Interconnect Between Cambridge Audio DacMagic & Lehhmann Audio Black Cube Linear Headphone Amplifier

[admin_exported]

Hi

Im a little stuck in deciding what analogue audio interconnect cable would go best between my Cambridge Audio Dac Magic and a Lehhmann Audio Black Cube Headphone Amp im planning on getting soon.

I presently use a Van Den Hul D102 MK3 in my Separates Hi-Fi System. The results I have got from it in the Hi-Fi have been Subperb.

Just wanted to get some opinions of how people think it would go in this setup.

Im running USB from my Macbook to the Cambridge Audio DacMagic.

Headphones i will be using are Sennheiser HD650's.

Thanks in advance!

 

[idc]

Hi cable-master. I don't have a particular solution in mind, but I am expecting to have the same issue in a while as I get my AKG K702 headphones and a V-DAC to complete a PC to headphone setup. My inclination was to go for what I know I have been happy with in the past with other setups, and that is Russ Andrews Kimber cable interconnects. Under the 'if it aint broke' philosophy, if you try the Van Den Huls, which have a good reputation and are happy, perfect. Otherwise I would recommend the Tonik interconnect from Russ Andrews. Chord interconnects in general are popular with forum members. The Lehmann looks very neat and stylish.

 

[Anonymous]

cable_master:
Im running USB from my Macbook to the Cambridge Audio DacMagic.

Hi cable_master,

you have a macbook so you can use the digital audio output from your headphone socket to connect to the DacMagic. Not just the USB option. I find using the digital optical out saves any issues with USB sockets / hubs

You'll either need a digital optical cable and and a two pound adaptor or a cable with a fixed mini-toslink adaptor, options from lindy and ixos on amazon for 5-7 pounds or chord for 40 odd.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi thanks for the advice i managed to find a good price for a Van Den Hul D102 MK3.

Cheers!

 

[Anonymous]

@zzgazin My Standard Macbook White one dosent have an optical connection. I dont know whether perhaps that now a feature on the new macbook models, e.g the non pro version. I know the Pro versions have always had optical.

James 🙂

 

[Anonymous]

I've been curating a list of macs with digital optical output and I know that all the iBook G3s and G4s often came without the digital optical output, but the digital optical out is provided on the Intel mainboard of the computer. See http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/250627.aspx

Looking at http://support.apple.com/specs/#macbook all of the macbooks have digital optical out afaik

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP31 has digital optical out. from October 08

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP504 has digital optical out from Jan 09

What version do you have?

If you run system profiler, then click on audio, it should say Intel High Definition Audio or similar and mention S/P-DIF.

I'm curious as I wasn't aware of one which didn't have digital optical.

thanks

 

[Anonymous]

This is a print out from System Profiler

MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB21.00A5.B07
SMC Version (system): 1.13f3

Device ID: 0x83847680
Audio ID: 34
Available Devices:
Headphone:
Connection: Combo
Microphone:
Connection: Internal
Speaker:
Connection: Internal
Line In:
Connection: Combo
S/P-DIF Out:
Connection: Combo
S/P-DIF In:
Connection: Combo

The only sockets i have on the side of my Macbook are Ethernet, Firewire 400, 2x USB Socket, 3.5mm audio input and 3.5mm audio output, e.g standard headphone socket, obviously.

James 🙂

 

[Anonymous]

Ive just realised the Headphone output can do SPDIF with an adapter oops sorry see what you mean now. 🙂

Can you recommend any high end adapters if their available and any decent SPDIF cables

 

[Anonymous]

Appologies for my ignorance on this area what you said now makes complete sense now, silly me, sorry for wasting your time

James 🙂

 

[Anonymous]

Don't worry about it at all, they look identical until you poke the magic optical cable in and the other end glows red

In terms of higher end cables there is the Chord OptiChord for about 40 pounds, but there are plenty of people on here who swear by the cheap and cheerful ixos 108 or the lindy all in ones. http://www.chord.co.uk/chordweb/chord_optichord.htm

You can in fact use any normal cable and an adaptor.

I've got the ixos one as it is light and thin, which makes it easy to travel along with my iBasso D10.

The OptiChord I might get for home use at some point, as I dislike adaptors

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your advice. Ive gone with the OptiChord. It seems very popular, i agree, i like the fact that you dont require an additional adapter. Thanks very much for your help. Also i understand that optical can output higher sample rate, e.g above the 48KHz limit of USB.

James 🙂