Post by tjhenry on Dec 11, 2010 22:12:29 GMT -5
I thought I would share my impressions of the comparison of sound quality between these 2 used strictly as DACs. I should note that sound levels were matched as closely as possible using the input trim function on my integrated amplifier.
I've owned the DACMagic for nearly 10 months and am very familiar with its sound. It is connected through its balanced outputs to my Cambridge Audio 840A v1 integrated amp which powers Focal Profile 918 speakers (great speakers; forgotten in the Focal line with an upgraded tweeter and woofers over the Chorus 800 line--I heard the 816V directly compared to the 918 and the 918 was a huge improvement). I use the DACMagic primarily for computer audio but have compared its sound as a DAC directly against the analog out of my Pioneer BDP-51FD. The DACMAgic was a tiny bit better than the Pioneer when compared to the Pioneer's DAC section (better resolution of details and transient attack. I should note the differences between the Pioneer and DACMagic were very small).
I've listened to the same pieces of music on and off again over the last 10 months and am very familiar with how they sound played through my system when using the DACMagic. I've repeatedly listened to selected tracks from Nickel Creek, Harry Belafonte, Harry Connick Jr, U2 and Alison Krauss that are very good CD recordings (16 bit).
Inserting the XDA-1 into my system improved many things. The most obvious improvement was the added weight and fullness through the lower mid-range and bass. Male vocals, lower piano registers, upright bass and drums had more impact. Control in this region was also very good. The bass through the CA 840A is a bit loose and I found that the XDA-1 tightened the bass a bit.
The added weight in the lower registers gave the impression that the XDA-1 was less precise with transients than the DACMagic. I don't feel that the XDA-1 was less precise, but the added weight made it more difficult to hear the start of notes. For that reason, I would give the edge to lower register transient attack to the DACMagic. It's overall sound is a bit leaner and cooler than the XDA-1 which makes it easier to hear the beginning of notes for instruments with notes in lower registers. However, attacks in regions higher up in pitch were not obscured through the XDA-1. They were very clean. I didn't notice an improvement or loss of quality in high register attack when changing to the XDA-1.
The XDA-1 did improve resolution of detail. Details were present with the DACMagic, but were easier to hear when listening to the XDA-1. Overlaid vocals were easier to discern and follow individual voices. This wasn't a huge change--no veils were lifted--but it was enough that I was able to identify crowd noises and other small details easier when using the XDA-1.
The area the surprised me was microdynamics. The XDA-1 clearly improved this when compared to the DACMagic. Musician emphasis when strumming guitar or playing drums was much more evident than it was through the DACMagic. I noticed this on almost every track I played.
Soundstage width was nearly identical with both DACs. However, soundstage depth improved with the XDA-1. Singers were brought forward towards me another 2 or 3 feet so that I felt more like I was listening in the nearfield. However, other instruments remained in their original positions (as compared to the DACMagic) which improved the depth of the soundstage.
Highs were smooth and I couldn't detect an improvement or loss of quality when using the XDA-1 as compared to the DACMagic.
After listening to my computer system, I connected both DACs to the Pioneer BDP-51 using coax and optical outs and confirmed my impressions of the above review. Direct comparisons were made using unbalanced connections and identical pairs of interconnects.
Finally, I used the headphone section of the 840A and my AT ATH-AD500s to listen to the XDA-1 and again noted all the improvements I listed above. Most striking was the soundstage depth which put the singer in front of me that the DACMagic hadn't done before.
I'm very happy with the XDA-1 for the price, it has certainly improved my enjoyment of music and I'll be interested to hear additional comparisons with other more expensive DACs like the Benchmark DAC1. In my system with my music selection, it improved several areas of music reproduction compared to the DACMagic. Was it a night and day difference? No. I've heard the effect of large changes in my system (such as moving up from the Pioneer DV-48AV to the BDP-51FD for CD playback--that was like moving up a range in a speaker manufacturer). But the changes were enough that I could hear them consistently and they have improved my enjoyment of the music.
I will add that I tried the XDA-1 as a preamp into a Rotel RB-1090 and I agree that the volume control needs attention. At 0.5 it was too loud for late night or background listening.
Hope my rambling helps someone out there.
I've owned the DACMagic for nearly 10 months and am very familiar with its sound. It is connected through its balanced outputs to my Cambridge Audio 840A v1 integrated amp which powers Focal Profile 918 speakers (great speakers; forgotten in the Focal line with an upgraded tweeter and woofers over the Chorus 800 line--I heard the 816V directly compared to the 918 and the 918 was a huge improvement). I use the DACMagic primarily for computer audio but have compared its sound as a DAC directly against the analog out of my Pioneer BDP-51FD. The DACMAgic was a tiny bit better than the Pioneer when compared to the Pioneer's DAC section (better resolution of details and transient attack. I should note the differences between the Pioneer and DACMagic were very small).
I've listened to the same pieces of music on and off again over the last 10 months and am very familiar with how they sound played through my system when using the DACMagic. I've repeatedly listened to selected tracks from Nickel Creek, Harry Belafonte, Harry Connick Jr, U2 and Alison Krauss that are very good CD recordings (16 bit).
Inserting the XDA-1 into my system improved many things. The most obvious improvement was the added weight and fullness through the lower mid-range and bass. Male vocals, lower piano registers, upright bass and drums had more impact. Control in this region was also very good. The bass through the CA 840A is a bit loose and I found that the XDA-1 tightened the bass a bit.
The added weight in the lower registers gave the impression that the XDA-1 was less precise with transients than the DACMagic. I don't feel that the XDA-1 was less precise, but the added weight made it more difficult to hear the start of notes. For that reason, I would give the edge to lower register transient attack to the DACMagic. It's overall sound is a bit leaner and cooler than the XDA-1 which makes it easier to hear the beginning of notes for instruments with notes in lower registers. However, attacks in regions higher up in pitch were not obscured through the XDA-1. They were very clean. I didn't notice an improvement or loss of quality in high register attack when changing to the XDA-1.
The XDA-1 did improve resolution of detail. Details were present with the DACMagic, but were easier to hear when listening to the XDA-1. Overlaid vocals were easier to discern and follow individual voices. This wasn't a huge change--no veils were lifted--but it was enough that I was able to identify crowd noises and other small details easier when using the XDA-1.
The area the surprised me was microdynamics. The XDA-1 clearly improved this when compared to the DACMagic. Musician emphasis when strumming guitar or playing drums was much more evident than it was through the DACMagic. I noticed this on almost every track I played.
Soundstage width was nearly identical with both DACs. However, soundstage depth improved with the XDA-1. Singers were brought forward towards me another 2 or 3 feet so that I felt more like I was listening in the nearfield. However, other instruments remained in their original positions (as compared to the DACMagic) which improved the depth of the soundstage.
Highs were smooth and I couldn't detect an improvement or loss of quality when using the XDA-1 as compared to the DACMagic.
After listening to my computer system, I connected both DACs to the Pioneer BDP-51 using coax and optical outs and confirmed my impressions of the above review. Direct comparisons were made using unbalanced connections and identical pairs of interconnects.
Finally, I used the headphone section of the 840A and my AT ATH-AD500s to listen to the XDA-1 and again noted all the improvements I listed above. Most striking was the soundstage depth which put the singer in front of me that the DACMagic hadn't done before.
I'm very happy with the XDA-1 for the price, it has certainly improved my enjoyment of music and I'll be interested to hear additional comparisons with other more expensive DACs like the Benchmark DAC1. In my system with my music selection, it improved several areas of music reproduction compared to the DACMagic. Was it a night and day difference? No. I've heard the effect of large changes in my system (such as moving up from the Pioneer DV-48AV to the BDP-51FD for CD playback--that was like moving up a range in a speaker manufacturer). But the changes were enough that I could hear them consistently and they have improved my enjoyment of the music.
I will add that I tried the XDA-1 as a preamp into a Rotel RB-1090 and I agree that the volume control needs attention. At 0.5 it was too loud for late night or background listening.
Hope my rambling helps someone out there.
