System as tested: Speakers: Hyperion 938 (http://www.hyperionsound.com/HPS-938.htm) Classe: CAP-2100 (http://www.classeaudio.com/delta/detail-cap-2100.htm) Source: SB3 (interconnect misc digital) DAC: Cambridge DACMagic (interconnect Nordost Red dawn)
Review I own three SB3s and a couple of SB2s on various systems as well as a transporter which I sold last year. I have relied on the DACs in the SB3 or in some on-board home cinema amps. As a baseline I have found the SB3 DACs to be good but I have long looked for a cheap DAC which sounds better than the inbuilt DAC. I am an audio skeptic and wont keep anything I am not convinced is value for money. Cambridge Audio introduced the original DacMagic in 1994 with the specific intention of upgrading CD players. Time has moved on, and processing power is much much cheaper so refinement should finally be possible at a reasonable price. The new DacMagic is totally new. The 2008 DacMagic has Adapted Time Filtering (ATF) asynchronous upsampling technology converts 16-24 bit audio (at any standard sampling frequency between 32-96kHz) to 24 bit/192kHz. It relies on Twin Wolfson WM8740 high quality DACs (one per channel) with Incoming sampling rate indicator 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96kHz. On the connection side there are actually five inputs (2xS/PDIF & 2x Toslink and 1x USB) but this is highly deceptive as although ONLY one can be connected at one time thus the unit will not act as a switching digital selector.....I have an old audiolap DAC from 1990 that will do this!). The manual even says dont plug in multiple input cables at the same time...even if off! The USB input connects direct to PC without drivers to act as a very high quality sound card...I have not tested this (but a review is here http://www.techradar.com/products/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/audio-systems/cambridge-audio-dacmagic-digital-to-analogue-converter-465736/review). There are singled ended phono and remarkably XLR balanced audio outputs.....which for me was useful as these connected straight to the balanced amp inputs with the Nordost cable which I already had. It also have digital outputs although these only pass-through....there is no upsampling here. The upsampling only works for the analogue outputs. So enough pre-amble. Does the DacMagic work with the SB3? Yes it does! It certainly enhances the sound giving a cleaner more dynamic effect. The sound to my ears is comparable with the transporter I owned (this may not be quite fair because you need an A-B switch to compare such small differences head-to-head). I would not discount the possibility that the SB3+DacMagic is better than the transporter.....lets just say to my ears I am happier with this combination. To give some kind of yardstick....I would liken the improvement to going from a 128kbs MP3 to a 256kps per track. Its definitely a step up although not revolutionary. For example, its not quite as good as going from 128 to lossless FLAC/Apple for example (its about 50% of that improvement). To look at this another way, if this cost $1000 I would say I would consider it, if it cost $2000 I would say too expensive but at $400 (£200) I say Ill buy a few, one for each room. The DacMagic's 32 bit DSP runs Cambridge Audio's own proprietary digital filter algorithms with three different filter options available: Linear Phase, Minimum Phase and Steep. Linear phase is the same as used in the flagship Azur 840C upsampling CD player. There is a very subtle difference between the filters, to my ears only minimum sounded different....and then ever so slightly flat. Some other advantages: its small...the form factor is not much bigger that the SB3 (within 1-2cm in width) so you can probably sit them together. It also seems happy to be left on, and has no start up delay......so It could be tucked away out of sight. Its well built and has its own (basic) external power supply...this could be upgraded at a later date although the manufacturer doesnt recommend it. Oh yes, there is no remote...but I doubt one is needed. I have not yet tested it with some of my other digital sources...CDplayer/SkyHD/PS3/PC via USB! but I expect the same degree of improvement here too. Lets see. So there you have it. A cost effective upgrade with few drawbacks (no remote, no switching, no upsampling on digital out, effectively only 1x digital input). Someone out there needs to compare this bargain DAC with one of the higher end DACs and see how close Cambridge have come to perfection. Alex Ps. Ill post some pics later this week. -- ajmitchell Check out my other hobby http://ajmitchell.shutterpoint.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ajmitchell's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=800 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=53985
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