azur DacMagic Plus Your music + our passion ENGLISH Upsampling digital to analogue converter User’s manual 2
Make sure you register your purchase. Visit: www.cambridge-audio.com/sts By registering, you’ll be the first to know about: Future product releases Software upgrades N ews, events and exclusive offers plus competitions! This guide is designed to make installing and using this product as easy as possible.
DacMagic Plus Contents Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 4 Important safety instructions.................................................................................................................... 6 Limited warranty.......................................................................................................................................12 Rear panel connections.....
Introduction Thank you for purchasing this Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus Upsampling Digital to Analogue Converter. We are confident that you will enjoy many years of listening pleasure from it.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Up to 24-bit content is now supported via both the USB Audio and Digital Inputs. With Windows PCs the DacMagic Plus can operate driverlessly (i.e. use Windows own built-in driver) at up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution. In addition our own Windows driver (downloadable from www.cambridge-audio.com/DacMagicPlusSupport) allows up to 24-bit/192kHz operation and supports both kernel streaming and ASIO. Mac PCs already support up to 24-bit/192kHz USB transfer natively.
Important safety instructions For your own safety please read the following important safety instructions carefully before attempting to connect this unit to the mains power supply. They will also enable you to get the best performance from and prolong the life of the unit: 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water. 6. Clean only with a dry cloth. 7. Do not block any ventilation openings.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur WARNING – To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture. The unit must be installed in a manner that makes disconnection of the mains adaptor from the mains socket outlet (or appliance connector from the rear of the unit) possible. Where the mains adaptor is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall remain readily operable. Only use the mains adaptor supplied with this unit.
The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of un-insulated ‘dangerous voltage’ within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance instructions in the service literature relevant to this appliance.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur C-Tick mark This product meets the Australian Communications Authority’s Radio communications and EMC requirements. Gost-R mark This product meets Russian electronic safety approvals. FCC regulations NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RADIO OR TV INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS TO THIS EQUIPMENT. SUCH MODIFICATIONS COULD VOID THE USER AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT.
Ventilation IMPORTANT – The unit will become warm when in use. Do not stack multiple units on top of each other. Do not place in an enclosed area such as a bookcase or in a cabinet without sufficient ventilation. Ensure that small objects do not fall through any ventilation grille. If this happens, switch off immediately, disconnect from the mains supply and contact your dealer for advice. Positioning Choose the installation location carefully.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Overloading Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock. Overloaded AC outlets, extension cords, frayed power cords, damaged or cracked wire insulation and broken plugs are dangerous. They may result in a shock or fire hazard. Be sure to insert each power cord securely. To prevent hum and noise, do not bundle the interconnect leads with the power cord or speaker leads.
Limited warranty Cambridge Audio warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship (subject to the terms set forth below). Cambridge Audio will repair or replace (at Cambridge Audio’s option) this product or any defective parts in this product. Warranty periods may vary from country to country. If in doubt consult your dealer and ensure that you retain proof of purchase.
DacMagic Plus Some countries and US states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or implied warranties so the above exclusions may not apply to you. This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other statutory rights, which vary from state to state or country to country. For any service, in or out of warranty, please contact your dealer.
Rear panel connections 1 6 DacMagic Plus Upsampling DAC Designed and engineered in London, England Left www.cambridge-audio.com Digital Input 1 Digital Outputs Digital Input 2 7 Ground/Lift Switch Ground Ext.
3 DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Digital outputs The digital outputs allow a digital recording device to be connected. These outputs loop or passthrough unprocessed digital audio from the selected digital input. Two types are available (both the co-axial and the optical are active concurrently and can be used to connect and run equipment at the same time): S/P DIF co-axial – to obtain best results, use a high quality 75 ohm digital RCA interconnect cable (not one designed for normal audio use).
5 USB in A USB B type socket is fitted to the DacMagic Plus to enable the playback of audio from a personal computer running either Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS X operating systems. Some builds of Linux are also suitable. Note: Always use a certified cable for USB Audio, preferably one that displays an official mark. For USB Audio 2.0 the cable should be the ‘Hi-Speed USB’ certified. USB cable connections longer than 3m may result in inconsistent audio performance.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Front panel controls 4 6 1 3 2 1 5 7 Power on/off Switches the unit between on and off. 2 Source Press to select between USB, External (Ext.) or Digital Inputs 1 and 2. The corresponding LED will light up to show which source has been selected. 3 Digital volume control When headphones are connected, the headphone volume can be adjusted using the volume knob. Note: This is always independent of the level of the balanced or unbalanced audio outputs.
4 Filter/Phase select Momentarily press to select between three different filter modes: linear phase, minimum phase or steep, see later section for details. The corresponding LED will light up to show which filter has been selected. 5 Phase Press and hold the Filter/Phase select button for approximately two seconds to select normal or inverted phase output. When the LED lights up, the phase is inverted by the DacMagic Plus. If you suspect that your source material or amplifier, etc.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Audio output connections Note: Do not turn on the unit until all connections have been made. DacMagic Plus AC Adaptor OR Amplifier Unbalanced Input L R L R Balanced Input Use either the unbalanced (RCA/Phono) or balanced (XLR) outputs of the DacMagic Plus. The XLR output is slightly better in quality as it can reject interference and noise in the cable connection and is the preferred option if your amplifier features balanced XLR inputs.
Digital audio input connections Note: Do not turn on the unit until all connections have been made. DacMagic Plus AC Adaptor OR CD/DVD player Digital Outputs Connect your digital source to Digital Input 1 or 2. Either S/P DIF co-axial or TOSLINK optical types can be used, each being of equal quality. Important Note: Only connect one co-axial OR optical cable to each digital input. The unit will not operate if both connections are made (even if only one is active).
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur PC-USB connections Note: Do not turn on the unit until all connections have been made. DacMagic Plus AC Adaptor USB ‘B–A’ type lead Note: Always use a certified cable for USB Audio, preferably one that displays an official mark. For USB Audio 2.0 the cable should be the ‘Hi-Speed USB’ certified. USB cable connections longer than 3m may result in inconsistent audio performance.
Advanced USB audio The DacMagic Plus is both USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) and USB 1.1 (Full-speed) USB port compatible. It will also work with the new USB 3.0 ports where the PC will simply treat the DacMagic Plus as if it were a USB 2.0 or 1.1 device. The DacMagic Plus also supports two USB Audio protocols (not the same as the port types themselves) USB Audio 1.0 (which works over USB 1.1 ports and supports up to 24-bit/96kHz) or USB Audio 2.0 (which requires a USB 2.0 port and can support up to 24-bit/192kHz).
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Use with PCs With the DacMagic Plus switched to USB Audio 1.0 (this is the default setting) the DacMagic Plus will work with the native Windows XP, Vista or 7 Audio 1.0 driver (no need to load any new driver) and accept audio up to 24-bit/96kHz. With the DacMagic Plus switched to USB Audio 2.0 the DacMagic Plus needs the Cambridge Audio USB Audio 2.0 Driver to be loaded and can then accept up to 24-bit/192kHz (and support ASIO and WASAPI Exclusive if required).
Bit perfect transfer – ASIO and WASAPI Exclusive mode The DacMagic Plus USB interface hardware and software support bit perfect transfer. Whether or not the audio sent to the DacMagic Plus is bitperfect (i.e. not resampled or mixed etc. by the PC) is actually a function of the playback application and the operating systems audio engine.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Digital audio output connections Note: Do not turn on the unit until all connections have been made. DacMagic Plus AC Adaptor Digital recorder Digital Inputs If it is desired to loop out the currently selected digital audio for recording on a suitable device (MD, CD-R, etc.), you can connect either an S/P DIF co-axial or TOSLINK optical cable to the digital outputs as shown, each type being of equal quality.
Optional BT100 Bluetooth adaptor (not supplied) When connected to your Dacmagic Plus this adaptor allows the DacMagic Plus to receive BluetoothAudio (known as Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile or A2DP). Contact your dealer for details. The BT100 supports Bluetooth A2DP using either the original SBC encoded form or the latest higher quality apt-X encoded form.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur BT100 controls and connections C A. Pairing button/Status LED Button performs pairing and related functionality. Integrated LED indicates BT100 status. B. USB plug Streams high quality USB audio into your DacMagic Plus Ext. socket. C. Extension Cable Allows the BT100 to be positioned for accessibility or optimal wireless reception.
Operating instructions First select the EXT. source on DacMagic Plus then follow the steps below. Pairing To begin streaming high quality music from your chosen media source it will first need to be paired with the BT100. A. Insert BT100 into the Ext. USB port at the back of your DacMagic Plus. B. Wait a moment for the BT100 to be detected. Then double click the button to enter pairing mode, the BT100 indicates it is in the pairing state by flashing rapidly. C.
DacMagic Plus D. On successful pairing, the BT100s LED goes off for a second or two, then triple flashes quickly. The LED then goes off and only lights up in the future when you are playing audio via Bluetooth. E. To play back via a paired Bluetooth device, simply select the BT100 on that device and start playing. The BT100 LED lights up constantly when streaming SBC or on and flicks off every 2 seconds when streaming apt-X.
Operating instructions The DacMagic Plus can be sited in two different positions, as shown in the accompanying diagram. It can be placed horizontally by fitting the four small individual feet, or vertically by using the large rubber ‘foot’. Power on the DacMagic Plus using the On/Off button on the front panel. After 4-5 seconds, the unit will unmute and the current Source and Filter type will be shown by the front panel LEDs.
DacMagic Plus Filters The DacMagic Plus DSP has three different Filter functions: Linear Phase, Minimum Phase and Steep. All three filters are highly sophisticated audiophile topologies, optimised specifically for audio playback. In our opinion, these filters offer excellent sound quality but differ subtly in optimisation, hence we’ve made all three available to you.
The Linear Phase filter is a highly regarded audio filter offering low ripple in both the pass and stop bands, and what is known as constant group delay. Constant group delay means that audio signals of all frequencies are always delayed by the same amount when passing through the filter. All audio is therefore fully time-coherent at the output. The trade-off with this type of filter is that due to internal feed-forward in the DSP, its impulse response will exhibit some pre-ringing.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Minimum Phase Filter Frequency response 20 0 -20 -40 Magnitude (dB) -60 -80 -100 -120 -140 -160 -180 -200 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 frequency/FS (input sampling rate) 0.8 0.
The Minimum Phase filter is another highly regarded audio filter that offers even lower ripple in the pass and stop bands. Unlike the Linear Phase filter, group delay is not constant so some timecoherence is lost; however, phase shift is low and the particular benefit with this filter is that the impulse response exhibits no pre-ringing.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Steep Filter Frequency response 20 0 -20 Steep filter -40 Magnitude (dB) -60 Linear phase filter -80 -100 -120 -140 -160 -180 -200 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 frequency/FS (input sampling rate) 0.8 0.
Our Steep filter is a linear phase filter that has been optimised for stop band attenuation of close-in aliasing images. Here we have traded a little attenuation of the very highest frequency response (-2dB at 20kHz) and a little more pre- and post-ringing for a very steep attenuation just outside the pass band. The Steep filter is able to attenuate aliasing at 22kHz by some 80dB.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur The following table shows the filter stop band attenuation: Linear Phase Minimum Phase Steep Roll-off at 20kHz -0.1dB -0.1dB -2dB Roll-off at 22kHz -10dB -10dB -82dB Ultimate roll-off 140dB 140dB 140dB We encourage you to experiment with the filters to determine which sound best to your ears and using your source equipment/programme material.
Technical specifications D/A converters Dual Wolfson WM8740 24bit DACs Digital filter Analog Devices ADSP21261 DSP upsampling to 24-bit/384kHz Analogue filter 2-Pole Dual Differential Bessel Double Virtual Earth Balanced Frequency response 20Hz to 20kHz (±0.1dB)* THD @ 1kHz 0dBFs <0.001% 24-bit THD @ 1kHz -10dBFs <0.001% THD @ 20kHz 0dBFs <0.
DacMagic Plus ENGLISH azur Troubleshooting There is no power Ensure the supplied AC adaptor is connected securely to the PSU socket on the rear panel. Ensure that the correct mains transformer is being used and that it complies with the local electrical supply. Ensure the mains plug is fully inserted into the wall socket and is switched on. There is no sound Ensure that the amplifier is set correctly. Check that the interconnects are inserted correctly.
Cambridge Audio is a brand of Audio Partnership Plc Registered Office: Gallery Court, Hankey Place London SE1 4BB, United Kingdom Registered in England No. 2953313 © 2011 Cambridge Audio Ltd AP30837/1-A www.cambridge-audio.
