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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...
headshrinker2
ihcho's avatar
ihcho
612 posts
 
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.
4est
507 posts
 
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.
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
249 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.
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