The Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus is an affordable and high-quality digital to analog converter (DAC) that offers exceptional audio performance. With its sleek design and user-friendly interface, it's a popular choice for audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike. One of the standout features of the DacMagic Plus is its ability to improve the sound quality of digital audio sources. It uses a dual Wolfson WM8740 DAC chip to convert digital signals into analog, ensuring that you get a clean and accurate audio reproduction. This means that you'll hear every detail of your music, with a wide soundstage and excellent clarity. The DacMagic Plus also offers a variety of input options, including USB, coaxial, and optical inputs.
THD+N versus frequency using wider bandwidth shows the higher noise floor noted earlier:
If you want to go wireless, there is an inevitable drop in quality but the aptX dongle connected to our smartphones and laptop easily enough, and sounded better than standard Bluetooth connections. With some music, like softer classical sections recorded with plenty of infrasonic room rumble, you may hear some zipper noise as you re changing the volume.
The DacMagic Plus also offers a variety of input options, including USB, coaxial, and optical inputs. This means that you can easily connect it to your computer, CD player, or other digital audio devices. It also has balanced XLR outputs, which is a rare and valuable addition in a DAC at this price point.
Cambridge audio dac magic plus review
Cambridge DacMagic Plus
192k/24b DAC and Semi-Preamp
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Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus (2.8 lbs./1.3 kg, about $600). enlarge. This free website's biggest source of support is when you use these links, especially this link to them at Amazon, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks! Ken.
Rear, Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus. enlarge.
Digital Inputs: USB, (2) TOSLINK or coaxial RCA digital inputs. Also a flat USB connector for a dedicated, optional BT100 bluetooth receiver.
Analog Outputs: Unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR. ¼" headphone jack.
Digital Outputs: TOSLINK and RCA (pass-through only).
Power: 12V wall-wart. 100-240V, 50-60 Hz, with three different power connectors for world-wide use.
Notable: Astounding technical DAC performance regardless of price. Absolute polarity switch. Three easily-selected digital filters. Headphone output.
Missing: No remote control. No analog inputs. No AES digital inputs or outputs. Not USB powered (always needs wall power). Balanced output 10 dB below standard +4 levels.
Introduction top
The Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus is an inexpensive, lightweight, Chinese-made DAC with astounding performance.
It has the highest performance of any DAC I've ever measured, and is among the least expensive. It's not the biggest, toughest, heaviest or most-impressive looking, but nothing outperforms it sonically. It's also one of the few DACs at any price to include an absolute polarity switch, as well as digital filter options. Not bad for $600!
It only has digital inputs so it's not really a preamp, but it does have four selectable inputs, a volume control and even a headphone output, so for many of us, it can be our master control center.
It does not have a remote control.
It has the best performance I've ever measured over USB of any DAC at any price. It's completely immune to even the slightest jitter that other excellent DACs can't remove from USB, as well as often the best performances I've measured for distortion. I installed no software, and magically it fed itself with 96 ksps audio via USB from iTunes on my Mac.
Its headphone amplifier performance is typical, limited by its 50 Ω output source impedance, but at least it's 12 dB louder (4 V RMS max.) with high-impedance headphones than most iPods and portable equipment.
Specifications top
Black or silver.
32 ksps, 44.1 ksps, 48 ksps, 88.2 ksps, 96 ksps, 176.4 ksps, 192 ksps.
(1) USB, marked with the flipped pawn-shop symbol on front-panel.
(2) TOSLINK or RCA, marked as "Digital 1" and "Digital 2" on front-panel.
(1) Flat USB slot for the dedicated BT100 bluetooth receiver, marked "Ext" on front panel.
All digital inputs resampled to 384 ksps and 24-bits with Analog Devices ADSP21261 DSP.
Dual Wolfson WM8740 24-bit DACs.
Analog low-pass filter: 2-pole dual differential Bessel double virtual earth balanced.
Frequency Response
20 ~ 20,000 Hz ±0.1dB.
Headphone response is rated 10 ~ 100,000 Hz, without a tolerance, but it's unclear how you get it a 100 kHz signal if the maximum sample rate is 192 ksps.
Reference not stated, so this a meaningless spec.
Correlated Jitter
Output Impedance
RCA Unbalanced
¼" headphone jack on front.
32 ~ 600 Ω headphones recommended.
XLR Balanced
4.2 V RMS @ 0 dBFS.
TOSLINK and RCA, simply pass-throughs of the selected input.
12 V DC from supplied AC adapter.
Measured Power Consumption (from 120 VAC 60 Hz via AC adapter):
7.75 watts with headphones (line output mutes).
2.0 x 8.6 x 7.6” HWD.
52 x 215 x 191mm HWD.
44.935 oz. (2.81 pounds, 1,273.9g), measured.
Performance top
The DacMagic Plus is a lightweight piece of consumer equipment that is sonically superb, although the slowly-responding volume control and its plastic knob is a real disappointment.
It's easy to get started: just plug it in. The only reason to read the manual is if you want to disable the volume control and have it run at full output all the time.
It's clean: what comes out is exactly what goes in; nothing more, nothing less.
It has no fans and makes no noise.
There is no audible self-noise from the headphone jacks, even with super-sensitive Audio-Technica ATH-M50 headphones at full gain.
Software and Installation
There is no software and no firmware: plug and play.
There might be some drivers for tweaks, I have no time to explore when there's so much great music to enjoy instead of tweaking.
Ergonomics & Usage top
The biggest disappointment about the high-performance DacMagic Plus is its poky volume control. You have to keep turning and turning it to change the volume.
The volume control is too darn slow to respond. It's maddening to use.
With some music, like softer classical sections recorded with plenty of infrasonic room rumble, you may hear some "zipper noise" as you're changing the volume.
It turns and turns without stops. You never really know where the volume's set, except that the source LED blinks when you're all the way up or down.
You'll be spending a lot of time turning this knob, and it's plastic and not that deep, so grip isn't that wonderful.
Great news is that tapping it mutes and unmutes instantly.
It mutes the line outputs with a time-delay relay whenever headphones are inserted, a brilliant touch!
It unmutes when you tap the volume control, remove the headphones or change the filter selection.
It's shipped in a nice box with foam inserts. The DAC itself is in a nice reusable bag, adding a quality touch.
It always stays on, so if fed from a Mac, there are no power thumps since it's always on. If my Mac is sleeping and I turn on the DacMagic connected by USB, my Mac wakes.
The 4 V RMS headphone output is more than enough for sensitive, low-impedance headphones like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50, and usually enough with less sensitive 600 Ω headphones like the DT880.
Blue Lights
All the LEDs are blue, not amber.
They aren't very bright by day, and swell at night — except at night, you can't read the panel inscriptions.
The input LEDs blink if the input goes away, for instance, if your computer is asleep and your DacMagic is left on on your desk.
This Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus is typical precise and lightweight Chinese: sheet metal case and aluminum front.
There are no bottom feet so you can install it in tight spots. If you want feet, stick-on bumpers are included for you to attach.
A plastic base is included for it to stand vertically, say, on your desk. If you use this, the front-panel lettering doesn't rotate.
Measurements top
These measurements were made with a $50,000 Rohde & Schwarz UPL laboratory analyzer. The traces from the Rohde & Schwarz UPL laboratory analyzer are color coded for the Left Channel and for the Right Channel . When they don't lie on top of each other, it's due to channel imbalance.
Even measured from 44.1/16-bit sources, this DAC is much cleaner than an excellent power amp. Most people have no idea how good is 44.1/16; even at 44.1/16, this will be the cleanest part of your reproduction chain.
All measurements are made with coaxial digital input from the UPL, linear phase filter, 44.1 ksps (kilosamples per second a.k.a. kHz), 24 undithered bits at 0 dBFS, maximum volume and unbalanced outputs at 2 V RMS, unless otherwise specified.
Output Levels (At maximum gain at 0 dBFS) measurements top
Unbalanced Output Level (200 kΩ load)
2.053 V RMS at 0.0007% THD:
Actual output source impedance at 1 kHz: 47.5 Ω.
Headphone Output Levels
Actual measured output source impedance at 1kHz: 33.2 Ω.
Headphone output at 0 dBFS
Correlated Jitter
In terms of connectivity, the DacMagic Plus is very versatile. It has a USB Type-B input for connecting to a computer, as well as a USB Type-A input for connecting to USB drives. It also has coaxial and optical inputs, allowing you to connect it to various audio sources. Furthermore, the DacMagic Plus has a headphone output, which is great for those who prefer to listen to their music privately. The headphone amp is powerful enough to drive high-impedance headphones, and it delivers a clean, dynamic sound. Another notable feature of the DacMagic Plus is its digital preamp functionality. This means that you can connect it directly to a power amplifier or active speakers, bypassing the need for a separate preamp. This is a convenient and cost-effective solution for those who want to streamline their audio setup. Overall, the Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus is a fantastic DAC that offers exceptional sound quality and versatility. Its clean and accurate audio reproduction, wide range of inputs, and digital preamp functionality make it a great choice for any audiophile. Whether you're listening to music on your computer or connecting it to your existing audio setup, the DacMagic Plus is sure to impress with its performance and value for money..
Reviews for "Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus Review: The Ultimate DAC for Audiophiles"
1. John Doe - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really disappointed with the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus. While some people rave about it, I found the sound quality to be subpar. The bass was muddy and lacked depth, and the highs were harsh and not well-defined. I expected a lot more from a product in this price range. Overall, I regret purchasing this DAC and would not recommend it to others.
2. Jane Smith - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus, but it failed to meet my expectations. The build quality was decent, but the sound quality left a lot to be desired. It lacked the warmth and clarity I was hoping for, and the overall soundstage felt narrow. Additionally, I found the controls to be a bit confusing and not very intuitive. While it might work for some people, I personally found it to be underwhelming.
3. James Johnson - ★★☆☆☆
I was initially excited to try out the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The sound quality was just average, and there was nothing particularly impressive about it. On top of that, I encountered some technical issues with the device, such as intermittent audio dropouts. Given the price point of this DAC, I expected a more refined and reliable product. I ended up returning it and opting for a different brand instead.