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- Feb 14, 2011
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Hi All,
I'd like to share with you my Cambridge Audio Discmagic + Isomagic upgrade project.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the S700 Isomagic is an unusual bit of kit in that it is both a standalone DAC and an isolation platform for your CD transport. The Isomagic is very slim and sits on 4 or 5 soft squishy vibration absorbing balls.
You can see the overall set up here:
http://s19.postimage.org/vlbywrfdv/Disc_Iso.jpg
The Isomagic can be used with any CD transport with a coaxial digital or digital optical output but it is really designed to be partnered with the Discmagic.
What makes the Discmagic/Isomagic combination so special is that the DAC can be 'clock locked' to the transport. As far as I understand it the DAC acts as the master clock and determines the timing of the data feed from the transport. This clock lock is via a toslink cable. By clock locking the two components jitter is significantly reduced resulting in superior sound quality. This is easily demonstrated as the clock lock function can be switched on and off with an external switch enabling you to make a quick A/B comparison.
I believe a similar system was was used by Linn on the Karik/Numerik combination but using a coaxial cable.
The digital audio output of the Discmagic can be connected to the Isomagic with either a coaxial or toslink cable. The toslink is the preferred option and gives a better sound, perhaps this is because ground loops between the transport and DAC are removed?
The Discmagic is impressively well equipped and boasts two separate transformers for the servo and audio circuits. The audio circuit is also nicely screened with a copper partition and the build is functional and solid. Here is a pic of the internal layout:
http://s19.postimage.org/bf8gxvjqb/Discmagic_overall_layout.jpg
As an added bonus the Isomagic is also equipped with a HDCD DAC chip.
Both units are John Westlake designs and John has been quoted several times as saying that the isomagic was his best ever design for Cambridge Audio (together with the CD4SE).
So with a highly regarded designer, a great basic specification and the clock lock function I thought that the Discmagic/Isomagic had the potential to be tweaked into something pretty special or as one forum member on DIY Audio put it "formidable even by today's standards".
The Isomagic was an ebay purchase and had clearly had a hard life (it reeks of fag smoke). As a first measure I therefore decided to replace the capacitors. I chose Nichicon Fine Gold for to replace the big electrolytics and Elna Cerafine to replace all of the smaller ones. I did however leave a number of small purple Sanyo caps in place as I think these are Oscons?
Here are some pics:
The capacitor change was well worth it and definitely added a bit of sparkle to the sound. They didn't even seem to need much burn in time and sounded better straight away.
Well that's enough for part 1. I'll be added more posts over the next few days.
I'd like to share with you my Cambridge Audio Discmagic + Isomagic upgrade project.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the S700 Isomagic is an unusual bit of kit in that it is both a standalone DAC and an isolation platform for your CD transport. The Isomagic is very slim and sits on 4 or 5 soft squishy vibration absorbing balls.
You can see the overall set up here:
http://s19.postimage.org/vlbywrfdv/Disc_Iso.jpg
The Isomagic can be used with any CD transport with a coaxial digital or digital optical output but it is really designed to be partnered with the Discmagic.
What makes the Discmagic/Isomagic combination so special is that the DAC can be 'clock locked' to the transport. As far as I understand it the DAC acts as the master clock and determines the timing of the data feed from the transport. This clock lock is via a toslink cable. By clock locking the two components jitter is significantly reduced resulting in superior sound quality. This is easily demonstrated as the clock lock function can be switched on and off with an external switch enabling you to make a quick A/B comparison.
I believe a similar system was was used by Linn on the Karik/Numerik combination but using a coaxial cable.
The digital audio output of the Discmagic can be connected to the Isomagic with either a coaxial or toslink cable. The toslink is the preferred option and gives a better sound, perhaps this is because ground loops between the transport and DAC are removed?
The Discmagic is impressively well equipped and boasts two separate transformers for the servo and audio circuits. The audio circuit is also nicely screened with a copper partition and the build is functional and solid. Here is a pic of the internal layout:
http://s19.postimage.org/bf8gxvjqb/Discmagic_overall_layout.jpg
As an added bonus the Isomagic is also equipped with a HDCD DAC chip.
Both units are John Westlake designs and John has been quoted several times as saying that the isomagic was his best ever design for Cambridge Audio (together with the CD4SE).
So with a highly regarded designer, a great basic specification and the clock lock function I thought that the Discmagic/Isomagic had the potential to be tweaked into something pretty special or as one forum member on DIY Audio put it "formidable even by today's standards".
The Isomagic was an ebay purchase and had clearly had a hard life (it reeks of fag smoke). As a first measure I therefore decided to replace the capacitors. I chose Nichicon Fine Gold for to replace the big electrolytics and Elna Cerafine to replace all of the smaller ones. I did however leave a number of small purple Sanyo caps in place as I think these are Oscons?
Here are some pics:
The capacitor change was well worth it and definitely added a bit of sparkle to the sound. They didn't even seem to need much burn in time and sounded better straight away.
Well that's enough for part 1. I'll be added more posts over the next few days.
