This is a review and detailed measurements of the Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 USB DAC. It was kindly sent to me by a member. Despite having been announced back in 2012, the DacMagic 100 seems to still be a current product, available on Amazon costing US $199 including Prime shipping.
While it won't be mistaken for a high-end audio products, the DacMagic 100 nevertheless differentiates itself from budget DACs with its enclosure and design:
The back panel also shows some differentiation:
Notice the dual S/PDIF coax inputs. And a ground lift for USB input which may solve nasty ground loop issues (no guarantees though).
An external adapter, double the size of typical phone charger, powers the unit.
Overall, the box makes a positive impression.
DAC Audio Measurements
As usual, we start with our dashboard of 1 kHz tone and see what we get:
Nice to see above 2 volt output. Distortion and noise as embodied in the SINAD rating falls in competent, but nothing resembling state of the art:
Dynamic range falls in the same category:
Intermodulation distortion test shows good noise performance (sloping down part of the curve) but onset of early distortion:
Jitter test looks fairly good on all three inputs:
32-tone test signal shows more intermodulation distortion than I like to see:
Linearity test which shows how accurate the level from the DAC is as signals get very small, is very good but shy of competitors:
Finally THD+N versus frequency shows a slight rise in distortion as frequencies get low:
And generally indicative of some ultrasonic noise.
Conclusions
There has been recent development in the $110 to $130 range in desktop DACs where you get near state-of-the-art performance with such useful features as remote control. So it doesn't make sense to recommend the DacMagic 100 in that context. If you have one though, or can get one used then it is a fine DAC with solid build.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Being pack animals, the Pink Panthers are not keen on "social distancing." To keep their mind occupied I am thinking of getting them some toys to play with and need money for that. So please donate what you can using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
While it won't be mistaken for a high-end audio products, the DacMagic 100 nevertheless differentiates itself from budget DACs with its enclosure and design:
The back panel also shows some differentiation:
Notice the dual S/PDIF coax inputs. And a ground lift for USB input which may solve nasty ground loop issues (no guarantees though).
An external adapter, double the size of typical phone charger, powers the unit.
Overall, the box makes a positive impression.
DAC Audio Measurements
As usual, we start with our dashboard of 1 kHz tone and see what we get:
Nice to see above 2 volt output. Distortion and noise as embodied in the SINAD rating falls in competent, but nothing resembling state of the art:
Dynamic range falls in the same category:
Intermodulation distortion test shows good noise performance (sloping down part of the curve) but onset of early distortion:
Jitter test looks fairly good on all three inputs:
32-tone test signal shows more intermodulation distortion than I like to see:
Linearity test which shows how accurate the level from the DAC is as signals get very small, is very good but shy of competitors:
Finally THD+N versus frequency shows a slight rise in distortion as frequencies get low:
And generally indicative of some ultrasonic noise.
Conclusions
There has been recent development in the $110 to $130 range in desktop DACs where you get near state-of-the-art performance with such useful features as remote control. So it doesn't make sense to recommend the DacMagic 100 in that context. If you have one though, or can get one used then it is a fine DAC with solid build.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Being pack animals, the Pink Panthers are not keen on "social distancing." To keep their mind occupied I am thinking of getting them some toys to play with and need money for that. So please donate what you can using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
