timewart

I don't have any files at that sample rate, but I would have thought they would sound as good as the quality of the original recording and mixing. One problem, even with just budget digital HiFi equipment, is that it shows up rubbish recordings in all their nasty glory! In what way did the Kimber Kable help - top end? You say short length - is that 1.5 metres?

Got hold of a reasonably OK (ish?) headphone amp - Matrix M-stage - and I have to admit this does helpthe DacMagic plus. To give the headphone amp on the DacMagic plus its due, carrying out A/B comparisons really does leave me thinking I can't tell the difference. DM+ headphone amp is very clear and precise, but it is almost too analytical. I find high notes (top register of strings and cymbals, for example) to be on the edge of annoying. Pushed through the matrix m-stage all is resolved :-). I can hear the top notes clearly - they are presented quite beautifully. The slight downside is the bass. I prefer DM+ in this respect as the matrix m-stage gets a tad 'boomy'. The sound stage is slightly wider and better defined through the matrix m-stage, but I was already very pleased with the sound stage from the DM+ So, at about £175 the matrix m-stage warms the output of the DM+. As I am getting on in years, younger ears may well cope with the output of the DM+. One thing is for sure, i am NOT returning the DM+ - it is worth £350. Update... Obviously the DM+ does benefit from burning in as - when fed with quality bit tracks (24bit 94 KHz) - I now find I prefer the DM+ headphone output to the slightly muddy sound created by the Matrix M-stage. When fed with poor quality/mastered tracks, I still prefer the m-stage as it effectively hides the problems. If I am dithering this much, then the least I can say is that the headphone output from the DM+ is better than basic and can be classed as not half bad :-)

Recently received this and have been using it for several days now. Hooked up to a Windows 7 box using Cambridge Audio's driver ie through USB2. Also using Media Center 17 via the ASIO driver. Have a range of files up to 24 bit 96KHz. In addition, listening to tracks via Spotify - professional account so streaming at 320. I also have a macbook pro (2010 model) which connects to the unit via optical spdif. Using AKG 702s and, through an old Denon PMA-100M, a very old, but much loved, pair of Mission 737 speakers. Technical issues: NONE! I have no unwanted sounds coming from either the power brick or the unit itself. I read the manual before using the unit so was fully aware of the need to install the driver on Windows. I also fully understood the functioning of the volume control - it's digital, so if you have the unit turned off it does not matter if someone alters the volume as this has NO effect! Much rubbish written about this volume control - I find it very useful and prefer it to a 'normal' mechanical volume control. The build quality is very good - you can find a review of this on the internet, completed by a pair of Australians, which demonstrates some solid circuit board work and sensible choice of components. Sound quality: OK, so I admit that I was using a Beresford TC 7520, but that's not too shabby. I have a clear improvement on quality using the DM+ - better sound stage, detailing, mids and lows. The unit seems to work well with my amplifier and speakers - I think the Dennon has a 'rounded' quality so it delivers detail but does not emphasise the top end. Through the AKG's...well, hit and miss. Better sound stage, better low and mid range. However, I am still getting slightly fed up with the top end on some recordings - only some. These tend to have already had issues and the DM+ does not resolve these. A case of rubbish in...rubbish out? I'm sure a dedicated phone amp would solve this, but that would mean a further £300 plus. The upsampling is, on the whole, successful - it does round out the sound whilst bringing out details that I had not heard before. I listen mainly to Classical music, so this is a real bonus. Conclusion: The asynchronous usb connection seems to be very successful - lovely timing and immediacy to tracks. The optical spdif, via the mac and taking the output from software such as Decibel or Audirvana, provides almost just as a good a sound stage etc. Line out to the amp is lovely. The headphone amp does the job (just about)and I remain to be convinced that spending £300 on a dedicated amp would be worth it. So - if you are on a fairly limited budget, I would recommend trialing the DacMagic Plus. In the UK you can get a 14 day trial via RicherSounds (seem to be the only retailers selling the unit).