Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 - The rule of diminishing returns?

[1986matt]

Hey everyeone, first post on here.

Im considering getting the Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 to go with my set up of the Marantz PM6004 and KEF Q300s. So far im streaming music from a 2007 macbook through my PS3 but don't really feel I could be getting the most out of this as I could. Would it actually be worth introducing the Stream Magic into this set up as well and missing out the PS3 entirely or is it going to be overkill and the improvement not really worth the huge expense? £700 is a serious investment (budget not massive at the moment). Wondering if a stand alone DAC between the PS and the Marantz might be a better option and if so, any sugestions on what?

Matt

 

[1986matt]

Anyone?

 

[chebby]

£700 is a serious investment (budget not massive at the moment).

There is the matching Marantz NA7004 (£368 ). That would save some pennies if it has what you need.

Oh and the Stream Magic 6 is only £600 (Richer Sounds).

 

[John Duncan]

Hi 1986matt, and welcome to the forums.

I love the Stream Magic, but you're right that it might be overkill in terms of expenditure given the rest of your system.

Are you happy with the way that the PS3 handles your audio files form a UI point of view? If so, you might consider a DACMagic+, which is more or less a Stream Magic without the streaming capability, or consider another DAC from the likes of Arcam, Rega or others, including pro 'audio interfaces', which offer similar performance in uglier bozes 🙂

 

[John Duncan]

There is the matching Marantz NA7004 (£368 ). That would save some pennies if it has what you need.

Actually yeah, get one of them 🙂

 

[Anonymous]

I want to buy a Stream Magic 6 but i have a lot of flac 192 kHz in a NAS device and the stream magic 6 is not capable o stream these file by network so i am waiting for CES 2013 and think they will come with something new, well is just 2 days until the 8-1-2013 and then i will know if i buy the new stream magic or the audiolab m dac that i think is much better thant the CA dac magic plus. Any other Dac that i should consider to plug my cd player philips 850 mkII and my Mede8er1000X3d, and my PS3?

Sorry for my english i am not a native speaker

greetings from Portugal

majesties

 

[Anonymous]

Hey everyeone, first post on here.

Im considering getting the Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 to go with my set up of the Marantz PM6004 and KEF Q300s. So far im streaming music from a 2007 macbook through my PS3 but don't really feel I could be getting the most out of this as I could. Would it actually be worth introducing the Stream Magic into this set up as well and missing out the PS3 entirely or is it going to be overkill and the improvement not really worth the huge expense? £700 is a serious investment (budget not massive at the moment). Wondering if a stand alone DAC between the PS and the Marantz might be a better option and if so, any sugestions on what?

Matt

i use Apple TV for my streaming.

itll connect via AirPlay automatically to your MacBook. A simple decent DAC like the Lindy or FiiO D3 and bobs your dads weird brother!

It works very well and with zero issues 🙂

 

[tino]

Or one of these @ £299 ... (for music up to 24 bit / 96khz)

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=604&Title=NP30

 

[Anonymous]

I want to buy a Stream Magic 6 but i have a lot of flac 192 kHz in a NAS device and the stream magic 6 is not capable o stream these file by network so i am waiting for CES 2013 and think they will come with something new, well is just 2 days until the 8-1-2013 and then i will know if i buy the new stream magic or the audiolab m dac that i think is much better thant the CA dac magic plus. Any other Dac that i should consider to plug my cd player philips 850 mkII and my Mede8er1000X3d, and my PS3?

Sorry for my english i am not a native speaker

greetings from Portugal

majesties

The MF M1DAC is very good indeed as is the Arcam rDAC. Firestone Audio Spitfire MkII and the Emotiva XDA1 DAC would be worth looking at as well 🙂

 

[Captain Duff]

I'd wanted a SM6 for quite a while, it seeming to have endless options around connections etc, which I figured should extend its user life. The problem is £700 was too much, and there is little or no dealer competition given the joint CA-Richer Sounds ownership. Therefore I waited until this month in the hope of seeing some good discounts, and while bringing it down to £600 was ok, it wasn't enough for me (my own internal 'value-ometer' had it at around £500), so I ended up getting the Denon 720 for £200, partly as a cheapish stop-gap, and partly beccause I like its Last FM facility given I use it regularly on my PC anyway.

And so at a 1/3 of the cost of the SM6, the Denon is I figure a good deal for my current needs. It certainly sounds good to my ears next to my other sources, but it's very much a case of horses for courses with componants like this I guess.

 

[jerry klinger]

The WHF review (and others) suggest that the Pioneer N50 is a better bet than the Marantz. Now available for about the same £££.

 

[paulsue38]

I'd wanted a SM6 for quite a while, it seeming to have endless options around connections etc, which I figured should extend its user life. The problem is £700 was too much, and there is little or no dealer competition given the joint CA-Richer Sounds ownership. Therefore I waited until this month in the hope of seeing some good discounts, and while bringing it down to £600 was ok, it wasn't enough for me (my own internal 'value-ometer' had it at around £500), so I ended up getting the Denon 720 for £200, partly as a cheapish stop-gap, and partly beccause I like its Last FM facility given I use it regularly on my PC anyway.

And so at a 1/3 of the cost of the SM6, the Denon is I figure a good deal for my current needs. It certainly sounds good to my ears next to my other sources, but it's very much a case of horses for courses with componants like this I guess.

The Denon looks a steal at 200 pounds! What is the FM like on this machine?

Paul

 

[Captain Duff]

The Denon looks a steal at 200 pounds! What is the FM like on this machine?

Paul

Yes, for the money it's fantastic relative value in this market I think. I was also looking at whether the new-ish Sansui WLS-201 would come down in price too (as I suspected it would be on a similar quality level), but it seems stuck so far at the £350 RRP. Anyway, the Denon was slimmer so fitted on my existing rack better!

In terms of FM to be honest I've not tried it yet, and in the absence of having a decent arial probably won't either. I did mainly get it as a tuner rather than streamer (as I've got a decent LP and CD collection that isn't going anywhere), but the sound quality and endless range from internet radio is more than enough for me.

 

[Anonymous]

If you stream most of your music via Apple TV I recomend a Lindy SPDIF (£35) which converts the Opto out from the ATV to analogue phono RCA.

I like it.

 

[shafesk]

I'd wanted a SM6 for quite a while, it seeming to have endless options around connections etc, which I figured should extend its user life. The problem is £700 was too much, and there is little or no dealer competition given the joint CA-Richer Sounds ownership. Therefore I waited until this month in the hope of seeing some good discounts, and while bringing it down to £600 was ok, it wasn't enough for me (my own internal 'value-ometer' had it at around £500), so I ended up getting the Denon 720 for £200, partly as a cheapish stop-gap, and partly beccause I like its Last FM facility given I use it regularly on my PC anyway.

And so at a 1/3 of the cost of the SM6, the Denon is I figure a good deal for my current needs. It certainly sounds good to my ears next to my other sources, but it's very much a case of horses for courses with componants like this I guess.

The Denon looks a steal at 200 pounds! What is the FM like on this machine?

Paul

Hi Paul, well I actually use the FM on my Denon, it does sound great with the included aerial and doesn't feel like an after thought. Granted I haven't had a dedicated Hi-fi fm tuner but I can't imagine nor need fm to sound any better.

 

[the record spot]

Hmmm, not quite sure why our friend needs another streamer if he's already got an ATV3 and a PS3. Sound quality from both is excellent, If you have an account for Playstation Plus, you can buy a year's access to Sony Music Unlimited for £11.99, that's a pretty good deal given as I think it's £11.99 a month usually.

If you've got DLNA capability, then your system can play through the PS3. If you've a Mac, then you can stream wirelessly through the ATV and thereon to your stereo.

I'm not seeing a need to go for the additional streamer on top of the two our OP already has: the ATV will give you music capability, plus radio, Netflix, etc. The PS3 gives you the same bar radio I think.

If you need to put your Mac through a DAC then get something that will add to your connectivity options - XLR inputs will give you additional flexibility in time if you end up with a source (or speakers) that have these, so you should be thinking the aforesaid Emotiva at £349 from Item Audio or Teac's 32-bit UD-H01 with a half-price discount in Richer Sounds for £150, which is very well specced and works a treat.

The Spitfire II is another good one (no XLRs though), neatly sized, but at £250 is looking pricey two years down the line from its introduction.

 

[moon]

RS is right . It seems you already have the tools you need. It also points to the incredible value of a decent av receiver that powers, streams, you know everything really.

 

[Native_bon]

Why not save up for a Oppo BDP-95EU. You really cannot go wrong. This machine is so good am thinking of buying another one just in case!! Does everything & then more..

 

[Anonymous]

A dac will help. AirPlay to the ATV from your mac, optical out the ATV into a cheap DaC?