[darkpoet]

this might be a stupid question but..what benefits are there in adding a cambridge audio dacmagic to a decent cambridge audio amplifier in terms of sound quality from a pc with only an integrated soundcard..
does it do a better job than the dac

i intend on getting an amp with two speakers that will be connected to my laptop and ps3 and i also plan on a lot of headphone use...
and i was thinking of cambridge audio azure series

[AngelEyes]

You might want to consider the Beresford Caiman as well, from what I have read it is regarded as a fair bit better than the DacMagic and also includes a Pre-Amp so you could just buy a power amp to use with it if you wanted to, it also includes a headphone amp.

It does have USB input but I would be inclined to use digital out from your PC to the DAC, certainly from what I have read of the DacMagic that would seem to be the achilles heel of that DAC in particular anyway.

Adam

[lbstyling]

if you can solder theres little doubt that the buffalo dac is at least one of the ultimate dac's at any price- google it.

[Moonfly]

I was considering a DAC myself for a long while. I have to say though that the iPod classic (with lossless tracks etc) run via my 360 sounds really quite good, enough for me to not be that bothered for now anyway as other distractions have taken hold.

I would ask the same question, is there really any point in a DAC for me. I do run music off my laptop via HDMI as well which sounds decent enough, so . . . . . . . . . . .

[AngelEyes]

I would only suggest buying a DAC if your Processor or Source is the weakest link in your setup. For me the 876 definately is so I decided to try a Caiman just to see but for some you may be better off putting the money towards speakers or something else.

FWIW Stanley suggested I probably wouldn't see the full benefit of the Caiman because I was using the Onkyo as the Preamp. At least with the Caiman you can use it as a Preamp and bypass the Onkyo completely.

Adam

[scrufftyguy]

Originally Posted by AngelEyes

You might want to consider the Beresford Caiman as well, from what I have read it is regarded as a fair bit better than the DacMagic

I think the jury's still out on that one, depends which forums/reviews etc you look at!

[j0hn]

I read the dacmagic passes through any digital source it cant decode, ie AC3 5.1 audio, this to me would sway my buying if I was using a laptop or old pc that didnt have a digital out or hdmi output. That way I could output via usb to the dac, all music files would be played through it and output via analogue to reciever connected to cd input, if then using xbmc or plex or some other media center all dvds and tv programmes in 5.1 could be passed through to the receivers digital input for decoding. That is a really cool feature and if its true, IMHO cambridge should make a very big deal about it.

[Moonfly]

Originally Posted by AngelEyes

I would only suggest buying a DAC if your Processor or Source is the weakest link in your setup. For me the 876 definately is so I decided to try a Caiman just to see but for some you may be better off putting the money towards speakers or something else.

FWIW Stanley suggested I probably wouldn't see the full benefit of the Caiman because I was using the Onkyo as the Preamp. At least with the Caiman you can use it as a Preamp and bypass the Onkyo completely.

Adam

So you have found the caiman a well worth while investment then? Its fairly applicable to me as I run an 875.

[AngelEyes]

Originally Posted by Moonfly

So you have found the caiman a well worth while investment then? Its fairly applicable to me as I run an 875.

I can't really comment much yet as it has been running in since I got it on Friday and haven't done any serious A-B testing with the Squeezebox or Onkyo DAC.

It is also a little hard to tell as it runs about 2dB louder than the SB which always sounds 'better' anyway.

Hopefully I'll get a good chance to play at the weekend unless I am building boxes again

Adam

[lbstyling]

having looked into the design of the 2 dac's, they both should sound good -

the hardware used in the beresford is top draw for little money,(analogue is well looked after here but i doubt its got a very good jitter spec-especialy compaired to the incredably low figure of below 40ps for the magic-

however the magic has a rather cheap analogue section -with average op-amps and rather 'standard' voltage regs ect.

its 2 different approaches to design, both well implemented from there perspective.

i would still go for the magic though, -just because you can easily put a top draw output stage in- but you cant change the architecture of the beresford.

having said that -many wont want to go the modifying route, so it needs a face off me thinks!!!!

a modded 840c would still see them all off though me thinks!

[Moonfly]

All my music is on a HDD, so I'm mostly digital. Sound like the Magic may well be the best choice for me. I'm just not sure how much improvement I can get over the iPod classic, which uses a Beresford DAC IIRC?

[AngelEyes]

Bad

I think the point he was making is that even if you give the Onkyo a better analogue input (from the offboard DAC) it still hasn't got that good an analogue stage and there will be interference from other components within the Onkyo. This may be a generalisation aimed at AV Receivers more than just at Onkyop but he didn't elaborate.

From the very quick listening I have done so far it does sound considerably better but I wouldn't go buy on the back of that, as I have yet to do a proper level matched comparison.

I was under the impression you thought your speakers were the weak link in the system? £250 is almost halfway to some very nice new speakers!

Adam

[AngelEyes]

Did you just edit your post? Mine doesn't make any sense now...

[Moonfly]

Yeah, sorry . I realised that after I posted the question (boy you must have been quick!), you previously answered it. The additional info you've posted is useful though so I guess it wasnt that much of a waisted post.

Cheers

As for speakers, I'm aiming a little higher than £500, thinking about the 99.38's or possible the same as yours. I'm distracted by the sub at the min, but when thats out the way Ive decided to go all out and replace everything a piece at a time to get my ultimate, hopefully final, system.

Seen some simply divine speakers I would love to get my hands on .