DacMagic upgrade

[admin_exported]

Hi I have been lurking around here for a while and taking in your ideas and suggestions. I have been interested in quality hi fi for many years but have not really aspired to the pinacle and have just settled for what I thought was the best compromise at the time.

My last mis match was a TEAC a500 midi hifi with MD and a pair of Tannoy M1's. While it sounded alrightish I dont think I had auditioned enough before I settled with it....the bass was far too boomy and uncontrolled.

However recently I paid a visit to Richer sounds and was recommended a Cambridge Audio Azur 350A and a pair of MS Aviano 1's. As a source I am using an ipod with lossless files and an ID10 dock. To me the sound is very clear and controlled.

The upgrade bug has bitten me and I am considering a DacMagic. However I think the ID10 will have to go as there is no digital output and even an upgrade to the ID50 does not have this facilty. Any suggestions?

Also do you think the investment of £230 + a suitable dock will be worth it and will I notice a difference?

Thanks

Colin

 

[Anonymous]

Having now done a bit more research I am wondering whether what I am suggesting is going to work. I cannot see any docking devices that have a USB output.

 

[nads]

IIRC there are not many docks that access the digital data in the pods bypassing the apple DAC.

I think Onkyo do one at a "fair" price.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes....Looks like that has added another £130 to the budget.

 

[Anonymous]

I take it that most are not fans of ipods or DacMagic?

 

[chebby]

What you are after is an iPod 'transport' plus a DAC.

The Onkyo ND-S1 transport plugged into a DAC like the CA Dacmagic would do the trick.

About £130 from Richer Sounds for example.

I cannot post or link to the other online review (from a competing magazine) due to house rules. But it was also very favourable and concluded that CD replay and replay from the Onkyo transport + iPod (both though a CA 840C) were indistinguishable from each other. (Presumably with lossless on the iPod)

The DAC in the CA 840C is probably a fair comparison with the stand-alone DacMagic.

 

[professorhat]

The Philips HomeDock is a bit cheaper at £90, though no idea what it's like.

 

[ID.]

While I don't use a DACmagic, I have a 160gig iPod classic running lossless through an Onkyo transport into the DAC in my RZ-1 and it sounds pretty damn fine. Works for me because I can't be bothered changing CDs all the time and enjoy running it on shuffle. I haven't done extensive testing but there seems to be only a slight difference in quality between playing a CD and running the iPod. I use the iPod as my source most of the time without a qualm and it even manages to feed the DAC hi rez up to 24 bit 48khz.

 

[chebby]

Another idea. Bit expensive, but...

If you are thinking of overhauling your entire system the £350 (ish) that the Onkyo and DacMagic come to is already just over a quarter of the cost of the new £1350 Naim UnitiQute.

It accepts the USB end of the iPod connector, and has Apple certified software, and bypasses the iPod's built-in DAC.

No docks, no seperate DACs or transports to worry about with all their wiring and clutter. (The UnitiQute also has FM and DAB tuners and wireless streaming and a 30w per channel amp built into the one box.)

Then you only have to find a decent pair of speakers.

Just a thought. (I don't know what your total budget is, or whether you still prefer to use a CD player.)

 

[bay24]

chebby:
Another idea. Bit expensive, but...

If you are thinking of overhauling your entire system the £350 (ish) that the Onkyo and DacMagic come to is already just over a quarter of the cost of the new £1350 Naim UnitiQute.

It accepts the USB end of the iPod connector, and has Apple certified software, and bypasses the iPod's built-in DAC.

No docks, no seperate DACs or transports to worry about with all their wiring and clutter. (The UnitiQute also has FM and DAB tuners and wireless streaming and a 30w per channel amp built into the one box.)

Then you only have to find a decent pair of speakers.

Just a thought. (I don't know what your total budget is, or whether you still prefer to use a CD player.)

In the same price area as chebby the aviadm 9.1 and the onkyo dock would sound great I imagine and you could sell your speakers as well!

 

[Anonymous]

I have 'bitten the bullett' this afternoon and purchased the DACMagic and suggested Onkyo NDS-1.

On first listening and as others have commented it doesn't turn night into day but turns a cloudy day into a sunny one.

My wife who usually cannot hear the differnece between proper Hifi and a 'boom box' has already auditioned her beloved Ronan Keating and apparently it sounds like he is in the room. So a big thumbs up then.

Seriously the sound is much 'cleaner' but not loosing any warmth, although I was expecting by a DACs nature for the sound to become very harsh and tiring.

Although it wasn't necessary I also bought an optical cable to connect the two devices rather than use the USB supplied. Not sure that this has made any difference as I haven't a chance to try with USB but my veiw is digital is digital whether it be by USB or optical.

Any one have any views on this?

 

[Craig M.]

i think optical is better then usb with the dacmagic. also, be sure to try the different filter settings, they can subtly alter the presentation to suit the rest of your kit. i seem to remember 'steep' was best for me.

 

[smuggs]

try fleetwood macs big love, that is good through the dac magic and then do it without the dacmagic at it becomes clear. That will then give you peace of mind it was £220 well spent

 

[Anonymous]

Already a big Fleetwood Mac fan but haven't auditioned any yet this afternoon, however Big Love as you suggested will be on soon.

I always felt that I would see the £220 well spent but by comparison I cannot see £130 worth of value in the Onkyo dock but it appears the only way to get digital out of the ipod.

Its amazing that so much music you have heard so many times before sounds so different and grabs your attention

I wasn't expecting Last.FM to sound any different but even that seen a marked improvement.

 

[smuggs]

i like the poor stuff like last fm, radio one, you tube (for hopfarm/reading) and itunes all usb from my laptop through the dac-magic is a treat. i use the spotify £10 per/month as well that is unreal you will find that for £2.50 a week it is a no-brainer. cds are good but mt 63se was all ready good so that a major improvement.

if you cant use a computer or laptop, you will have to buy a digtal dock im a fraid to get the pure digital signal from the ipod to the dac-magic thats what the guys are saying.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes already bought the digital dock but as it was only £90 less than the DACMagic with optical and phono interconnects the total bill was nearly £400. Still good value 'but dont tell her in-doors'.

 

[smuggs]

see nice one i bet it wont be long till you have racked 800 hours up and then you can sit back and say wow 50p an hour what more could a guy ask for.

 

[Anonymous]

HoskinsC:

I have 'bitten the bullett' this afternoon and purchased the DACMagic and suggested Onkyo NDS-1.

On first listening and as others have commented it doesn't turn night into day but turns a cloudy day into a sunny one.

My wife who usually cannot hear the differnece between proper Hifi and a 'boom box' has already auditioned her beloved Ronan Keating and apparently it sounds like he is in the room. So a big thumbs up then.

Seriously the sound is much 'cleaner' but not loosing any warmth, although I was expecting by a DACs nature for the sound to become very harsh and tiring.

Although it wasn't necessary I also bought an optical cable to connect the two devices rather than use the USB supplied. Not sure that this has made any difference as I haven't a chance to try with USB but my veiw is digital is digital whether it be by USB or optical.ut

Any one have any views on this?

Just noticed that there was already an optical cable with the Onkyo but is like string in comparison to the Cambridge Audio 300 optical cable that I purchased separately. I assume that the more substantial cable is better but isn't optical the same whatever?