Cambridge Audio Dacmagic 200M £449
The Dacmagic 200M wants to accommodate every music source and file you already own, or might conceivably think of owning.
There are pairs of coaxial and optical inputs for covering CD players, games consoles and Blu-ray players, as well as a Usb-type B socket (with a ground/lift switch) that welcomes laptops and PCS with open arms. For those who value easy and convenient wireless playback from a phone or tablet, aptx Bluetooth is also on board.
RCA and balanced XLR outputs on the rear panel allow the Dacmagic 200M to be a middleman in a hi-fi system, while a front-panel 6.3mm output caters for listening via headphones.
High-resolution file support goes beyond what most people will need: the Usb-type B goes up to 32-bit/768khz and DSD512, above the bitrate of most commercially available music files, while the opticals and coaxials top out at 24-bit/96khz and 24-bit/192khz respectively. The Cambridge also has native support of MQA technology, so it can decode and play downloaded MQA hard files, in addition to hi-res Tidal Masters (which are Mqa-encoded).
The Dacmagic 200M’s performance is recognisably ‘Cambridge’, characterised by a full, smooth tonality that’s complemented by an open, expressive and authoritative manner.
Dynamic shrewdness is backed by rhythmic coordination and punch, amounting to a musical presentation. There’s much to appreciate in a hi-fi component that lets you sit back and enjoy your music no matter the genre.
Cambridge Audio’s latest top of the line Dacmagic continues the legacy of the long-standing Dacmagic model, the original of which earned Cambridge its first of our Awards in 1996. The 200M is 25 years and several evolutionary steps along the Dacmagic line in terms of features and performance, but it hasn’t lost sight of its vision to sit among the very best at its level.