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REVIEW: Cambridge Audio Dacmagic DAC Processors

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Model: Dacmagic
Category: DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price: $449.00
Description: Pint size Perfection
Manufacturer URL: Cambridge Audio

Review by crossram2x4@aol.com on August 04, 2009 at 11:10:03
IP Address: 98.196.64.162
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for the Dacmagic


I bought the DacMagic last Christmas to mate with a high performance CPU that my son-in-law built for me from scratch. Using the USB connections, the two pieces form a mid-level music server. While the sound was quite good, I became disillusioned with the complexities of music downloads, software, cataloging, etc and decided to put the music server aside for a while. Before and after this, my sources have been an Ayre CX-7e CDP and a VPI TNT turntable.

While my CX-7e is at Ayre for the MP upgrade, I have been using my Oppo 980H universal player as a transport feeding the Dacmagic as the digital source in my reference system. The DacMagic is connected to my Ayre K-1xe preamp using the former's balanced XLR outputs and the latter's balanced XLR inputs. Cabling is Tara RSC Digital Reference digital coax, Audioquest Niagara XLR interconnect, and a Synergistic Research Tesla T2 power cord to the Oppo. The rest of my system is cabled with Synergistic Research Tesla interconnects, speaker cables, and power cords.

I really didn't know what to expect since the whole combo retails for just $620 (plus cables), but it has really impressed me. Sure, there are things that the CX-7e does better: a touch more open, tighter/more defined bass, a more layered and resolving soundstage. But there are also things the Oppo/DacMagic does better: the pace of the music is more involving, vocals are smoother, the overall sound is more relaxed.

This combo is for the music lover. I find myself less preoccupied with transparency, soundstaging, and detail, although these are very good. Instead, I just enjoy the music. While the Ayre grabs you by the collar and says "Hey bud, check THIS out", the Oppo/DacMagic lures you with a seductive invitation into the overall musical performance. I find myself tapping my toe more and just enjoying the natural beauty of the music.

The trade-off of slightly reduced openness and inner-detail for smoother vocals is one I think I could live with. The slight fatness (warmness?) in the bass is a little more challenging. Perhaps a better transport would allow the DacMagic to get a better grip on the lower frequencies. Regardless, the Oppo/DacMagic combo has proven itself to be a great performer, even in my very revealing system. If you are in the market for a new digital front end and budget is a constraint (and perhaps even if it isn't), I highly recommend you try the DacMagic with a suitable transport. I think you will be surprised and delighted!


Product Weakness: Not quite the equal of the best in soundstage layering, tranparency, and bass definition
Product Strengths: Musicality<br>Pace<br>Smoothness<br>Price


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Krell FPB-600C (600w/ch into 8 ohms, 2400w/ch into 2 ohms)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Ayre K-1xe
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Ayre CX-7e/VPI TNT Mk 3+
Speakers: Thiel CS5i
Cables/Interconnects: AQ Niagara/Synergistic Research Tesla
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Rock, Blues, Classical
Room Size (LxWxH): 23 ft x 14.5 ft x 10 ft
Room Comments/Treatments: Shakti Hallographs
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 weeks
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Cambridge Audio Dacmagic DAC Processors - crossram2x4@aol.com 11:10:03 08/4/09 ( 1)