Is DACMAGIC an upgrade for the NAD C525BEE ?

[RGA]

You definitely have to start with a good source. The rest of the chain is important but if the information isn't there in the first place you are wasting your time with the rest of the chain. As an example playing a mp3 through a $50k system will be a pretty good sounding mp3 but it won't sound as good as an equivalent CD player for the system. With that being said I also think you can find a significant upgrade from $400.00 without going to $1500.00. Besides that who says a person would even like Audio Note, not every one, hardly any one, hears the way you do RGA.

I also, feel some what vendicated by the fact that many on the board have upgraded their sources and have come to find out what I have been saying about the importance of source is true.

The DAC was an example, the point wasn't the specific DAC because they are designed to work in all tube (SET) systems. I think most reviewers and audiophiles I know who have heard what I have heard agree. I don't believe people hear things wildly differently which is why at CES 2010 I found that most of us were in agreement over what were the best rooms. I might have had a room fourth on my list and someone else had it first and they might have had my first place room second or third but in general the cream rose to the top and we agreed that the top rooms were the top rooms and the weak ones were weak ones. It's not unlike movies where you see certain movies make most top 10 lists because most people see the same things from movies. This is the same for wines, cars what have you.

Audio is more difficult because things can be mismatched and IMO most systems are because people buy name brands and piece of them together without really trying things out as a match. Reviews actually can hurt the consumer in this regard. Brand A won the super test so I will buy brand A whether it's a good match for my speakers is beside the point. The AN DAC may be the equivalent of a top of the line Michelan tire and if you put it on a Ferrari you will see what it can do - if you put it on a Yugo it ain't going to do very much. I have heard the DAC 5 sound better than any digital by a country mile. I have also heard is sound rather weak in a not well matched rig. Best to mediocre based on what it's on.

[poppachubby]

Hey Rich, why do you have a Cambridge CD6?!? Seems like an odd piece for you to own. I would kill to have a Cambridge CD3.

[Mr Peabody]

For the record I like Audio Note DAC's. I still have my 1.1x it was bested by the T+A though. I would love to hear what the AN upstream sounds like. I'm not interested in having to build my gear especially when it starts at $1500.00, just me, I'm lucky to know which end of the solder gun to use.

[RGA]

Mr. Peabody.

What bests what is difficult to determine because it depends on what system things are put in. Audio Note DACs simply are not designed for high damping SS amplifiers and speakers that are designed for those kinds of amplifiers. The fact that it sounds good at all is very nice but the fact is it is mismatched. This is not to say that mismatches can't work - they can but they certainly are not remotely at their best. Bryston sounds truly terrible with my speakers but in a system with PMC speakers I enjoyed the reproduction at the price a fair amount. Depending which system one hears the Bryston in it could be viewed as utter junk or quite wonderful. I read a review of my amp where the guy was running tough to drive Thiels. Audio Note would never match the amp to such a loudspeaker and while the reviewer liked it a lot and even said if he stopped reviewing he would buy it, it still was nowhere near at its best. He got only a hint of what the OTO is capable of and anyone running Audio Note digital with SS is getting maybe 10-20% of the idea of what AN is all about. And people are still impressed with that 20% - imagine what the other 80% can bring.

Poppachubby

The CD 6 is my oldest component and does seem out of place - sonically it is out of place. I bought the unit in the mid 90's and it was basically the source that put Cambridge Audio on the map. It was an overbuilt CD player in the day selling at a lower price than perhaps it should have been. It was an $800 cd player back then with some nice connections balanced, independent power supplies, and a robust Discmagic transport mechanism. The intent was to buy an external DAC. At the time the CD 6 was in the same class as the Rega Planet but the Planet had some reverb in the chain that i could not account for - they were trying to sound tubey or analog which they did but it sounded artificial to me. The CD 6 was more truthful in some ways. The CD 6 has been surpassed by inexpensive devices - most recently the Grant Fidelity Tube DAC 09 that goes for about $300 depending on their sales even less - and it is quite a lot better than the CD 6 dac stage.

I am currently reviewing CD players because it is the weak spot of my system. The one I am currently reviewing will be tough to give up. Though adding a DAC to my CD 6 may be an option. It's about 13 years old and still works as good as day one - which is a testament to the build quality of the CD6. Indeed, when I bought the CD 6 it was a demo unit under hard use for over a year - it had the glass top to show all the parts inside and what they did.

[Mr Peabody]

I used the 1.1x with my CJ gear for a good while until my transport went out. That's when I began actually just looking for another transport but ran into the T+A which I really fell for.

[ygg-it]

Hello People, thank you very much for all your replies.

I've read all, and then all studied (so please continue to post..)

I like very much the kit but 1500 usd is (on my opinion) too much for a kit.
In Italy (custom+transp+tax) you will pay more than 1300 euro....

To tell the truth I'm really happy with NAD 525 (choosen after several hours of listening), so I was just thinking to a "worth" upgrade.

I found this which you have also suggested:

http://cgi.ebay.it/Convertitore-digi...item53e25a1a52

I didn't find it used, but the price seems ok for a "new" device (!? too low ?)
I think it should be a step better than DACMAGIC and may be it can really upgrade my NAD 525...

[Feanor]

Hello People, thank you very much for all your replies.

I've read all, and then all studied (so please continue to post..)

I like very much the kit but 1500 usd is (on my opinion) too much for a kit.
In Italy (custom+transp+tax) you will pay more than 1300 euro....

To tell the truth I'm really happy with NAD 525 (choosen after several hours of listening), so I was just thinking to a "worth" upgrade.

I found this which you have also suggested:

http://cgi.ebay.it/Convertitore-digi...item53e25a1a52

I didn't find it used, but the price seems ok for a "new" device (!? too low ?)
I think it should be a step better than DACMAGIC and may be it can really upgrade my NAD 525...

Hi, ygg. The DL III is available in the US, (e.g. from Audio Advisor, see here), for US$700 so 750€ doesn't seem too low, I would say.

Will it sound better than the NAD 525? That PS has a good reputation but the message you should take from the current thread is "maybe or maybe not".

[poppachubby]

Personally I think the Digilink will be an upgrade. The analog output on those units is tremendous, very welll made.

[RGA]

The only way you'll know if it is worth it is to try it.

There are simply far too many variables. The system needs to have enough resolution to make out the possible superior qualities of better front of the chain components. A great speaker can't fix a poor CD player but a poor speaker won't show you what the source is truly capable of giving you.

You have not listed the rest of the system - it may be that the NAD is the best thing in your system.

[frenchmon]

The only way you'll know if it is worth it is to try it.

There are simply far too many variables. The system needs to have enough resolution to make out the possible superior qualities of better front of the chain components. A great speaker can't fix a poor CD player but a poor speaker won't show you what the source is truly capable of giving you.

You have not listed the rest of the system - it may be that the NAD is the best thing in your system.

I agree with you here. On paper and parts the Digilink is an upgrade. But when plugged into a system it may not sound like it. It may be to much for his system and he will either downgrade the DAC or upgrade the other gear. OR it could be just what he needed. But they only way to tell is to get in with your own ears.

[poppachubby]

I agree with you here. On paper and parts the Digilink is an upgrade. But when plugged into a system it may not sound like it. It may be to much for his system and he will either downgrade the DAC or upgrade the other gear. OR it could be just what he needed. But they only way to tell is to get in with your own ears.

Oh the DAC will not be a downgrade, I can assure you. Rich has a point I supppose if the fidelity is not there to interpret the info. As I wrote previously, even the first version of the DL is a nice sounding DAC and an upgrade to many entry level units, particularily NAD.

I have yet to hear a NAD CDP that is engaging enough to pull out my wallet. Infact my Magnavox will mop the floor with certain NAD.

[frenchmon]

Oh the DAC will not be a downgrade, I can assure you. Rich has a point I supppose if the fidelity is not there to interpret the info. As I wrote previously, even the first version of the DL is a nice sounding DAC and an upgrade to many entry level units, particularily NAD.

I have yet to hear a NAD CDP that is engaging enough to pull out my wallet. Infact my Magnavox will mop the floor with certain NAD.

I never said it was a down grade Pops....read it again.

[02audionoob]

Although we all exercise a bit of caution when saying something is undoubtedly superior, and rightfully so, it seems like somehow we could admit that a $1,000 DAC would upgrade a $300 CD player.

[poppachubby]

OK, guess I misread, sorry.

[frenchmon]

Although we all exercise a bit of caution when saying something is undoubtedly superior, and rightfully so, it seems like somehow we could admit that a $1,000 DAC would upgrade a $300 CD player.

Oh I agree.

But as an example...my mono price cables would not let the finer detail of my Musical Fidelity come through, but the Analysis Plus did. And when I plug my Paadigm 7v3 floor standers into my 2 channel system, I can't hear the things in the midrange like I can with my stand mount Canton speakers. If the synergy is not there then the music can become lifeless and boring.

[Mr Peabody]

I loved the sound of NAD's Master Series SACD player. The 545 wasn't bad but when you take into the account lack of detail and comparatively compressed sound stage not the best deal around for $499.00. If NAD could hold to their "house sound" while letting more detail through they'd have a good sounding player. At least for those who like good bass slam and a dark presence.

[ygg-it]

And what about this?

Satch DAC Kit



http://cgi.ebay.it/Satch-DAC-Kit-Eas...item439bc0a24c

and this??

http://cgi.ebay.it/Original-Satch-DA...item35a5441fe7

[Mr Peabody]

I personally would trust the PS Audio

[RGA]

And what about this?

Satch DAC Kit



http://cgi.ebay.it/Satch-DAC-Kit-Eas...item439bc0a24c

and this??

http://cgi.ebay.it/Original-Satch-DA...item35a5441fe7

You are in Italy so the kit I suggested is out of the question. However, I would recommend you listen to a complete Audio Note system that is not designed like typical systems - a polar shift in approach, design, and results - regardless of whether you can afford it.

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Monica Clerici
Tel: 0039 029 361 1024