New DAC...

[mikeinbrum]

Blunny89:Ajani:
Blunny89:I think my DAC is now the weakest link in my system... If I had up to £800 to upgrade what would everyone recommend? Do you think this would be the best investment for my cash?I also plan to upgrade the mains cable on the Roksan amp and the Chord Crimson interconnect soonish.Cheers

I'd suggest trying the Benchmark DAC1 or PS Audio Digital Link iii. Either should be a worthwhile step up from the Cambridge. As excellent value as the Cambridge is for the money, it is not going to better or be as good as £800 DACs. There is always better available for more money (it's just a matter of whether the difference in price is worth it to you).ÿ

Now whether an £800 is overkill for your setup is another issue altogether. I'm not sure you need to spend that much, but if you do you'll at least have a product you won't need to upgrade when you eventually replace the amp/speakers.

Finally someone mentioned reviews in HFC and Stereophile. I haven't read the group test in HFC, so I won't comment on that one, but all the reviews I've read for the Cambridge indicate that it is excellent for the money, but that better is still available. Stereophile rated the DACmagic as Class C (Class A is the best), while the Benchmark is rated Class A (so they clearly see a significant difference between the DM and more expensive DACs).

All that said, I suggest getting a Benchmark/PS Audio from somewhere with a good return policy... so you can see whether the improvement is worth it to you....

It seems like its going to be pretty hard to get a demo of either of the DACs. Apparently the PS Audio DAC can only be demo'd in Kent and I am clueless to where the Benchmark can be demo'd. Thank you for your input though, I am considering upgrading my DACMagic power supply and maybe doing the hardware upgrade now.

ÿ

I'm sure that isn't the case- worth ringing a few more dealers you may be able to get to. Audiovenue would definitely offer a demo! and I'm sure other of the bigger suppliers would too. as for Benchmark, a list of dealers will be available on the website. If all else fails and this is an avenue you still wish to persue, you should be able to order one on the basis that you can send it back should it not fit your requirements.ÿ

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Blunny89:Gerrardasnails:mikeinbrum:Looks like there's a Nottingham Dealer called Art Hifi Salon. You could give them a bell. I'd mention that the price reduction is listed on PS Audio's own website if they are slow in adjusting their own prices! Maybe take a screen print or something.

Nice set up Mike!

Gerrardasnails - do you think the power supply upgrade or hardware upgrade for the DACMagic will be a better option then an upgrade? Will you be investing in the new PSU?

Cheers

I would be interested to know what others think but I am very happy with the sound I'm getting and I have a lot of weight on my stand, getting behind it to change the PSU would be a task in itself!

 

[Anonymous]

mikeinbrum:Blunny89:Ajani:
Blunny89:I think my DAC is now the weakest link in my system... If I had up to £800 to upgrade what would everyone recommend? Do you think this would be the best investment for my cash?I also plan to upgrade the mains cable on the Roksan amp and the Chord Crimson interconnect soonish.Cheers

I'd suggest trying the Benchmark DAC1 or PS Audio Digital Link iii. Either should be a worthwhile step up from the Cambridge. As excellent value as the Cambridge is for the money, it is not going to better or be as good as £800 DACs. There is always better available for more money (it's just a matter of whether the difference in price is worth it to you).ÿ

Now whether an £800 is overkill for your setup is another issue altogether. I'm not sure you need to spend that much, but if you do you'll at least have a product you won't need to upgrade when you eventually replace the amp/speakers.

Finally someone mentioned reviews in HFC and Stereophile. I haven't read the group test in HFC, so I won't comment on that one, but all the reviews I've read for the Cambridge indicate that it is excellent for the money, but that better is still available. Stereophile rated the DACmagic as Class C (Class A is the best), while the Benchmark is rated Class A (so they clearly see a significant difference between the DM and more expensive DACs).

All that said, I suggest getting a Benchmark/PS Audio from somewhere with a good return policy... so you can see whether the improvement is worth it to you....

It seems like its going to be pretty hard to get a demo of either of the DACs. Apparently the PS Audio DAC can only be demo'd in Kent and I am clueless to where the Benchmark can be demo'd. Thank you for your input though, I am considering upgrading my DACMagic power supply and maybe doing the hardware upgrade now.

ÿ

I'm sure that isn't the case- worth ringing a few more dealers you may be able to get to. Audiovenue would definitely offer a demo! and I'm sure other of the bigger suppliers would too. as for Benchmark, a list of dealers will be available on the website. If all else fails and this is an avenue you still wish to persue, you should be able to order one on the basis that you can send it back should it not fit your requirements.ÿ

Cheers Mike, it may well be worth me having a look into it, I'm off to London in a couple of weeks so hopefully can sneak a quick demo in at their new refurbished showroom

 

[Anonymous]

Hi mate, I have no first hand experience but changing the op amps according to what people have said about the dacmagic has resulted in a nice upgrade.

 

[Anonymous]

hi fi newbie:Hi mate, I have no first hand experience but changing the op amps according to what people have said about the dacmagic has resulted in a nice upgrade.

Cheers bud, I think I have been persuaded to upgrade my cables first so it looks like I will be doing this before I change my DAC, but it won't hurt anyone to go for a sneaky dem of the DACs mentioned above

 

[Anonymous]

The Merlin Bach cable is fantastic value IMHO. I use one with a Naim tuner! About £50.

 

[Anonymous]

For anyone that was following, I have just hooked up the Chord SuperScreen mains cable and trialling the Chord Cobra 2 & CSP.

Wow...

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Blunny89:For anyone that was following, I have just hooked up the Chord SuperScreen mains cable and trialling the Chord Cobra 2 & CSP.

Wow...

You mean Chorus 2? Yep, I was expecting you to say that. Any more details?

 

[Anonymous]

I am not being facetious but hook up your usual mains cable while trialing those 2 interconnects.

Just to ensure that both are making a difference.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

hi fi newbie:
I am not being facetious but hook up your usual mains cable while trialing those 2 interconnects.

Just to ensure that both are making a difference.

I was talking about the interconnects really. I agree, check without the mains cable as well and then the mains cable and your old interconnects. I would be astonished if the mains cable was making more of an improvement than the interconnects.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Gerrardasnails:hi fi newbie:
I am not being facetious but hook up your usual mains cable while trialing those 2 interconnects.

Just to ensure that both are making a difference.

I was talking about the interconnects really. I agree, check without the mains cable as well and then the mains cable and your old interconnects. I would be astonished if the mains cable was making more of an improvement than the interconnects.

I must admit I have "designer" mains cables on all my boxes and I haven't done A B testing.

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails:Blunny89:For anyone that was following, I have just hooked up the Chord SuperScreen mains cable and trialling the Chord Cobra 2 & CSP.

Wow...

You mean Chorus 2? Yep, I was expecting you to say that. Any more details?

Yeah, my mistake, Chorus 2 sorry. I've done a small amount of A/B testing but then decided to just listen the mains cable made so much difference I could not believe it, everything sounded purer and "flowed" better? I'm not to good at putting these things into writing! I then changed the interconnects and again, wow... a sweeter top end, more muscular bass and an even better sound stage... Thanks for your recommendation all (especially Gerrardasnails) it looks like I'm going to be keeping the "expensive cable" although will still try the CSP when I get around to it.

Cheers, an ex cable-skeptic

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Blunny89:Gerrardasnails:Blunny89:For anyone that was following, I have just hooked up the Chord SuperScreen mains cable and trialling the Chord Cobra 2 & CSP.

Wow...

You mean Chorus 2? Yep, I was expecting you to say that. Any more details?

Yeah, my mistake, Chorus 2 sorry. I've done a small amount of A/B testing but then decided to just listen the mains cable made so much difference I could not believe it, everything sounded purer and "flowed" better? I'm not to good at putting these things into writing! I then changed the interconnects and again, wow... a sweeter top end, more muscular bass and an even better sound stage... Thanks for your recommendation all (especially Gerrardasnails) it looks like I'm going to be keeping the "expensive cable" although will still try the CSP when I get around to it.

Cheers, an ex cable-skeptic

I'm glad it's all worked out well. To be honest, I've not checked my system out with bog standard mains cables. Before I set all my equipment up on my bespoke rack, I bought various mains cables from ebay and Clearer Audio. I have a Merlin Tarantula, 2 Clearer Audio Copper Line, PowerMax from Russ Andrews. I am intrigued about what the new PSU can do to my DM but I'm so very happy with my system, I'm not going to bust a gut moving it all about to get to the leads. Once we redecorate, I will have a play.

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails:Blunny89:Gerrardasnails:Blunny89:For anyone that was following, I have just hooked up the Chord SuperScreen mains cable and trialling the Chord Cobra 2 & CSP.

Wow...

You mean Chorus 2? Yep, I was expecting you to say that. Any more details?

Yeah, my mistake, Chorus 2 sorry. I've done a small amount of A/B testing but then decided to just listen the mains cable made so much difference I could not believe it, everything sounded purer and "flowed" better? I'm not to good at putting these things into writing! I then changed the interconnects and again, wow... a sweeter top end, more muscular bass and an even better sound stage... Thanks for your recommendation all (especially Gerrardasnails) it looks like I'm going to be keeping the "expensive cable" although will still try the CSP when I get around to it.

Cheers, an ex cable-skeptic

I'm glad it's all worked out well. To be honest, I've not checked my system out with bog standard mains cables. Before I set all my equipment up on my bespoke rack, I bought various mains cables from ebay and Clearer Audio. I have a Merlin Tarantula, 2 Clearer Audio Copper Line, PowerMax from Russ Andrews. I am intrigued about what the new PSU can do to my DM but I'm so very happy with my system, I'm not going to bust a gut moving it all about to get to the leads. Once we redecorate, I will have a play.

It will be great to hear your thoughts! I haven't actually received the DM power supply yet but was so excited with everything I got today I had to put it in ha

 

[Anonymous]

Big upgrades aren't they.

Pleased that you like them, wait till you get a totally clean Mains!