Choosing the Right DAC: Evaluating DAC Magic 200m and 100

The DAC Magic 200M and the 100 are two digital-to-analog converters produced by Cambridge Audio. These devices are designed to enhance the audio quality of digital music files by converting them into high-quality analog signals. They both offer similar features, but with some differences in terms of specifications and functionalities. The main difference between the DAC Magic 200M and the 100 lies in their capabilities. The 200M is the higher-end model and offers more advanced features compared to the 100. It has a higher sampling rate of 32-bit/768 kHz and supports PCM, DXD, and DSD formats, allowing for more accurate reproduction of high-resolution audio files.

On topic I can recommend the SMSL SU-1 as a good budget DAC. Take a look at some recent reviews. Very good for the money.

In fact, I spent a few weeks mainly listening through it, and was never bothered, annoyed, or distracted, happily going about my daily music explorations and enjoyments more or less unfettered. The Lunar Gray aluminum front panel also includes a power button, a single-source selection button to choose from the USB, 2x Coax, 2x Toslink, and Bluetooth inputs, a big digital volume control knob for the headphone output, a total of 10 LEDs indicating the sample rate of the incoming music signal, 2 more to indicate MQA or DSD, and a 6.

It has a higher sampling rate of 32-bit/768 kHz and supports PCM, DXD, and DSD formats, allowing for more accurate reproduction of high-resolution audio files. On the other hand, the DAC Magic 100 has a maximum sampling rate of 24-bit/192 kHz and supports PCM files, which is still considered high-quality audio. Another difference between the two models is the presence of balanced outputs in the DAC Magic 200M.

Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M - review/comparison?

Hi, just wondering if anyone can let me know from specs if this is likely to be better than something like the SMSL M400?

I'm sure someone here will review this unit properly when it's release, but I've got my custom Purifi 5chan amp from Apollon turning up in a week and I want to decide on DAC to pair with it, and this is cheaper than the M400 I already have upstairs!

raistlin65

Major Contributor

You might want to specify what features you need with a DAC, as there are $100 units that are easily considered to be noise and distortion free within the range of human hearing.

Sg86

Member

raistlin65

Major Contributor

Sorry. I can't help with that. I ignore MQA as a feature for these reasons

Sg86

Member

Sorry. I can't help with that. I ignore MQA as a feature for these reasons

I don't care about what you think about MQA, that isn't why I created the thread.

Take you feelings about a technology elsewhere, and don't comment if you have no advice on the hardware.

ahofer

Major Contributor

Cambridge doesn't use measurements, which is a huge strike against them. But in terms of streaming functionality, I find their streamer/DACs excellent - full Roon integration, Chromecast support, airplay support, seamless switching between them. Really top notch.

• “Beliefs are hypotheses to be tested, not treasures to be guarded." - Philip Tetlock
• "Scientifically improbable claims require scientifically impeccable evidence" - Me.
• ”We have been drawing attention….to the absolute necessity to separate the quantitative judgement of audio from the qualitative judgement by removing loudness as a bias. It has been ignored, and the audiophile business carrys on its own merry way. Those who work in sound professionally know that this is lesson 1 semester 1 in audiology: the very core of the science. So we have given up trying to educate on this point, as every audio engineer has eventually done over the last half century, as the usual audiophile has an emotional need which cannot be reached by logic, reasoning and science.” - Alan Shaw

Sg86

Member

Cambridge doesn't use measurements, which is a huge strike against them. But in terms of streaming functionality, I find their streamer/DACs excellent - full Roon integration, Chromecast support, airplay support, seamless switching between them. Really top notch.

I was going to connect an Intel NUC to this/M400 via USB, NUC has Roon bridge on it.

If this 200M has Roon bridge software on it then no brainer for me, didn't think that was the case though?

Aldoszx

Active Member

I don't think will have any software in it. I t is only a DAC, an improvement over the respectable DacMagic Plus.
They changed the DAC chip inside from Wolfson 8740 to ESS 9028Q2M
Maybe we'll see some measurements sometimes.

murraycamp

Senior Member

I don't care about what you think about MQA, that isn't why I created the thread.

Take you feelings about a technology elsewhere, and don't comment if you have no advice on the hardware.

"[ASR] is a hot knife through the bullshit butter." - BDWoody
"Your ears are fine. It is the rest of you that is not." - amirm
"Maybe we are all NwAvGuy." - splattened

CCA (Qobuz)/CD transport>MiniDSP SHD>Quirk Audio/NAD 2200>JBL 590s
Planar 2, 2M Blue, RT 707
CCA>D50s>JDS Atom>Focal Clear

raistlin65

Major Contributor

I don't care about what you think about MQA, that isn't why I created the thread.

Take you feelings about a technology elsewhere, and don't comment if you have no advice on the hardware.

Don't be an ass. I was trying to help by asking you what features you needed, and then offering the reason why I couldn't help with that feature. And I don't know what you know about MQA. A lot of people don't know about why they might not want to care about it.

How about if you don't like the free advice you are getting, you either (a) ignore it or (b) hire a consultant who is paid to deal with your attitude?

Wes

Major Contributor

You might start by not confusing feeling with data.

BDWoody

Chief Cat Herder

I don't care about what you think about MQA, that isn't why I created the thread.

Take you feelings about a technology elsewhere, and don't comment if you have no advice on the hardware.

There ain't no Coupe deVille hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box. - Meat Loaf

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. - Maya Angelou

ahofer

Major Contributor

I was going to connect an Intel NUC to this/M400 via USB, NUC has Roon bridge on it.

If this 200M has Roon bridge software on it then no brainer for me, didn't think that was the case though?

• “Beliefs are hypotheses to be tested, not treasures to be guarded." - Philip Tetlock
• "Scientifically improbable claims require scientifically impeccable evidence" - Me.
• ”We have been drawing attention….to the absolute necessity to separate the quantitative judgement of audio from the qualitative judgement by removing loudness as a bias. It has been ignored, and the audiophile business carrys on its own merry way. Those who work in sound professionally know that this is lesson 1 semester 1 in audiology: the very core of the science. So we have given up trying to educate on this point, as every audio engineer has eventually done over the last half century, as the usual audiophile has an emotional need which cannot be reached by logic, reasoning and science.” - Alan Shaw

bigx5murf

Addicted to Fun and Learning

Cambridge doesn't use measurements, which is a huge strike against them. But in terms of streaming functionality, I find their streamer/DACs excellent - full Roon integration, Chromecast support, airplay support, seamless switching between them. Really top notch.

What do you base that on? The few of their products Amir has reviewed have shown to meet or exceed their listed specs.

ahofer

Major Contributor

What do you base that on? The few of their products Amir has reviewed have shown to meet or exceed their listed specs.

Fair - they have published Frequency response, S/N, crosstalk. I don't think I've seen the Cambridge reviews here. I've been a bit turned off by the opacity on what sort of DAC is running in the Edge NQ, and that they claim to have "tuned" the whole Edge line by ear. I own one (NQ) btw. They offered it to me at a decent discount with a service return of my prior Cambridge DAC,back when it first came out.

The only thing I could get out of them - via direct email contact - was "we can confirm it is a NOS DAC".

It's nice DAC with great streaming and balanced outputs. Probably not worth a dime more than the CXN tho.

• “Beliefs are hypotheses to be tested, not treasures to be guarded." - Philip Tetlock
• "Scientifically improbable claims require scientifically impeccable evidence" - Me.
• ”We have been drawing attention….to the absolute necessity to separate the quantitative judgement of audio from the qualitative judgement by removing loudness as a bias. It has been ignored, and the audiophile business carrys on its own merry way. Those who work in sound professionally know that this is lesson 1 semester 1 in audiology: the very core of the science. So we have given up trying to educate on this point, as every audio engineer has eventually done over the last half century, as the usual audiophile has an emotional need which cannot be reached by logic, reasoning and science.” - Alan Shaw

This feature is beneficial for connecting the device to high-end audio equipment, as it provides a cleaner and more accurate audio signal transmission. The 100, on the other hand, only has unbalanced RCA outputs. If you have a balanced system or plan to upgrade to one in the future, the 200M may be a better choice. When it comes to build quality, both models are well-made and feature a sleek design. They also come with USB, coaxial, and optical inputs, making them versatile and compatible with various audio sources. Both models also use precision DAC chips to ensure accurate and detailed sound reproduction. In terms of sound quality, both the DAC Magic 200M and the 100 provide excellent performance. They offer enhanced dynamic range, improved clarity, and more natural sound compared to built-in audio outputs on computers and other devices. Ultimately, the choice between the two models comes down to your specific needs and budget. **In summary, the DAC Magic 200M and 100 are digital-to-analog converters offered by Cambridge Audio. The 200M is the higher-end model, featuring a higher sampling rate, support for PCM, DXD, and DSD formats, and balanced outputs. The 100, on the other hand, has a lower sampling rate and only supports PCM files, but it still provides high-quality audio. Both models offer excellent sound quality and are suitable for enhancing your digital music listening experience.**.

Reviews for "Exploring the Value for Money: DAC Magic 200m vs 100"

- John Smith - 2 out of 5 stars - The Dac magic 200m vs 100 was a huge disappointment for me. I had high expectations due to its high price and the hype surrounding it, but it failed to deliver. The audio quality was not as impressive as I expected, with mediocre clarity and lackluster bass. Additionally, the build quality felt cheap and flimsy. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this product considering its price tag.

- Emily Johnson - 1 out of 5 stars - I regret purchasing the Dac magic 200m vs 100. The sound output was highly distorted and muffled, which completely ruined my listening experience. I tried different audio files and sources, but the result was always the same. The device also had poor connectivity options, and the user interface was not intuitive at all. It was a frustrating experience, and I would advise anyone looking for a DAC to look elsewhere.

- Robert Thompson - 2 out of 5 stars - I found the Dac magic 200m vs 100 to be overpriced for the quality it offered. The sound was decent, but nothing extraordinary. The device had limited features and a cumbersome setup process. Furthermore, the customer service was unhelpful and unresponsive when I encountered an issue with the product. For the hefty price tag, I expected a much better performance and overall experience, so I was left disappointed and dissatisfied.

An In-Depth Analysis: DAC Magic 200m vs 100