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As John Duncan has said, get an Airport Express (or AppleTV) and there's your streaming solution.

The Dacmagic is a fine DAC, by the way.
 
plastic penguin said:
The other reason for going with a DacMagic - apart from the sound - is if I don't like it I can sell it on and lose little money or if I get the DAC upgrade bug in a few months/ a year I have a good starting point.

Going this route means I'm not pressured into buying something i don't like/can't afford, and I can build at my own pace.

Hi pp, I wouldn't want to put you off, but I came to this thread immediately after reading this:- http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/from-dacmagic-to-rega-dac

I realise the Rega is over twice the price, so just wondering if you had considered the MF V-DACII at under £200? It might be worth a punt instead, and it has just been upgraded?
 
nopiano said:
plastic penguin said:
The other reason for going with a DacMagic - apart from the sound - is if I don't like it I can sell it on and lose little money or if I get the DAC upgrade bug in a few months/ a year I have a good starting point.

Going this route means I'm not pressured into buying something i don't like/can't afford, and I can build at my own pace.

Hi pp, I wouldn't want to put you off, but I came to this thread immediately after reading this:- http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/from-dacmagic-to-rega-dac

I realise the Rega is over twice the price, so just wondering if you had considered the MF V-DACII at under £200? It might be worth a punt instead, and it has just been upgraded?

Understand where you're coming from but...

I'm going purely on gut-feeling. I know from my one and only experience with DacMagic it left a very positive impression on me. What do they say about "first impressions"? And what speakers did I hear it play through?

Although initially I'll use the 73T or my DVD player as transport, the comparative SQ with the 73T is largely irrelevant, as the 'end game' is to download and - eventually - dispense with the Arcam. So this decision isn't about reputation, reviews, star ratings etc etc... it's about the impact it had on me at the time.
 
nopiano said:
Hi pp, I wouldn't want to put you off, but I came to this thread immediately after reading this:- http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/from-dacmagic-to-rega-dac

I realise the Rega is over twice the price, so just wondering if you had considered the MF V-DACII at under £200? It might be worth a punt instead, and it has just been upgraded?

I wasn't going to say anthing as I had no wish to complicate things further....but NP has just said what I was thinking. A review of the V-Dac 11 is available here:
http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-DAC/V-DACII-review.pdf

It is my view that the MF gives the most musical presentation outside of a Rega Dac.
 
CnoEvil said:
nopiano said:
Hi pp, I wouldn't want to put you off, but I came to this thread immediately after reading this:- http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/from-dacmagic-to-rega-dac

I realise the Rega is over twice the price, so just wondering if you had considered the MF V-DACII at under £200? It might be worth a punt instead, and it has just been upgraded?

I wasn't going to say anthing as I had no wish to complicate things further....but NP has just said what I was thinking. A review of the V-Dac 11 is available here: http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-DAC/V-DACII-review.pdf It is my view that the MF gives the most musical presentation outside of a Rega Dac.

I don't doubt your reasoning and there are far better DACs out there. One thing Saturday has really done is to give me a stone-like resolve. I maybe making a mistake or may not, but one thing that never normally lets me down is that "gut-feeling." I liked the DacMagic with RS6s with no splashy treble: Just a clear presentation, punchy and detailed.

Might be opening a 'can of worms', so let's just see which way they wiggle.
smiley-wink.gif


Thank you, gentlemen.
 
plastic penguin said:
I don't doubt your reasoning and there are far better DACs out there. One thing Saturday has really done is to give me a stone-like resolve. I maybe making a mistake or may not, but one thing that never normally lets me down is that "gut-feeling." I liked the DacMagic with RS6s with no splashy treble: Just a clear presentation, punchy and detailed.

Might be opening a 'can of worms', so let's just see which way they wiggle.
smiley-wink.gif


Thank you, gentlemen.

That's exactly why I initially said nothing; but when someone else writes down your thoughts, then you start thinking there might be something to it. 🙂
 
The Dacmagic is a fine DAC. I bought the V-DAC because it's cheap now, but the Dacmagic to me, anyway, is the dogs - mmm, to avoid trouble maybe I'd better say it still sets the standards with its polished performance, if you see what I mean.
 
nopiano said:
Like a couple of you here, I'm not a big Naim fan, if I was pressed to say so. But, ironically, perhaps because I wasn't 'listening' to the Naims on purpose, I have to say it was a cracking good system. I know it should be for the price of a decent family car. The PMCs are every bit as good as folks have said, and my first chance to hear them properly. The demo CD was Keb Mo's self-titled album.

Being the cynical old being that I am, I think the choice of CD had a bearing on how you perceived the system. Keb Mo is a favorite album that is very often used to show off systems at their best. It is beautifully recorded and sounds great on most makes - was this the only CD they used?

This is a personal observation to explain the above comment, and is in no way meant as a pop at Naim gear per se. 🙂
 
CnoEvil said:
plastic penguin said:
I don't doubt your reasoning and there are far better DACs out there. One thing Saturday has really done is to give me a stone-like resolve. I maybe making a mistake or may not, but one thing that never normally lets me down is that "gut-feeling." I liked the DacMagic with RS6s with no splashy treble: Just a clear presentation, punchy and detailed.

Might be opening a 'can of worms', so let's just see which way they wiggle.
smiley-wink.gif


Thank you, gentlemen.

That's exactly why I initially said nothing; but when someone else writes down your thoughts, then you start thinking there might be something to it. 🙂

This penguin is not for turning; decision has been firmly made and no-one or nothing will make me change. Cambridge DacMagic it is. If I drop a biggy I'll be the first to say so, but if I love it then, again, I'll tell you.
 
plastic penguin said:
This penguin is not for turning; decision has been firmly made and no-one or nothing will make me change. Cambridge DacMagic it is. If I drop a biggy I'll be the first to say so, but if I love it then, again, I'll tell you.

:silenced: 🙂
 
CnoEvil said:
plastic penguin said:
This penguin is not for turning; decision has been firmly made and no-one or nothing will make me change. Cambridge DacMagic it is. If I drop a biggy I'll be the first to say so, but if I love it then, again, I'll tell you.

:silenced: 🙂

It's a case of "no more Mister nice Pingu". Saturday's junket really gave me the 'ump. No excuses. No complaints. If I fail-up, I believe I won't, then I can only blame one person.
 
CnoEvil said:
nopiano said:
Like a couple of you here, I'm not a big Naim fan, if I was pressed to say so. But, ironically, perhaps because I wasn't 'listening' to the Naims on purpose, I have to say it was a cracking good system. I know it should be for the price of a decent family car. The PMCs are every bit as good as folks have said, and my first chance to hear them properly. The demo CD was Keb Mo's self-titled album.

Being the cynical old being that I am, I think the choice of CD had a bearing on how you perceived the system. Keb Mo is a favorite album that is very often used to show off systems at their best. It is beautifully recorded and sounds great on most makes - was this the only CD they used? This is a personal observation to explain the above comment, and is in no way meant as a pop at Naim gear per se. 🙂

Good observation, and I am beginning to expect nothing less, Cno! There was plenty of CDs to choose from, but I was happy to go with it, because (a) I know it has a good reputation and (b) I don't own it or know it, other than from the odd demo over the years. So, at the risk of blurring the lines with the 'tune dem' thread, it seemed to fit the bill.

The acoustic 'setting' was as revealing as the instrumental and vocal details; it became clearer on the better wires, with more natural sounding reflection and decay. It was interesting how the more expensive cables seemed to highlight something un-noticed previously, but the top two ranges seemed to keep the detail but assemble it much more coherently.
 
i know you have made your mind up, but gerrardas used to listen to his through the balanced output. i'm sure i remember him saying that it didn't have the edgy treble that some have reported through the rca out. don't know if your amp has balanced input. something to bare in mind, maybe.
 
plastic penguin said:
One thing Saturday has really done is to give me a stone-like resolve. I maybe making a mistake or may not, but one thing that never normally lets me down is that "gut-feeling." I liked the DacMagic with RS6s with no splashy treble: Just a clear presentation, punchy and detailed.

Well, now I realise you heard it with your speakers I'd have no reservations. Good call, pp.

Sorry if you had already said that - if so I missed it! Wasn't wanting to complicate things, especially in this little thread!
 
nopiano said:
Good observation, and I am beginning to expect nothing less, Cno! There was plenty of CDs to choose from, but I was happy to go with it, because (a) I know it has a good reputation and (b) I don't own it or know it, other than from the odd demo over the years. So, at the risk of blurring the lines with the 'tune dem' thread, it seemed to fit the bill.

The acoustic 'setting' was as revealing as the instrumental and vocal details; it became clearer on the better wires, with more natural sounding reflection and decay. It was interesting how the more expensive cables seemed to highlight something un-noticed previously, but the top two ranges seemed to keep the detail but assemble it much more coherently.

I believe we think alike as we're from a similar era (though I think you're older!), and have heard a fair amount of kit over the years (though I think you've heard more 😉 ), and all driven by a nutty sort of passion. 😀
 
nopiano said:
plastic penguin said:
One thing Saturday has really done is to give me a stone-like resolve. I maybe making a mistake or may not, but one thing that never normally lets me down is that "gut-feeling." I liked the DacMagic with RS6s with no splashy treble: Just a clear presentation, punchy and detailed.

Well, now I realise you heard it with your speakers I'd have no reservations. Good call, pp.

Sorry if you had already said that - if so I missed it! Wasn't wanting to complicate things, especially in this little thread!

And the amp was Cambridge 840, although better than the budget models IMO, still will be edgier than the Leema. The Pulse is sparkly but it also grips top-end of the RS6s as good as any amp I've heard.
 
Squeezebox Touch is now £160 at Amazon. Worth picking one up at that price to play with even if you're not ready to do so just yet.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-930-000089-Squeezebox-Touch/dp/B002N203SW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317718761&sr=8-1
 
The price of the Squeezebox on Amazon has dropped another tenner to a shade over £150.

Worth a punt. Woops ... I just did!🙂
 
Bearing in mind comparative price between Squeezebox and Airport Express, and the fact that the SB includes a remote, this recommendation supersedes mine.

EDIT - though this still presupposes your purchase of a DacMagic.
 
John Duncan said:
EDIT - though this still presupposes your purchase of a DacMagic.
No necessarily. I found little difference between the Touch's own DAC & the similarly priced Beresford Caiman. Although going straight to the Touch may not be the best route for PP.
 
John Duncan said:
Bearing in mind comparative price between Squeezebox and Airport Express, and the fact that the SB includes a remote, this recommendation supersedes mine.

EDIT - though this still presupposes your purchase of a DacMagic.

Yup, still DacMagic. Apart from pound-for-sound aspect, most of the all-in-ones (Olive, Naim, Marantz...) are music storage and streaming devices. Ideally I would like to download films as well. Read a few reviews on here and other places and there are a number separate storage boxes that allows this too.

Certainly in the first instance I'll cut my teeth on the Cambridge and see where this tenuous first step into DACs takes me.
 
Hi Cno Evil,

I appreciate where you are coming from and effort in responding.

One man's meat is maybe another man's living hell but you never know until you actually sit down demo and compare.

I can't ever remember going to a demo where my preconceived ideas, that actually turned out to be true!

Always ended up buying something else....... more expensive!

I will have to demo my current setup with Rega Dac vs sonos + rega dac vs linn sneaky to see if worth saving up longer for sneaky. Although I think i'd be really pleased with Sonos for ease and being able to play more music I wonder if I would be feeling I could be hearing much more with a better source. Speakers are Neat Motive 3 btw.

I have to say the Sneaky looks fantastic, provided I could use without connecting directly to hub/nas with use of some powerline or wifi extender.

Will report back once had demo.

Cheers for highlighting this.

Ambrose
 

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