bit better than NAD. In a sense, it tells NAD C541i is pretty good by itself.

I am happy to hear that. I just pre-ordered one online and look forward to comparing it to my Benchmark DAC-1 on my main rig although it was purchased for my secondary/daily system in the living room.

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.

Tobias: i have a NAD 545 BEE cd player. What kind of differences might I expect with vibration damping footers?

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.