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Table of Contents
- 1 Table of Contents
- 2 Introduction
- 3 Important Safety Instructions
- 4 Rear Panel Connections
- 5 Front Panel Controls
- 6 Audio Output Connections
- 7 Digital Audio Input Connections
- 8 PC-USB Connections
- 9 Digital Audio Output Connections
- 10 Operating Instructions
- 11 Filters
- 12 Technical Specifications
- 13 Troubleshooting
- 14 Limited Warranty
- Download this manual
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for Cambridge Audio Upsampling Digital to Analog Converter azur DacMagic
Summary of Contents for Cambridge Audio Upsampling Digital to Analog Converter azur DacMagic
- Page 1 azur DacMagic Upsampling digital to analog converter User’s manual...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Contents Introduction... 3 Important safety instructions ... 4 Rear panel connections ... 8 Front panel controls ... 10 Audio output connections ... 12 Digital audio input connections... 13 PC-USB connections... 14 Digital audio output connections ... 16 Operating instructions... 17 Filters... -
Page 3: Introduction
Your DacMagic can only be as good as the system it is connected to. Please do not compromise on your amplifier, speakers or cabling. Naturally, we particularly recommend amplification from the Cambridge Audio range. Your dealer can also supply excellent quality Cambridge Audio interconnects to ensure your system realises its full potential. -
Page 4: Important Safety Instructions
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. - Page 5 This product complies with European Low Voltage (2006/95/EC) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (89/336/EEC) Directives when used and installed according to this instruction manual. For continued compliance only Cambridge Audio accessories should be used with this product and servicing must be referred to qualified service personnel.
- Page 6 This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
- Page 7 azur DacMagic This unit must be installed on a sturdy, level surface. Do not place in a sealed area such as a bookcase or in a cabinet. Any space open at the back (such as a dedicated equipment rack) is fine, however. Do not place the unit on an unstable surface or shelf.
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Page 8: Rear Panel Connections
The DacMagic also features true balanced (XLR) outputs. This is a higher quality output that can reject noise and interference with equipment with balanced inputs. These balanced outputs are ideally suited for connection to the Cambridge Audio 840A or 840E amplifiers. XLR connectors should be wired as follows: Pin 1 –... - Page 9 – use a high quality TOSLINK fibre-optic interconnect cable designed specifically for audio use. To achieve the best results we always recommend using high quality Cambridge Audio leads, which are guaranteed for life. These outputs are pass-through only; there is the LPCM input signal.
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Page 10: Front Panel Controls
Front panel controls On / Off Digital 1 Digital 2 DacMagic Upsampling DAC Switches the unit between On and Off. Press to select between USB playback or Digital Inputs 1 and 2. The corresponding LED will light up to show which source has been selected. Momentarily press to select between three different filter modes: linear phase, minimum phase or steep (see page 18 for details). - Page 11 azur DacMagic Indicates the output phase selected. Press and 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. If you suspect that your source material or amplifier, etc., is inverting the phase of the musical signal, you can use this function to re-invert the audio and regain absolute positive phase.
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Page 12: Audio Output Connections
Audio output connections Do not turn on the unit until all connections have been made. DacMagic Balanced Output Unbalanced Output Amplifier Use either the unbalanced (RCA/Phono) or balanced (XLR) outputs of the DacMagic. 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. -
Page 13: Digital Audio Input Connections
Digital audio input connections Do not turn on the unit until all connections have been made. DacMagic Balanced Output Unbalanced Output CD/DVD player Connect your digital source to Digital Input 1. Either S/P DIF co-axial or TOSLINK optical types can be used, each being of equal quality. -
Page 14: Pc-Usb Connections
PC-USB connections Do not turn on the unit until all connections have been made. DacMagic Balanced Output Digital Outputs Digital Inputs Digital Inputs Unbalanced USB In Output AC adaptor USB ‘B–A’ type lead... - Page 15 azur DacMagic Connect a USB ‘B–A’ type lead (as illustrated at left) from the DacMagic’s USB input to one of the USB ports on the PC. This is the normal type of USB lead with an oblong plug at one end and a square plug at the other.
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Page 16: Digital Audio Output Connections
Digital audio output connections Do not turn on the unit until all connections have been made. DacMagic Balanced Output Unbalanced Output Digital recorder 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. -
Page 17: Operating Instructions
azur DacMagic Operating instructions The DacMagic 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 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. -
Page 18: Filters
Filters The DacMagic 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. - Page 19 azur DacMagic 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.
- Page 20 -100 -120 -140 -160 -180 -200 Frequency response...
- Page 21 azur DacMagic 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 time- coherence is lost; however, phase shift is low and the particular benefit with this filter is that the impulse response exhibits no pre-ringing.
- Page 22 -100 -120 -140 -160 -180 -200 Steep filter Linear phase filter Frequency response...
- Page 23 azur DacMagic 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.
- Page 24 The following table shows the filter stop band attenuation: Roll-off at 20kHz Roll-off at 22kHz Ultimate roll-off We encourage you to experiment with the filters to determine which sound best to your ears and using your source equipment/programme material. The DacMagic remembers and recalls the selected filter type for each input individually, making it possible, for example, to select Steep for the USB input and Linear Phase for Digital Input 1, and so on.
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Page 25: Technical Specifications
Technical specifications * Steep filter disabled ** 16bit for USB azur DacMagic Dual Wolfson WM8740 24bit DACs Texas Instruments TMS 320VC5501 DSP upsampling to 24bit 192kHz 2-Pole Dual Differential Bessel Double Virtual Earth Balanced 20Hz to 20kHz (±0.1dB)* <0.001% 24bit <0.001% <0.002% -112dBr... -
Page 26: Troubleshooting
This guide is designed to make installing and using this product as easy as possible. Information in this document has been carefully checked for accuracy at the time of printing; however, Cambridge Audio's policy is one of continuous improvement, therefore design and specifications are subject to change without prior notice. If you notice any errors please feel free to email us at: This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright. -
Page 27: 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. - Page 28 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 © 2008 Cambridge Audio Ltd...