So, I`ve had some time to do some A-B comparing my (now just sold) Cambridge Audio DacMagic and my recently arrived PS Audio DLIII.
The gear used for this comparison:
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800
Interconnects: Kimber Hero RCA (0.5M)
Amp: Mapletree Ear+HD Tube amp (with Gold Sylvania 5751 tube)
Sources: Apple Lossless via USB and CD`s via my CD transport
I have always been a happy DacMagic owner and the only reason I picked up the PS Audio DLIII was well curiosity and a great deal that was too good to pass up.
The DacMagic certainly holds it`s own next to the DLIII, but right away I could tell the sound stage imaging was wider and deeper with the PS Audio offering. The instrumental separation was also apparent almost immediately.
I am quite impressed now that I`ve had some more time with the DLIII as I`ve previously heard it at a friend`s place, but for only a limited time. The bass seems more controlled while slightly less impactful as with the DacMagic. The mids and treble are just incredible and trump the Cambridge Audio offering. Not by much, but enough for me to have sold the DacMagic (only 20 minutes on Canuckaudiomart
).
The PS Audio DLIII is one very impressive DAC and sounds really, really good via digital coax, but surprising the USB holds up quite well. Not as good mind you, but still better than what I found with the DacMagic via USB.
Overall, for DAC`s under $400, the Cambridge Audio DacMagic is pretty hard to beat. But for under $1000, the PS Audio is even better (especially if you can pick it up used for closer to $500).
The gear used for this comparison:
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800
Interconnects: Kimber Hero RCA (0.5M)
Amp: Mapletree Ear+HD Tube amp (with Gold Sylvania 5751 tube)
Sources: Apple Lossless via USB and CD`s via my CD transport
I have always been a happy DacMagic owner and the only reason I picked up the PS Audio DLIII was well curiosity and a great deal that was too good to pass up.
The DacMagic certainly holds it`s own next to the DLIII, but right away I could tell the sound stage imaging was wider and deeper with the PS Audio offering. The instrumental separation was also apparent almost immediately.
I am quite impressed now that I`ve had some more time with the DLIII as I`ve previously heard it at a friend`s place, but for only a limited time. The bass seems more controlled while slightly less impactful as with the DacMagic. The mids and treble are just incredible and trump the Cambridge Audio offering. Not by much, but enough for me to have sold the DacMagic (only 20 minutes on Canuckaudiomart
).The PS Audio DLIII is one very impressive DAC and sounds really, really good via digital coax, but surprising the USB holds up quite well. Not as good mind you, but still better than what I found with the DacMagic via USB.
Overall, for DAC`s under $400, the Cambridge Audio DacMagic is pretty hard to beat. But for under $1000, the PS Audio is even better (especially if you can pick it up used for closer to $500
).
Maybe an upgrade is in site down the road.
