Cambridge Audio-DacMagic 100

[AudioEagle01]

Hi all,

Has anybody purchased the DacMagic 100? If so, could you share your thoughts and/or experience with this DAC. I'm assuming it wouldn't be any different than their DacMagic Plus but you never know in this hobby. I'm considering one for my setup in my bedroom. Thanks all.

AudioEagle01

[Suave]

So many different affordable DACs hitting the market now... it's hard to keep up

What HiFi has a brief review of this DAC on their website (which compares it to a couple of other DACs):
http://www.whathifi.com/review/cambr...o-dacmagic-100

[AudioEagle01]

Thanks Suave for the link. Have you tried any of the Cambridge Audio DACS Suave? If so, what is your opinion.

[Cambridge Audio]

I'm assuming it wouldn't be any different than their DacMagic Plus but you never know in this hobby.

Hi There,
There is a fairly significant difference between the DacMagic Plus and DacMagic 100. The Plus uses a pair of Wolfson WM8740's and an entirely seperate upsampling circuit. The DacMagic 100 uses a single Wolfson WM8742 and upsamples using the internal processes of this chip. The result isn't night and day but the general consensus is that the 100 is slightly leaner than the Plus and not quite so spacious. This does mean on occasions, people with the budget for either DAC sometimes select the 100 through preference.

I hope this helps
Ed Selley
Cambridge Audio

[AudioEagle01]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for chiming in and sharing some important info on your latest DacMagic 100. I'm particularly interested in hooking up my Apple Tv to this DAC. Any thoughts on how to hook up my Apple Tv(3rd Gen) to this Dac and still be able to watch movies in 5.1 Dolby Digital through Apple Tv? I would like to listen to my iTunes library through the DacMagic 100 in 2 channel but don't want to lose the 5.1 surround for movies when I need it. Thanks Ed.

AudioEagle01

[Cambridge Audio]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for chiming in and sharing some important info on your latest DacMagic 100. I'm particularly interested in hooking up my Apple Tv to this DAC. Any thoughts on how to hook up my Apple Tv(3rd Gen) to this Dac and still be able to watch movies in 5.1 Dolby Digital through Apple Tv? I would like to listen to my iTunes library through the DacMagic 100 in 2 channel but don't want to lose the 5.1 surround for movies when I need it. Thanks Ed.

AudioEagle01

This depends if the ATV can output 5.1 over HDMI to receiver. If it can, the DacMagic 100 can do the job. If it can only do so via the optical output, you would need to consider the DacMagic Plus that has Dolby Digital and DTS passthrough to the digital output.
Ed

[AudioEagle01]

This depends if the ATV can output 5.1 over HDMI to receiver. If it can, the DacMagic 100 can do the job. If it can only do so via the optical output, you would need to consider the DacMagic Plus that has Dolby Digital and DTS passthrough to the digital output.
Ed

Hi Ed,

Thanks. Right now I have my ATV hooked up via HDMI to my preamp processor and it does carry the 5.1 DD signal. Are you saying I can still hookup my ATV via it's optical output to the DacMagic 100's optical input and RCA connection to my preamp processor?? I'm under the impression it's not advisable to hook up both(optical and HDMI) to run audio through my system. Correct me if I'm wrong. On the other hand I can use it for my cd player as well but it would be nice to use if for my iTunes collection. Thoughts Ed?? Thanks again

AudioEagle01

[AudioEagle01]

Hi Ed,

Thanks. Right now I have my ATV hooked up via HDMI to my preamp processor and it does carry the 5.1 DD signal. Are you saying I can still hookup my ATV via it's optical output to the DacMagic 100's optical input and RCA connection to my preamp processor?? I'm under the impression it's not advisable to hook up both(optical and HDMI) to run audio through my system. Correct me if I'm wrong. On the other hand I can use it for my cd player as well but it would be nice to use if for my iTunes collection. Thoughts Ed?? Thanks again



AudioEagle01

Hi All,

Can someone else chime in and answer my question please. I would love to get this DAC but if I cannot maintain my 5.1 DD signal when watching movies in my bedroom then it is of no use to me. Anyone who has this type of setup please chime in and let me know what you did to get over this problem. Can I still play videos over hdmi and use the optical connection of my ATV 3 to the DacMagic 100? Thanks again all.

AudioEagle01

[Spudso]

Hi AudioEagle - I am not sure if I fully understand what you are asking, but I have my ATV (1st Gen with the 160GB HD ) simultaneously hooked up to my PrePro via HDMI for movies, and via optical to my DAC with RCA from the DAC to my PrePro for listening to music from my iTunes library. I don't have the Cambridge Audio DAC, but that is not relevant.

[AudioEagle01]

Hi AudioEagle - I am not sure if I fully understand what you are asking, but I have my ATV (1st Gen with the 160GB HD ) simultaneously hooked up to my PrePro via HDMI for movies, and via optical to my DAC with RCA from the DAC to my PrePro for listening to music from my iTunes library. I don't have the Cambridge Audio DAC, but that is not relevant.

Thanks Spudso. How you have your setup is how I want my setup. I see now when I take another look at the scenario. I just hook up the rca connectors to another input on my pre/pro and when I listen to cd or itunes library I just ensure it is on that video input and put to analog and select the appropriate source on the DacMagic 100 when I'm playing iTunes or a cd.

Ok, problem solved. I'm satisfied that this is the solution. Looks like a DacMagic 100 coming my way very soon. Thanks to Spudso and everyone who assisted me in this thread. I really do appreciate it. Cheers.

AudioEagle01