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DAC Recommendations Please

Greetings everyone,
Currently choosing a DAC for a 2-channel system in my study to be used with a pair of Totem Arros. Current source is my PC.

I am considering the following:

PS Audio Digital Labs III ($695)
Cambridge Audio Dac Magic ($399)
Bel Canto II Used ($672)

The Cambridge piece seems to be a great value and well reviewed, but it is not discussed very often in these forums. Does it hold it's own compared to the other two choices?

I probably lean towards warmth and deep soundstage, but I don't want mushy/muddy and I do appreciate details. Seems the Bel Canto is often suggested when folks are looking for a nice warm sound?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
headshrinker2
wkilburg
2 posts
 
I use a CA DACMagic. Its fantastic and for the price you will not find a better unit. It has two digital inputs versus most only supplying one; it also has a digital output. Another plus are three selectable digital filters. USB input works well but all I did was hook up a PC, listen a bit and then went back to using the two digital inputs - one for an older CD player (it elevated the sound of that unit considerably) and one for a Squeezebox Duet and the Duet sounds as good as ever. www.audiokrama.org has quite a few posts and a thread on DACMagic use and ownership.
soulbrass
246 posts
 
Sorry to hijack this thread...but has anyone had any experience w/ the Musical Fidelity V-DAC? ...especially compared to the Cambridge Audio DACMagic? These seem to be two of the obvious choices for those of us who can't/won't drop big money on a DAC and who want a USB input to use with a computer.

Thanks!
pumper24
33 posts
 
I use the DacMagic,and I think it's a great way to get started with a music server. Like anything else, eventually I will probably upgrade. But for now, I'm enjoying it. The balanced outputs are worth the price.
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