The original DacMagic was an overwhelming success for Cambridge Audio, offering a good value proposition for the early adopters getting into computer audio, and upgrading those 'old' CD players from the 80s.

But time has not been kind, and the DacMagic found itself getting lost in the wave of DACs that have appeared in the last couple of years, with features and performance that superseded it. Primarily it was the USB performance that 'aged' the DacMagic overnight almost.

So, a few years later, comes the DacMagic Plus, but have they addressed the originals shortcomings? Internally the DacMagic Plus operates at 24bit/384kHz, with the optical and coaxial inputs accepting 24bit/192kHz data. The USB port has thankfully been given a work over, and is now 24bit/192kHz capable and asynchronous in nature.

One of the big changes apart from specifications, is the large volume control on the front, which operates output volume of the front mounted headphone socket, as well as output volume from the unbalanced RCAs and balanced XLR outputs on the rear.

Not only have Cambridge Audio addressed the issues of the old model, but they have brought it right up to date with a bang on features set. Selling for around 0 in Europe and due to arrive here early in 2012, stay tuned for more!