CA DacMagic beats Arcam AVR600 DAC

[pete321]

I've just setup my AVR600 and found that my lossless stereo music collection sounds a lot better via my modded DacMagic rather than letting the AVR600's DAC do the decoding. Both aren't yet run in, the DacMagic has just had Burson OpAmps plus some capacitors fitted at a cost of £155. The Bursons need a 100 hours before they're at their best, so I can only assume it'll get better!

I was quite surprised given the rave reviews that the AVR600 gets for stereo sound. I found the DacMagic/Burson gives a much bigger sound over the AVR600 DAC, with depth to the midrange, deep bass and and a detailed, but refined treble.

 

[RCduck7]

pete321:

I've just setup my AVR600 and found that my lossless stereo music collection sounds a lot better via my modded DacMagic rather than letting the AVR600's DAC do the decoding. Both aren't yet run in, the DacMagic has just had Burson OpAmps plus some capacitors fitted at a cost of £155. The Bursons need a 100 hours before they're at their best, so I can only assume it'll get better!

I was quite surprised given the rave reviews that the AVR600 gets for stereo sound. I found the DacMagic/Burson gives a much bigger sound over the AVR600 DAC, with depth to the midrange, deep bass and and a detailed, but refined treble.

Wow, i'm suprised that the DacMagic is significantly better then the DAC in the Arcam.

My DacMagic isn't really better then the DAC in my Yamaha 640 surround receiver.

But the DacMagic compared to an expensive DAC with a good power cord and the DacMagic lost big time.

It was obvious that the Powercord made the biggest difference though.

But maybe it might be a matter of system matching that your AVR600 didn't do very well? Allthough i find it hard to believe i must say, just guessing.

 

[carter]

pete321:

my lossless stereo music collection sounds a lot better via my modded DacMagic

would you recomend this upgrade then ,ive been thinking about it for a while

how long did thay have your dac magic for?

have you also tried the russ andrews psu upgrade?

cheers!

 

[Anonymous]

RCduck7:
It was obvious that the Powercord made the biggest difference though.

But did you try the damp string method?

 

[pete321]

Whether the DacMagic as sold by Richer Sounds would beet the AVR600 DAC, I don't know and can't test that now. But the Burson OpAmps are reckoned to be some of the best out there, costing significantly more than the other OpAmp upgrades recommended (you need dual OpAmps for the DacMagic + adaptor) (OpAmps). They've certainly taken the sound to another level, and they're not at their best yet. The mian difference I noticed was bigger sound with much more depth to it. The DacMagic on it's own gave a very detailed sound on my Onkyo 905 amp at the time, but lacked depth. When I got the upgraded DacMagic back, I still had my Onkyo and could hear the difference immediately. When I got the AVR600 I experimented connecting the SPDIF from my PC direct to the AVR600 and via the DacMagic, there was a big improvement via the modded DacMagic in my opinion.

Mine was the first Azur DacMagic AudioUpgrades had in, I set a budget of about £160 which allowed for the supply and fitting of the Burson's plus a few capacitor improvements. After having a look at mine, they've come up with suggested upgrade path, I didn't get all of the improvements listed in level 1b (Upgrades), so it's open to negotiation.

My DacMagic is the latest Azur version, I'd only had a few weeks before sending it in for the upgrade. It's certainly worked for me. I guess the thing to do is buy an Azur DacMagic from Richer Sounds on trial or return basis. If you connect it to your AVR600 or whatever AV amp you're using and you get better, or as good as stereo sound (linear setting on the DacMagic works best for me), then I'd say keep it and get the Burson upgrade, it's a noticeable improvement justifying the extra £160 that I paid.

I think you can have the same upgrade with the Beresford DAC, as that DAC's cheaper in the first place, that might be a more cost effective solution. You'd have to check with AudioUpgrades that the Burson's will fit. I got the DacMagic as it was essential for me that it could be mounted vertically, otherwise I'd have probably gone with the Beresford and had more upgrades.

 

[Anonymous]

How is it better? It may sound different, but better requires definition.

 

[manicm]

Stumpy21:RCduck7:

It was obvious that the Powercord made the biggest difference though.

But did you try the damp string method?

Oh do spill the beans on the 650A pretty please?

 

[pete321]

RCduck7:My DacMagic isn't really better then the DAC in my Yamaha 640 surround receiver. But the DacMagic compared to an expensive DAC with a good power cord and the DacMagic lost big time. It was obvious that the Powercord made the biggest difference though.

I think the DacMagic as it stands would give similar results to the DAC's in the AVR600, but the DAC's themselves only cost a few quid, the Burson OpAmps I've had fitted cost £90 as opposed to the £5 or £10 jobbies that come as standard in it. Plus, better grade audiophile capacitors have been fitted. These extras are what make the difference in sound, the actual DAC component seems to be relatively innexpensive by comparison. I have also bought a different power supply for the DacMagic, didn't go mad, just got a power supply with 5a as opposed to 3a.

I use LAT AC-2 mains cable to my AVR600 and there's mains filtering in my system, the modded DacMagic is just plain better.

The unmodded DacMagic with my Onkyo 905 was a big improvement, with the mods it was a massive improvement. Were you using a decent SDIF cable and quality analogue interconnects from the DacMagic to your Yamaha.

 

[Anonymous]

manicm:

Oh do spill the beans on the 650A pretty please?

See my response to that question here: http://community.whathifi.com/forums/p/274397/274397.aspx#274397