Topic: Cambridge Audio DACMagic

[Colin Liston]

This looks interesting but I don't understand why you would "up-sample" everything to 24/192.  Are you telling me crappy mp3's are going to sound better if they are up-sampled to 24/192?

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=320

Enjoy digital music like never before...
Adapted Time Filtering (ATF) asynchronous upsampling technology might sound complicated but the benefits are instantly audible. Essentially it converts 16-24 bit audio to 24 bit/192kHz so you hear so much more from compressed material. Meanwhile a 32 bit Digital Signal Processor (DSP) eradicates jitter which is especially effective with hard disk playback from PCs or Macintosh computers. Whether your digital music collection is stored on a PC or you use a network music client – Squeezebox™, SoundBridge™, Sonos™ etc - the difference in audible quality is incredible!

[noahbickart]

This question has been addressed many times before. While it is true that adding data to a lossy (or simply 16/44.1) signal doesn't change the sound, the theory is that the DA converted operates most effectively at the higher rate. See Sam Tellig's review of this dac in the current issue of Stereophile.

-Noah

[Nick's Picks]

MP3s ?  who listens to that through a DAC (intentionally...I realize we all do when listening, but you know what I mean) ?
mashing potatoes w/a sledge hammer comes to mind....

[BC]

MP3s ?  who listens to that through a DAC (intentionally...I realize we all do when listening, but you know what I mean) ?
mashing potatoes w/a sledge hammer comes to mind....

ya, you mean external DAC   

[ero3030]

it does look like a nice unit.  anyone here use one?  balanced outs and usb in r usually on pricey units.  this unit pricey?   ed

[noahbickart]

~$400

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CADACMAGI

FWIW, I'd also look at the used DACs on Audiogon for that price.