DacMagic 100 v 200

[plastic penguin]

Is there any real difference in SQ between the two?

 

[plastic penguin]

I take that as 'no'. 😋

Only wondering as I'm going to pull the trigger on one of them so I can connect the TV to the amp.

 

[Al ears]

I would take it that a DAC is a Dac and so called improvement is possibly not that noticeable. Either that or nobody has tried both.
As long as the device has the attachments you require I doubt sound quality will be notably different.
Having said that I haven't heard either and certainly not in the system you intend to use them in.

 

[robdmarsh]

I would take it that a DAC is a Dac and so called improvement is possibly not that noticeable.

Because they all sound the same, it's just 1s and 0s etc? I'm sorry I couldn't let that one slide by. And yes, I'm sure I could pass an A/B blind test with the DACs I have here at the moment.

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm pretty much in the camp of "all Dacs sound the same in that price bracket". I was just making 100% sure before I buy.

 

[daveh75]

And yes, I'm sure I could pass an A/B blind test with the DACs I have here at the moment.

Then what's stopping you?

 

[Al ears]

Because they all sound the same, it's just 1s and 0s etc? I'm sorry I couldn't let that one slide by. And yes, I'm sure I could pass an A/B blind test with the DACs I have here at the moment.

That's not what I meant and the question was difference between the two Cambridge dacs.
Assuming both have the same filtering applied could you suggest that one is better than the other?

 

[record_spot]

It depends what you need it for as much as sound quality. I have the 200M DAC as the added connectivity and functionality were what I needed. I haven't heard the 100, but assume it should sound good. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a bad sounding DAC these days anyway.

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks @record_spot I just initially want to connect the TV to the amp. No doubt I'll find other uses for it.

 

[WayneKerr]

Thanks @record_spot I just initially want to connect the TV to the amp. No doubt I'll find other uses for it.

Check the reviews that neither has audio sync issues from the TV. I was looking at the WiiM Mini Pro as a streamer and to use one of the digital inputs in the same way as you intend until a reviewer stated it had sync issues connected to a TV... scratched off list.

 

[doifeellucky]

Check the reviews that neither has audio sync issues from the TV. I was looking at the WiiM Mini Pro as a streamer and to use one of the digital inputs in the same way as you intend until a reviewer stated it had sync issues connected to a TV... scratched off list.

It doesn’t. Was fixed by a firmware update soon after. Watching mine as I type, no issues. LinkPlay are constantly improving their products.

On topic I can recommend the SMSL SU-1 as a good budget DAC. Take a look at some recent reviews. Very good for the money.

 

[plastic penguin]

It doesn’t. Was fixed by a firmware update soon after. Watching mine as I type, no issues. LinkPlay are constantly improving their products.

On topic I can recommend the SMSL SU-1 as a good budget DAC. Take a look at some recent reviews. Very good for the money.

I'll have a butchers. Thanks.

 

[doifeellucky]

I'll have a butchers. Thanks.

I got mine same day from Amazon on Prime, but the current listing isn’t a Prime listing, so may take longer than you’re prepared to wait. I’m assuming you’ll use optical from your TV into the DAC and then RCA into your amp.

 

[plastic penguin]

I got mine same day from Amazon on Prime, but the current listing isn’t a Prime listing, so may take longer than you’re prepared to wait. I’m assuming you’ll use optical from your TV into the DAC and then RCA into your amp.

Understood.

Think it's optical, haven't checked the back of the TV since purchase.

 

[Gray]

On topic I can recommend the SMSL SU-1 as a good budget DAC. Take a look at some recent reviews. Very good for the money.

That's the one I'd be going for if I was buying a DAC right now.

 

[Symples]

Morning @plastic penguin

I had the same situation where I wanted to connect my TV (bedroom) to my mini hifi.
The TV only have an optical output and the amp only had line level inputs.

My £10 solution was to purchase this:
It worked a treat.
As I wasn't looking for hifi sound. It did the job

Optical to line level DAC.

Amazon.co.uk

 

[plastic penguin]

Morning @plastic penguin

I had the same situation where I wanted to connect my TV (bedroom) to my mini hifi.
The TV only have an optical output and the amp only had line level inputs.

My £10 solution was to purchase this:
It worked a treat.
As I wasn't looking for hifi sound. It did the job

Optical to line level DAC.

Amazon.co.uk

Morning @Symples

Looks a neat solution. As the Dac will be connected to the Leema, how much of an upgrade will it be over the TV speakers?

 

[Symples]

Morning @Symples

Looks a neat solution. As the Dac will be connected to the Leema, how much of an upgrade will it be over the TV speakers?

It really depends on the speakers connected to your hifi.
I have a Sharp 50" TV (their cheapest) and the sound was adequate for movies and TV programs, but I wanted more for music.

I personally would not recommend it for HIFI but for TV sound. It does the job.

 

[plastic penguin]

It really depends on the speakers connected to your hifi.
I have a Sharp 50" TV (their cheapest) and the sound was adequate for movies and TV programs, but I wanted more for music.

I personally would not recommend it for HIFI but for TV sound. It does the job.

Ok. This is the issue. I want it as close to hi-fi quality as possible, at least to match the Sky Box.

 

[Gray]

....at least to match the Sky Box.

Put that through the same DAC and it will.
(Might call for 2 optical inputs or a switcher though).

I tried a Humax sat box through a DAC costing more than double the box itself.
.....not enough improvement over the analogue output to justify the cost.

Where I go wrong, is with 'Expectation Bias'.....I suffer from the opposite. Usually, the more expensive something is, the better I don't find it 🤪 (saves me money though).

 

[manicm]

The 200, with dual DAC chips, is almost certainly going to sound better than the 100, with better instrument seperation, image width etc, regardless of whether they share the same filters or not.

The 200 also does DSD up to 512, don't think the 100 does DSD at all. Also has APtx bluetooth.

If you're getting a standalone DAC, may as well get the better one. Don't waste time.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

Home review

It's small and straightforward, but we like this supremely affordable DAC's results with budget equipment

www.whathifi.com

If you could wait until early July (when I'm back in the UK) I could send you one of these. If it works for you, make a donation to the RSPCA. If it didn't meet your needs, send it back.

 

[Gray]

...regardless of whether they share the same filters or not.

That's true.

(The theoretical differences they get from DAC filters, must be a massive bonus for cable swappers).

 

[plastic penguin]

Put that through the same DAC and it will.
(Might call for 2 optical inputs or a switcher though).

I tried a Humax sat box through a DAC costing more than double the box itself.
.....not enough improvement over the analogue output to justify the cost.

Where I go wrong, is with 'Expectation Bias'.....I suffer from the opposite. Usually, the more expensive something is, the better I don't find it 🤪 (saves me money though).

As it stands Freeview radio and TV sounds great just using RCAs straight from the Sky Box to the amp.

Not keen to disturb that sonic equilibrium.

 

[Gray]

As it stands Freeview radio and TV sounds great just using RCAs straight from the Sky Box to the amp.

Not keen to disturb that sonic equilibrium.

That's understandable.
But once you've got the DAC, it will be as easy as flicking sources on the Leema to compare Sky analogue with Sky via new DAC and choosing the better of the two.