Aeolus magiDAC

[Cankin]

Anyone tried this transformer coupled DAC??

Audiomagus - high end not high priced audio products

Should I get it and add an amp like CKKIII or SOHA II over Pico?

[guzziguy]

Get both setups. Listen to them and report back. Then sell the lesser setup.

[blessingx]

Interesting. Would like to know more about it.

[Cankin]

Originally Posted by guzziguy

Get both setups. Listen to them and report back. Then sell the lesser setup.

unfortunately, this is the plan with the highest capital requirement

PS: where are sadcat and doghuh

[jp11801]

If I were going this route I would buck up for the better transformer and get the better clock as well both are pretty well demonstrated improvements with other gear and it should hold true here.

[Salt Peanuts]

Originally Posted by Cankin

unfortunately, this is the plan with the highest capital requirement

PS: where are sadcat and doghuh

They're still here. If you click on [More] link above the regular smilies, you can see all the imported smilies.

[recstar24]

Hey that looks pretty decent. Standard DAC chip, known to sound pretty good in some other sources that it has been used, like the meridian 508. Simple design, DAC coupled to some transformers, the stock ones should be pretty decent as well. For the price it might be worth it just to check out. This might be up my alley, I have been looking for a cheap DAC to couple with a SB or some sort of wifi music server to run tunes from the laptop. Thanks for the heads-up!

[blessingx]

Could someone explain to an idiot like I the difference between "hand-stacked M6 line grain oriented steel cores" and a "48-percent nickel core" transformer?

[blessingx]

Well, I just got off the phone with Audiomagus and they told me they think the transformer upgrade is definitely an improvement and most would be very happy with it, but they're "not exactly pushing it" as they're also designing another, possibly even better transformer option (parts yet to be finalized as is price, but likely between $150-200). They're holding off making any claims until everything is finalized and they can A/B the options. On the plus side you will have the option (at least on the base unit though I didn't ask directly) of sending the unit back and paying for the new transformer upgrade (and shipping) later if you want.

I asked about SQ of the MagiDAC and they said the only comparable model they had internally was a heavily modified Citypulse DAC DA7.2 which ended up with a $600-700 price tag. They're "really quite pleased with the performance" and shipping is running around 3 days as they're "getting slammed" with sale orders.

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally Posted by blessingx

Could someone explain to an idiot like I the difference between "hand-stacked M6 line grain oriented steel cores" and a "48-percent nickel core" transformer?

iron vs. not iron

[Pars]

I'd be a bit leery of the clock upgrade on this as their description talks about ppm, which has absolutely nothing to do with jitter... I don't recall what they were asking for this though.

[blessingx]

Originally Posted by Pars

I don't recall what they were asking for this though.

Price? $20. Not a big risk.

Dusty, I assume iron is thus bad? Maybe that explains Iron Man.

[n_maher]

I wonder how hard it would be to mod this thing for balanced output? Seems to me that if it's already trafo-coupled then it should be pretty straightforward.

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally Posted by blessingx

Dusty, I assume iron is thus bad? Maybe that explains Iron Man.

No, iron good (at least, that's what I thought). When it comes to something like that, though, design is more important than what it contains.

Oh, and: hey now!

[recstar24]

Originally Posted by n_maher

I wonder how hard it would be to mod this thing for balanced output? Seems to me that if it's already trafo-coupled then it should be pretty straightforward.

Oh yeah it would be very easy to balance it out. The CS4398 I believe is dual differential so should be super easy to transformer balance it out.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by n_maher

I wonder how hard it would be to mod this thing for balanced output? Seems to me that if it's already trafo-coupled then it should be pretty straightforward.

Depends on the transformer but it's probably SE so there is not much that can be done unless it's replaced.

[n_maher]

Yeah, I was thinking that it would require a trafo replacement but that that operation might not be all that bad.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by n_maher

Yeah, I was thinking that it would require a trafo replacement but that that operation might not be all that bad.

Lundahl

[blessingx]

Well, I bought one. Did speedy shipment to hopefully get it by the San Mateo meet, but I'm not sure if that will happen. Either way it will be cutting it close to give feedback before sale goes off, but if I can I'll post some impressions. I upgraded the clock, but nothing on the transformer because of the rumored future upgrade.

[Dusty Chalk]

Yes, please do, thanks. Even at $330/$480, it's not unreasonably priced, depending on its performance, so feel free to post long-term impressions as well.