Cambridge Audio DACMagic 200M Review DAC

The Cambridge Audio DACMagic 200M brings elite sound to your laptop or your hi-fi system

Written by AudioGuru Staff | Updated January 10, 2023
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Cambridge Audio DACMagic 200M Review DAC

This review of the Cambridge Audio DACMagic 200M examines an amazingly well-designed headphone amplifier and D/A converter. It is designed to be used as a stand-alone replacement for the DAC found in the bulk of digital electronics, including laptops, CD players, streamers, gaming consoles, and similar devices. It promises to perform the critical D-to-A conversion more effectively than those devices. Additionally, it wants to better amplify your headphones as a side benefit, taking over the work currently performed by your existing equipment. Of all, this kind of product is hardly novel; it belongs to a separate category. You have a wide selection of the best DACs, from affordable USB models built to maximise the performance of your laptop or smartphone to fully equipped audiophile kit-rack alternatives costing several thousands of dollars.

Cambridge Audio aims to occupy the middle ground with the DACMagic 200M, at the very least in terms of cost and size. This neatly little device manages to fit a stack of wired and wireless connections in addition to support for every worthwhile digital music format.

Our Verdict

3.0 avg. rating (67% score) - 1 vote

A well-equipped, top-performing all-arounder, the DAC is Cambridge’s flagship model.

Pros

  • Smooth, clean, insightful sound
  • Generous connectivity
  • Native MQA support

Cons

  • No remote control
  • Tough competition

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Highlights

  • Dual ESS ES9028Q2M DACs – easily handles digital audio files up to 32bit/768kHz or DSD512
  • Supports MQA – be sure you’re listening to artist-approved studio-quality audio
  • Digital optical, digital coaxial and USB inputs – connect CD players, games consoles, laptops or other digital audio sources
  • Built in Bluetooth aptX – send digital audio files from your smartphone or tablet wirelessly

What’s in the box?

DACMagic 200M, Power Cable and Control Bus Cable.

Price and Availability

Price and Availability

The Cambridge Audio DACMagic 200M is available for just under ₹72,000. You can get more detailed information about the DACMagic 200M current price and availability by consulting us.

Design


Design

Your digital music will play flawlessly no matter the source thanks to DacMagic 200M’s innovative digital audio design. Similar to the preceding DacMagic Plus, the DacMagic 200M has a similar design. For desktop use, the metal body’s 52 215 191mm dimensions are comparatively tiny and compact. The matte shell has a good texture, and this time there is only one shade of lunar grey available.

The volume knob, the button for adjusting the signal source and filter, and the indicator light indicating the status of the audio decoding process are all located on the front panel. This machine now has blue MQA decoding LEDs. The decoding capacity has also been improved to 32bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512, supporting the most recent Hi-Res music files thanks to its dual sets of ESS ES9028Q2M DAC chips.

Sound Quality

Sound Quality

The first Cambridge Audio product to support MQA is DacMagic 200M. Studio-quality sound is provided by the acclaimed British technology MQA in a file size suitable for streaming. For example, TIDAL uses MQA technology to provide master quality as part of their Hi-Fi subscription. MQA files can be fully decoded and played back on Cambridge Audio’s DacMagic 200M, making them sound identical to the original studio recording.

Look for the blue MQA indicator on the product. This means you are listening to a MQA Studio file, which has either been verified by the copyright holder or approved in-studio by the artist or producer. The presence of the green light confirms that a MQA music file is being played and encoded.

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Specifications

Brand : Cambridge Audio
Model : DacMagic 200M
Dimensions : 52 x 215 x 191mm; (2.0 x 8.6 x 7.6”)
Weight : 1.2kg/2.6lbs
Power Output : >300mW @ 32ohm, >65mW @ 150ohm
Digital to Analogue Converters : Dual ESS ES9028Q2M DACs
Frequency Response : 10Hz to 50kHz (±1dB)
Max Power Consumption : 12W

FAQ’s

How is the design of Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 200M?

Cambridge Audio is known for making high-quality audio equipment with elegant and minimalist designs. The company prides themselves on using high-quality materials and paying close attention to detail to create visually striking equipment that is built to last.

How is the sound quality of Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 200M?

Cambridge Audio is known for making high-quality audio equipment with great sound quality. The company prides themselves on using high-quality components and advanced digital processing techniques to create accurate, detailed and natural-sounding audio.

Is Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 200M a good amplifier?

Most people agree that the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 200M is a top-notch amplifier that works well for both music and home theatre applications. It is a flexible and adaptable alternative for a number of audio configurations because to its sleek and contemporary appearance, clear and detailed sound, and many connectivity choices. The CXA61 has received high marks from consumers and reviewers for its superb sound quality and performance, with particular attention paid to its capacity to provide a wide range of frequencies with clarity and detail and to drive a variety of speakers with ease.

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Conclusion

The brand-new DacMagic 200 from Cambridge Audio is an instance of how to create an accessible modern digital-to-analog converter. It has a sophisticated, wide-ranging, detailed, and pleasantly musical sound. It is extremely competent technically, with excellent functionality and respectable connectivity. Overall, it has been thoughtfully created to have the widest market appeal at its price range. It’s a crucial audition if you’re searching for an inexpensive entry point into a serious-sounding digital-based system. It would make its forebears pleased.

AudioGuru Staff

AudioGuru Staff

AudioGuru is a platform where we review and recommend audio products. When it comes to purchasing decisions, our journalists combine independent research with extensive testing to save you time, energy, and money. We’ll help you get it right, whether it’s finding an amazing product or getting useful advice.

Share Your Personal Experience by Writing a Review.

    I purchased it to review which the marketing claimed

    By Veer Basu 

    Length of Use: Less than 3 months

    Overall Experience:

    Not sure if this product is a fantastic deal when compared to alternatives. I purchased it so that I could hardware decode MQA format files, which the marketing claimed to produce the clearest sound. I downloaded Tidal after purchasing it in order to listen to it. The setup was rather simple when using a Mac. You must instruct Tidal to send music data to the CA DAC Magic for processing; the 200M CA DAC Magic is available as an option. I believe that this arrangement gets around the Mac MIDI setup.

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