DacMagic Plus Digital to Analogue Converter & Pre-amplifier
The world's best DAC just got even better!
Improving on a legend is never easy, but we've gone back to the drawing board to create our best ever DacMagic with exciting new features, wireless device connectivity, and best of all, truly amazing performance from music of all formats.
DacMagic Plus instantly improves audio performance from all your favourite digital products allowing you to make your computer, TV, Blu-ray player and other devices a true part of your hi-fi system.
Such impressive technology can be hard to explain, so why not enjoy a personal audition the award-winning DacMagic Plus? With Cambridge Audio specialists located across the globe, there's never been a better time to experience the future of digital music. ...Read more
DacMagic Plus buy it now
Reviews
"It would be a crime for me as a reviewer to not recommend the Cambridge DacMagic Plus as it is one of those products that performs above and beyond its expectations at its price level."
USA, August 2012
In more detail
The DacMagic Plus works by taking a direct digital audio signal from your computer, TV or other device - bypassing its inbuilt digital to analogue converters.
This signal is then carefully analysed and upgraded using our clever ATF2 upsampling system. Once this complex but instant process is complete, DacMagic Plus then outputs your music as a much purer, lifelike analogue signal to your amplifier.
Custom developed by our dedicated team in the heart of London, DacMagic Plus is totally flexible and supports digital music of all formats. It even allows you to upgrade 24-bit music files stored on your PC for better-than-CD performance from your digital music collection.
DacMagic Plus shown with iPad and optional BT100 Wireless Audio Receiver
Our unique ATF2 (Adaptive Time Filtering) upsampling technology, developed in conjunction with Anagram Technologies, Switzerland.
All incoming audio data, such as CD at 16-bit 44.1kHz CD, is upsampled to 24-bit 192kHz using a high-end 32-bit Analog Devices DSP (Digital Signal Processor). "Polynomial Curve Fitting Interpolation" provides a much more accurate upsampled audio soundwave than traditional upsampling processes. And a unique timing system buffers audio data to almost eradicate digital jitter. Vital – as jitter, common in digital audio devices, loses vital detail, often leaving digital audio sounding flat and lifeless.
Our latest ATF2 DSP also features a selectable digital filter with three settings to suit listener preferences and their particular system set-up:
• The Steep roll-off filter exhibits strong attenuation of aliasing images outside the pass band (i.e. above 22.05kHz) at the expense of a little pre and post-ringing in the time domain.
• The Linear phase filter uniquely features ‘constant group delay’ which delays all audio signals at all frequencies by the same amount meaning all audio is fully time-coherent at the output.
• Minimum phase meanwhile does not feature constant group delay but rather the co-efficients have been optimised without feed-forward so that the impulse response exhibits no pre-ringing in the time domain.
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Features -
Twin Wolfson WM8740 24bit DACs used in dual differential configuration New Anagram Technologies ATF2, 24-bit/384kHz audio up-sampling / jitter reduction Optional Digital Preamp mode allowing connection directly to power amp or active speakers 24-bit/96kHz driverless USB Audio 1.0 24-bit/192kHz USB Audio 2.0 with ASIO or kernel streaming modes Asynchronous USB transfer for very low jitter Selectable digital filters - linear phase, minimum phase and steep Balanced XLR audio output and RCA phono output Two 24 bit digital inputs (with optical or coaxial for each) External input for optional BT100 Bluetooth receiver - allows audio to be streamed and up-sampled from any paired Bluetooth device Supports high quality apt-X Bluetooth CODEC as well as standard SBC Bluetooth CODEC Available in black or silver finishes
Specifications
| Digital to Analogue Converters: | Dual Wolfson WM8740 24bit DACs |
| Digital filter: |
Analog Devices ADSP21261 DSP upsampling to 24-bit/384kHz |
| Analogue filter: | 2-Pole Dual Differential Bessel Double Virtual Earth Balanced |
| Frequency Response: | 20Hz to 20kHz (±0.1dB)* |
| THD @ 1Khz 0dBFs: | <0.001% 24-bit |
| THD @ 1kHz -10dBFs: | <0.001% |
| THD @ 20kHz 0dBFs: | <0.002% |
| Signal to Noise Ratio: | -112dBr |
| Total correlated jitter: | <130pS |
| Crosstalk @ 1kHz: | < -130dB |
| Crosstalk @ 20kHz: | < -112dB |
| Output Impedance: | <50ohms |
| Max. output level (unbalanced) | 2.1V rms |
| Max. output level (balanced) | 4.2V rms (2.1V per phase) |
| Digital input word widths supported: | 16-24bit |
| Digital input sampling frequencies supported: | 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz**, 192kHz |
| Audio output up-sampling: | Fixed 24-bit/384kHz |
| Max power consumption | 12W |
| Dimensions (H x W x D): |
52 x 215 x 191mm (2.0 x 8.6 x 7.6”) |
| Weight: | 1.2kg/2.6lbs |
| * | Steep filter disabled |
| ** | Digital 1 & 2 Inputs only |
Headphone output |
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| THD: |
at 1kHz 0dBFS 24 bit signal with 22kHz low pass filter = 0.001% at 20khz 0dBFS 24 bit signal with 80kHz low pass filter = 0.003% |
| S/N: | -111dBrA |
| Frequency Response: | 10Hz - 100kHz |
| Recommend headphones with impedance between 32 Ohm to 600 Ohm. |
Reviews
"It would be a crime for me as a reviewer to not recommend the Cambridge DacMagic Plus as it is one of those products that performs above and beyond its expectations at its price level."
USA, August 2012
"If you are contemplating putting together a high-quality desktop audio system, or adding computer audio to an existing system, you will be hard pressed to find any DAC/Preamp that includes a more useful feature set or better sound for the DacMagic's £350 pricetag. Yes, it's a great value. Yes, it delivers excellent sonics. And yes, the Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus has earned my recommendation as the new benchmark for DAC performance with a price under £600."
UK, October 2012
UK, September 2012
"...part of the future of digital audio in the home."
UK, August 2012
New Zealand, May 2012
"technically slick and full featured budget DAC"
UK, April 2012
"Better sound and better features than the original... sound is detailed, subtle and fast"
UK, February 2012
"Really great, really magical!"
France, February 2012
"Points for - dynamic expression. Points against - none"
France, January 2012
BT100 upgrade
Fixes issue when playing Bluetooth audio from some aptX enabled devices. This affects some (but not all) BT100 units. The symptom is audio cutting out after 3 minutes of playback with some aptX capable source devices. Typically affected devices will be Samsung Galaxy S3 Android phones and Apple computers.
Click here to download BT100 upgrade files and instructions - note: this upgrade can only be carried out on a Windows computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Designer's note
Niall,
Software engineer
“I’ve been working on its creation from the beginning and I also have a DacMagic Plus prototype at home. You could say I’m obsessed!
I just love the depth DacMagic Plus provides. It reproduces every detail, every rattle and every sigh. Listen to a track like The Rosenberg Trio’s version of My Blue Heaven through DacMagic Plus and it just sounds incredible…”
Video wall
Also consider
Go wireless!
By linking our plug-and-play BT100 wireless audio receiver to DacMagic Plus, you can also stream music wirelessly from your smartphone, tablet, laptop or any gadget that supports Bluetooth*. Best of all, if your device supports the high-end audio aptX CODEC, you can stream audiophile quality music from your device to DacMagic Plus.
Of course the range of music available from today’s mobile devices is almost endless and as well as controlling and playing music that’s stored on your computer, streaming music services like Spotify and Last FM can be shared with your hi-fi in stunning quality.
