Cambridge DACmagic 200M vs. SCHIIT Jotunheim 2 DAC test
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- čas přidán 19. 02. 2021
- The Audiophiliac puts the new flagship Cambridge Audio DACmagic 200M DAC through its paces. Then he pulls out the latest Schiit DAC/headphone amp, the Jotunheim 2 for a comparison test. The Jotunheim 2 is a fully balanced design, and so is the DACmagic 200M (! misspoke in the video when I said the 200M wasn't balanced, it is!)
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Correction: the DACmagic 200M is a fully balanced design, ! misspoke in the video when I said the 200M wasn't balanced, it is!
Hi Steve, In the UK, Cambridge Audio is part of our staple diet of audio brands, and the original Dac Magic was one of those pioneering products that brought DAC affordability to the masses. What I don't quite get is how a Fully balanced internal design like the 200 does not have a fully balanced headphone output. It seems to me that with the trend nowadays of people leaning towards balanced headphone drive, this omission could be a costly decision.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay wtf?
Steve, got any measurements of these dacs.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay
Spherical, queerical...
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay ehhh if you say so (while running as fast as I can in your opposite direction)
Steve, great review - yet most importantly, keep the music recommendations coming! I'm finding so much more great music thanks to you. Loving every video now.
Love the personal memories. I’ve enjoyed many albums, I didn’t know about until I heard you reference them in a gear review. Thanks!
I really like your very inspiring music discoveries and the mix with gear reviews. Thank you!
Great Review. Thank you for sharing your musical selections. Please continue.
You are so delightful. Your honesty, earnestness, experience, enjoyment and insight come together to bring forth wonderful content for all our benefit and learning. Thanks so much.
Thanks so much!
Thanks again for this channel. Most of this stuff im never gonna afford, even if i could... but its fun to dream. Ive spent years in the surround sound realm, and have recently rediscovered good stereo. Hearing cds and records ive had forever in a new light, and i love it. Channels like this helped me choose components that are in my budget, and sound fantastic. You saved me money, and entertain and educate me. Cheers
Great analysis Steve ! well done again , many Thanks for your comments on the gear :)
Thoroughly enjoyed that--appreciate the music picks especially.
steve thank you for your never stoping insight plus your sence of humor and fun great shirt.
Another great review. !!!
Thanks
This is great. Im pre Ordering the 200M soon.
Thanks Mr.Mestre for your feedback, my involvement with Mr. Michaelson's productos began when I bought, thirty something years ago, the fabled Michaelson & Austin tube amplifier, reason why I always supposed he was an engineer.
Yes, more music! You are in the right path Steve!
Got the 560s headphones on your recommendation...couldn’t agree more of its balance, clarity, deep bass! Best of all, your great stories tied to the music, expression of the entire, artful experience. And now must rethink my Dac choice 🤔
I'm really glad you enjoy them. They look terrific too.
Me too, great headphones!
Steve, nice to hear you mention a recording that features the 21 string West African harp-lute: Kora!
Thanks for the test and for the discovery of Anna von Hausswolf. Great "new style" of music for the old organ fan that I am ! ;)
Great video as per usual. Good to get a lift from your positivity at the minute. Heard of Blick Bassy album 1958? Very good in mho
thanks for the music pointers! always welcome, good music is the reason why we have high end products!
Thank you. Anna von Hausswolff's album is exactly what I needed.
Been waiting for the 200m review :) Out on Monday in the UK and im tempted...........
Hey Steve thanks for this review because I have Cambridge great and one piece is a dac magic 100. Wanting balanced outs when I saw this 200m item was Nirvana! Being that I trust your reviews I’m all in on switching. Thanks and keep listening 🔊
Thanks David, here’s the thing, having balanced connectors doesn’t mean the circuitry inside is balanced. I don’t believe it is
He's absolutely right on that one. Never assume you have a balanced component just because it has xlr jacks and is labeled balanced. You have to read the fine print. It will say something like, "The xlr jacks allows you to use balanced cables." Its a true statement, but its very misleading. In a situation like that, what they don't tell you, is while you can use balanced cables, only 2 of the 3 pins/conductors are used. Its the same exact thing as using a pair of rca cables.
I appreciate the info and presentation. I’m listening to the music suggestions now. I love Tom Waits. I just bought that Schiit product for my office set up with headphones with XLR connection and a Mc MC275 with Tekton speakers. The Multi DAC sounds great. I think better than the Mytek Bridge that it replaced. I’m using the Bridge at home. I love that machine although it is pricy for my frugality. The Schiit DAC is also modular and replaceable. The unit has a really nice feel and look and doesn’t include a lot that I don’t need. Bluetooth? I thought that was dead. Ha. Anyway, I’ll keep thinking about this DAC Magic choice. I am still in the return period for the Schiit unit.
Steve, you are the number one HIFI specialist and reference in the world. Many thanks for your very interesting and passionate daily shows. I don’t miss anyone.
Sounds like this may be the "static" replacement for my Chord Mojo as a DAC and HP amp that I have been looking for.
Thank You for Today came out in 2018 Steve! DCFC's latest album is The Georgia EP. They're all great though ;)
@10:25 Steve, your description of David Walters music made think of another great acoustic "afro chamber" album by Vincent Segal and Ballake Sissoko called Musique de Nuit. The opening track was recorded amongst real goats and is a great high-resolution test of your system. Sure enough, Segal and Sissoko are on the David Walters album. I saw Segal and Sissoko play live (sigh) at Wolf Trap Barns years ago and you could hear a pin drop. It was pure magic.
While you are in the "afro chamber" groove, check out the Trio AKA - Joy album with the great guitarist Antonio Forcione.
'... in no short order... or in short order...' that made me lol Another good vid, Sir! Thanks again.
Love Tom Waits! Steve your music selections are always interesting.
I love that shirt. My fave of your recent sartorial choices (wonder if the Walter CD "sounds like" that shirt? Or maybe the Grado RS-1s do? Hmmm...)
Really enjoyed this. The Cambridge looks really interesting.
morning Steve. great video as always. is this type of compare two things together format gonna be sticking around? i like it. i want to see you compare amplifiers that aren't always in the same price range. or two amps, one from the bottom of the stack like a n nad 316 bee vs an nad master amplifier
I too have been loving the track recommendations too I have really been into tok tok tok o my lord are they fantastic
Checked out Anna von Hausswolff based on your description of that song. That album is wild! Definitely a great example for dynamics and testing out equipment!
Love you Steve de Music Man. Don't let the sun blast your shadow ...
From Anna von H. at Bandcamp, “Sacro Bosco (“Sacred Grove”) is the starting point for Anna von Hausswolff’s new album All Thoughts Fly, incoming on Southern Lord on 25th September. Here in solo instrumental mode, the entire record consists of just one instrument, the pipe organ, and represents absolute liberation of the imagination.” 🙂
I've got a dacmagic 100 with modified caps and huge linear power supply that sounds so nice, but as soon as I heard about the 200m I have to admit I'm ready to buy...
What PS are you using with your DM100? Ive got one sitting here unused to play with. Thx
Please keep giving music recommendations they help spotlight things i dont know about
Liking the vocal rooster in Wait''s album reminds me of the Piedmont master picker Etta Baker's album "RAILROAD BILL". A bird flew into her living room and perched atop her front door and serenaded a wonderful duet with her during her recording session.
Fantastic review dear Steve👍 Your style and method of evaluation should be exemplary for some of the so-called “Headphone reviewers” that I follow here on CZcams who mislead thousands of their followers based on their fetishism with frequency response measurements and Harman Target curves etc.
Amazing what quality audio one can get these days for not a ton of money (not just referencing the DACmagic 200M, those Sennheiser 560s headphones are only a couple hundred dollars). Nice tip on Anna von Hausswolf, I'm really getting into her stuff, thanks! (interestingly enough, she signed to the label of my favorite drone metal band, Sunn O))), in 2019). Also, David Walters, that's a really nice sounding recording (and music)
I just ordered a DacMagic 200m. It will be here Friday or Saturday coming from Denver. :-)
Hi, are you Happy with the 200M?
How are getting along with it.
@@rumporridge1 I'm impressed. It sounds better than the old Sound Blaster ZxR for sure. But I can also now turn my Klipsch R15PM speakers all the way up and they don't distort anymore. Same with my Sennheiser GSP600 gaming headset. I can turn the volume up much louder without it sounding like they are being overdriven. The Dacmagic 200m must be putting out a cleaner signal or something.
@@dustys5512 yup. Gonna get one now for sure.
That was a really great headphone review video.
Le philosophe de l’audio
MQA BS that made my day Steve :-)
I bought the DAC Magic 200M to take the coax output of my Sony UBP x800M2 (using it for music CDs as well as DVD) to my NAD 325BEE analog integrated amp. KEF LS50 speakers.
The Cambridge appears to be a quality product. I have to agree with another comment about power. My Fiio Q3 has roughly the same output @ 32 ohms. I am liking the music references.
Hey my headphones are near 500 ohms, so thanks for the academic comparison.
I own a DacMagic 200M. It has an upgraded lineair power supply and is hooked up to an Audiolab 6000N network streamer and at the other end an Accuphase poweramp into JBL XPL 160's (which are very strong -a bit harsh- in the higher midrange. In this setting the delayed filter setting works the best and DSD 256 (on USB) is the best playback mode, for my ears that is. MQA is no advantage to PCM 24/192 to me. The DacMagic performs allright in CD - PCM but it gets so good in DSD. Downside to DSD is price and availability of titles. Proper recording makes a joy to listen, the 200M does the job well.
Great review Steve. I think the Mule variations is wel recorded. Now there's a remastered version by Tom&Kathleen? Read some mixed reviews on the reissue. Did you happen to listen to this one by any chance?
Steve, the 'Theater of Nature' is SURELY a real pipeorgan in a real space. You can actually hear the wind system in the opening measures of the title track! Other electronic voices and ambience were mixed in 'post', or visa versa...AND, the very last seconds of the track you hear what sounds like the organ blower being turned off as the high pitched pipes run out of wind! (from: your resident pipe organ tech)
Great insights, thanks for sharing!
@@davidcoons89 Thanks for the reply to my comment, I saw it come up on screen, and then I see it is almost a year later! Any more questions about pipe organs, I would be happy to answer (O: Thanks again.
Great review, Steve. Your review primarily dealt with this unit as a DAC for headphone listening, which, unfortunately, doesn't really interest me. Would you consider giving us your thoughts on how this unit sounds with CDs and outboard computer speakers? If it sounds as good with those formats as it does with headphones then it would seem to represent extraordinary value at $499 USD. Too many of these admittedly great-sounding DACs like Denafrips, for example, are completely out of most people's price range.
Hoping to hear your thoughts. Thanks.
good music recommendations
Dear Steve, I got 880's last fall ( got them balanced mod and Zeos pad mod). Love my Jot. Best, D.
Well, as a 600ohm DT-880 user, it looks like I’m sticking with my Schiit.
Good girl
The DACmagic 200M lacks major power compared to the Jotunheim. It can't even compete.
@@edwardbalboa5528 Come on, man.
I love my DT 880 Edition 600 ohm. I got a minty, used Asgard 1 on eBay and it makes them sing!
Tom Waits! Thank you for that. He’s the best.
Sounds like your rec would be the dacmagic dac w/ Jot amp? Conflating the two is just not very helpful for me.
Perhaps a Chesky recording would be a good candidate for a headphone/DAC evaluation. Binaural recordings generally sound exceptional on headphones.
Thanks Steve, love the music recs. Would you recommend the 200m for the sundaras?
Please continue to emphasise those music choices! Along with your very valued opinion on the equipment I love finding new stuff to listen to, this adds so much value for me it’s hard to overstate.
I have just placed an order for the 200m as a desktop solution and also external dac for my CXA81, an smsl M500 had been performing that duty but I’m finding more and more problems with this chifi gear, yes it measures well and I’m all for that, but there’s more to consider
Hi Steve You were talking of the new Sennheiser HD560S how does this one stand up compare to the Old HD414 you've got hanging there would that one still stand the of time ??
Hi Steve, the most recent Jotunheim reviews I’ve seen have compared the DAC option with the Bifrost. The general consensus seems to be that you’re between off with one of Schiit’s external multibit DACs. I’d love to know if you agree
Yeah, just get the internal DAC-module until you can afford an external one. Or better safe the money right away for a Bifrost 2.
Tom Waits' Nighthawks at the Diner always gets me.
What happened to the Sundara? I am looking for a better amp for my pair and was hoping for some insight. I am currently using the Ray Samuels Predator DAC/Amp and it cannot drive them at higher volumes, I need some balls to control the bass.
hi. do you ever test these dacs, output to speakers? i'm not a big headphone guy. my t2s are quite sufficient for my headphone/iem needs.
the dm200m sounds intriguing, but i would primarily be using it for living room listening.
Wow, didn't know about the 200M. I had the MagicDAC 2, which I liked but no MQA. And the unit I had, must have been flawed, heard some distortion and had to send it back. Ended up with the SMSL M500 which I do enjoy BUT it's not the MagicDAC. There was a texture difference in the two. I'm going to investigate this one.
Steve, what are your thoughts on the DAC in the Bluesound Node 2i vs. the Cambridge? They are relatively similar in price? Thanks for the vids
Recently sent back a Node 2i because the internal DAC sounded much worse than my Dacmagic 100 (no energy to the sound in comparison, it was just flat and lifeless), so I’m guessing this will be a huge upgrade on that...
The jot 2 I have coming is just the amp, no dac, I will be using my modius dac with it. Will a different dac pair make a difference, I have heard that dac after certain point don't make to much of difference.
Is there a different dac that would open up jot 2, or add more punch or anything?
Hi Steve, was wondering how would the Jotunheim 2 & Modius stack compared to the 200M?
Hi Steve! I've been waiting for this product for a while and it's due to be released beginning of March in the UK and I'm really happy you have done a review of this, can I ask how does it sound? Warm? Neutral? Bright? Thanks for the cool videos by the way 👍👍👍
Got mine today and so far I’d say it’s very neutral. Hoping it will break in a bit further before I pass judgment though.
@@richd9362 That's great! Please keep up informed of your progress, it will be interesting to know how it stands say after a few weeks of listening...
@@richd9362 Are you in the UK? And what did you use to stream MQA files. Thanks
@@delvalle9256 yes in uk. I used the Tidal app on my iPhone, via the Apple camera dongle and AQ Carbon USB cable. MQA led glows Magenta, meaning the DAC is carrying out the final unfold. Have to say I prefer the sound of Amazon HD though.
@@richd9362 thanks for sharing.
I know DSD has to go thru a USB cable from my device to the 200M dac, but how would I stream Spotify and Tidal/MQA to this DAC wirelessly ? What is a good quality inexpensive Wifi receiver to use with the 200M. This is where the Bluesound has it over the 200M I believe !
Thanks for the review Steve. Do you happen to know if it accepts and processes MQA on the coaxial inputs (e.g. from a Node 2i)? Or is it via USB only? I can't find any information on this.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers.
I put this specific question in to Cambridge tech support soon after the product release notice. Really surprised to get a very quick response to a Joe public question - they said the 200m will accept MQA over coax and optical as well as USB so I am considering it for my nose 2i - and also because I got very good interaction from their tech support
@@peterlawton259 Thank you.
That's good news.
Surprised it'll accept over optical though.
@@aeroscouse7025 yes I was also surprised they said optical as well but that's what they told me on Jan 29 response to initial query.
My 200M was delivered today and I can’t wait to run it with my Crown XLS 2502 and Watt Puppie 5’s!!! BTW - Amazon just started their HD service for no additional cost if you are already a unlimited subscriber.
I appreciate, dear Mr. Gutenberg, that in the background of your room, appears a Musical Fidelity Nuvista Preamp, congrats! Michaelson was a great engineer.
.
It’s a Gato integrated amp
Michaelson is not an engineer..... He doesn't design any if his products
What about using jotunheim 2 with a external dac streamer. I think to some degree what your hearing is the optional multibit dac in the jotunheim. Hmmmm. I have the orchard audio dac steamer with balanced outputs and looking for a amp, so I'm considering the jotunheim 2. Will be using sundara headphones.
Would the 200M be a good choice to connect Elac Navis to for a nearfield setup?
Hi guys I have the Hifiman Ananda and Dac SMSL VMV D1SE with the SP200 which the XLR inputs are defective but looking at a different amp looking at this Singxer-SA1 or Jotunheim 2. What would you think be a good match i would like more bass out of my Anandas and not as harsh highs?
Hello my friend!
Do you know how this dac compare to the RME-ADI-2 Fs Dac, and matrix mini i pro 3 ? Soundwise which is better,?
Cheers!
I have a question.
I mostly listen to digital Berlin Phil as a member. For that, my audio setting is:
Ipad ->(ADI FS2 DAC) -> Cambridge Audio Edge W Power Amp -> KEF LS 50 Meta Speaker.
Could you recommend me a better combination? Specifically about DAC Source, i.e., Ipad. Is it better to use a kind of network audio such as Aurender? I do not know if it supports Digital Berlin Phil.
Hey Steve. What are you using for recording video/audio with for your channel? Thanks!
How can we evaluate a review when by adding a different component into the chain can change which one was the better? And, why only evaluate with headphones? Well.. thanks for the headphone amps review. Not trying to be trouble, Just wanted to know how they sounded driving speakers into a room.
Well, because pairing / synergy is paramount. If you have headphone A, amp x is best for that particular combination. If you have headphone B, maybe amp y fits better.
Can you say two sentences about the quality as a pure Dac? How was the 200M with the Adams? Same „coloration“ as the headphone output? Thanks for your reviews!
Get a smsl m8a ... Best ever affordable dac
@@edwardbalboa5528 I need a DAC with balanced out and MQA.
Balmy 16c here in London today - unbelievable !
Celcius? Please say yes!
@@jimgardner5129 yeah celcius. Felt like 16farenheit last weekend though with the wind chill, was defo one to stay home and put some records on
I’m looking for a headphone amp and dac for my newly purchased LCD-2 Classic cans. Any recommendations?
Due to my finances (and as a proud owner of the original DACMagic!) I am listening to your words. But truth is, really I am riveted to the component on the stand behind your shoulder... Is that a Gato Audio integrated?
Caution: midway this dac review suddenly turns into a headphone review lol
Dt1990 paired with Jotunheim 2 true multibit dac is a go or no?
Steven Wilson is my all time favorite artist
the Porcupine Tree guy? He’s brilliant
I have a DT880 Pro and whatever material they use on the ear pads deserves to be made in to pillows.
So there. Steve said it. We don't need Hi Res. 16/44.1 is good enough. Perfect sound forever!
You said you listened with the Sundara. Which unit sounded the best with them ?
200m
Does it come with a remote? Doesn't look it does. Looking to get new DAC for my speaker set up. Wish you'd elaborate more on this use case.
No remote
You shouldn't need a remote. You need a remote for whatever you're using as a transport, and your preamp takes care of the volume.
Why do you have so much hardware powered up (background of video)?
I love me some MQA ;)
can you make a list from the albums you mentioned
Heard Neil Young pulled all his stuff from Tidal due to MQA... that actually pissed me off a bit towards Neil but I get what he's trying to do.
Now I don't need to consider Tidal if I go back to streaming.
What about with the sundara"s...
sound comparation
Steve Guttenberg, may I suggest that you post your Dac Magic “ balanced design” correction as a text in your video instead of the less visible comments section ? I was surprised to even hear you say that the DacMagic was not a balanced design even though it has balanced outputs . I respectfully ask you: What would be the point in that ?
I think Steve's comments about all the manipulation and what exactly MQA is trying to accomplish is pretty interesting and exactly why there appears ( to me) to be too much bs in the digital streaming agenda. Stating he wouldn't use as reference listening is pretty telling. I am by no means against streaming music however the sales tactics don't fly with me.
MQA is technically interesting. It saves drive space (people do find this important to be able to listen "untethered" high res with as little hassle as possible) and could easily replace the redbook standard. The "uncool" part is commoditizing proprietary technologies when free is just as good (or better).
STEVEN WILSON!!! YES!