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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...
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tobias
1,534 posts
 
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.
audiowoman
243 posts
 
Tobias: i have a NAD 545 BEE cd player. What kind of differences might I expect with vibration damping footers?
tobias
1,534 posts
 
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.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
4est,

I sure would like to hear what you think of the DacMagic vs the Benchmark DAC-1. Would you post your impressions once you get enough time with the DacMagic?

Thanks,
Dave
auronthas
19 posts
 
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.
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