Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus

Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories DACs
1

Anyone with knowledge about the Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus?
I have found a local web site with B-stock at an affordable price.

2

Itā€™s a solid dac, but at 350 itā€™s a bit steep for what it is imo. I think something like the smsl su8 would make more sense at a lower price imo. How much can you get it for?

3

I would have got the smsl su8, but I am waiting to see if the successor arrives in March and at what price.

I can get the DacMagic for $210

4

Ok thatā€™s a pretty solid price, I would go with it. For that price itā€™s pretty dang nice

5

They really knocked the price down and I know Cambridge is a well reknowned company, so it could be interesting with twin Dacs. But whats with their ā€œproprietary ATF2 upsampling technologyā€, is that legit?

6

No idea about the upsampling, I just know that when I have heard it I have thought it was good but a tad overpriced, but at 210 thatā€™s very attractive and worth imo

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7

Hello,
I habe the little Brother in use Cambridge Audio Dac Magic 100 modified and make a great Job.
The great Brother exist a modified version too.But only in Germany can buy it.

The test was not bad.One guy said the Volumeknob is a little bit not good.When is off the Volume is reset.But i not a K.O critirerium.
It make a good sound out of the Box.Better is modified.
The Upsampling works maybe in the Factory conception.
When you have 24/96 khz i think is sampled it on 24/192Khz.

When you would see the modified version google Hoerwege Cambridge.
The modified Version cost a liitle bit more but is a good thing.
More Love, brilliance,wider and opener Stage,going ,depper.

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8

Iā€™ve been using one of these for a number of years.

Comparing to some other exotics, it performs exceptionally well considering its age. Measures flat, is very neutral, so if you want a warm sound then a Tube amp is a must.

It does nothing wrong, however it is a better DAC than headphone amp. I only use the DAC part going into a THX AAA 789.

For a more technical read: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-cambridge-dacmagic-plus.6887/

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9

Of course,:+1:.
Bit when you buy the modified version all the result from ASR are not relevant.
The guy change round about 80 components and this are a lot for a better Sounding.
I am sure the result are after better as out of the box.

But is not a bad Dac/amp.
When you like the warm and clear sound put him.
For sure today exist maybe better dacā€˜s,but this one is a little bit Old school.And Ols school are not bad,maybe better as the newest Dacā€˜s.

Buy and listing,when not good enough return it.

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10

Iā€™ve had a DacMagic Plus for a while too and have been (and still are) very happy with it.

Today, I received a Linear Power Supply for it.

Jup, Iā€™m that far down the rabbit hole.

To my surprise, it does sound different with it.

I swear itā€™s like thereā€™s a better seperation between each instrument if that makes senseā€¦ Also more ā€œspaciousā€, like Youā€™re in a larger room.

I didnā€™t expect that.

I kinda expected it to be a very moderate change if any and I was expecting to just be kinda ā€œmehā€ about it and just cross it off the list of possible improvements, but I swear it sounds completely different to me.

So far, Iā€™ve only heard it via the Rupert Neve RNHP but I also have a S.M.S.L. SP200 and a Loxjie P20 connected and Iā€™m considering also trying it on my Feliks Audio Echo mk2 (which is currently using a S.M.S.L. Sanskrit 10th mk2).

EDIT: This is the LPS:

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11

I think I might open it up to see what it looks like inside because Iā€™m pretty sure itā€™s just one of those You can buy on AliExpress a lot cheaper which has been rebrandedā€¦ :slight_smile: