Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 - Digital to Analogue Converter with Toslink, S/PDIF, and USB Inputs Featuring 24-bit Wolfson DAC - Silver

Product Information

Many people do not realize how big role the decoupling capacitors play and how much can be gained thanks to them, at a low cost. Seen from above, we can identify three separate sections, the internal power supply section (bottom third), the unit's operating and switching section located around the main processor (center), as well as the digital to analog processing section (top third). The British company Cambridge Audio has been striving to develop audio devices that meet the needs of hi-fi enthusiasts since 1968. All metal build – the full-metal chassis ensures the premium components inside are thoroughly protected. Both compared types of capacitors have identical dimensions and with these dimensions FineGold is able to withstand twice the voltage from MUSE ES, so there must be some physical differences in the construction of these capacitors, but can these differences be heard?

The DAC is connected to an apple "Airport Express" to provide music through airplay from my phone or laptop. Intuition told me that MUSES8820 should fit in well with the character of the DAC, but the sentiment made me the first to mount MUSES8920. When I compare the changes introduced by replacing the RCA sockets in the DAC with the changes that my current interconnect (WireWorld Solstice 7) introduced to my system, those 7 USD were a very good investment. Big shoutout to Audio Advice for the loaner unit as well as they’re continued non-monetary support of the blog and channel over the years! You’ll also have to switch the DAC’s USB socket from USB 1 Mode to USB 2 Mode by holding down the source button whilst switching it on from standby.The difference in capacity between new and factory set capacitors is large, but in this case the capacity is of secondary importance. I am not surprised at all, that some people decide to use such capacitors, because the effect is interesting, it may even be desired under specific conditions, but it does not change the fact that it introduces large deformations also. Not from today I know that the quality and repeatability of the production of integrated components leaves much to be desired and once again I became convinced ,when one of my colleagues decided to modify his device and sent me his specimen of the DAC. More importantly; would a slightly better dac really enhance my music enjoyment when I already enjoy this dac? Its excellent sound quality was likewise apparent via its USB input, the excerpt conveyed handsomely at both 96 and 192 kHz sampling rates.

There will be at the top a drop down box under default format where you can select the desired setting. In the case of other options, it is difficult to indicate the best solution, because the changes are significant and a lot may depend on individual preferences.I have my Rotel RC1572MkII CD player connected via direct RCA (using Rotel's supplied RCA cable) and via it's coax digital output (into my Peachtree DAC-it-x DAC which connects via RCA to my pre-amp) for comparison purposes and the Peachtree DAC seems to play at a noticeably lower output level than the Rotel connect direct. In addition, the power supply is an investment for the future, because we can use it with multiple devices. During the first dozen or so hours of work, the sound underwent considerable changes, but only after working for 100-200 hours I heard, that it finally stop changing and I could rate what changed in my system. For the first time I heard clearly the whole passage from left to right, which is really a great achievement, because in this track, even on “good equipment”, you can hear the woman mostly in three points (left side, center, right side). The more expensive Plus boasts a more sophisticated implementation and upsampling but, for me at least, that didn’t translate into a better sound.