www.cambridge-audio.com www.cambridge-audio.comCambridge Audio’s policy of continuous improvement means design and specification may change without notice. All rights reserved © 2013 Cambridge Audio. Cambridge Audio is a brand of Audio Partnership Plc Registered Office: Gallery Court, Hankey Place, London SE1 4BB, United Kingdom. Registered in England No. 2953313. iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc. registered

in the U.S and other countries. Other product and company names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used for reference purposes only.

Upgrade your computer’s soundThe DacMagic XS is an instant upgrade to any

computer’s sound output. The DacMagic XS outputs

10 times more power than a typical computer! It sends

150mW of amplification to your headphones, allowing

you to hear bass as it should be, and is also loud and

clear enough to overcome background noise in places

like airports, trains and planes.

Music, movies, games and moreThe DacMagic XS allows you to hear your favourite

music, exactly as the artist intended.

But if you mainly play games or watch films on

your laptop or computer, you’ll know how lousy the

sound can be. Now you can play the audio through

the DacMagic XS and hear all the bangs, crashes and

effects in the most amazing detail!

Digital audioThe DacMagic XS uses USB for the audio connection,

allowing a direct digital signal to be taken from your

computer, instead of the poor quality sound normally

available through a computer’s soundcard. The

DacMagic XS then processes the digital audio signal

for a much better sound than you would normally get

from your computer’s headphone output.

High quality DACThe DacMagic XS uses a high quality ESS DAC (Digital

to Analogue Converter) to provide far higher quality

sound than your computer would ever be capable of.

Easy to useThe DacMagic XS allows you to quickly and easily

change volume with one finger, at the touch of a

button, without several mouse clicks or needing to use

both hands.

Playback of any audioFeaturing asynchronous USB audio clocking, and

supporting both USB Class 1 and USB Class 2,

the DacMagic XS can play everything from MP3 to

the highest quality 24-bit/192kHz studio master

recordings from your computer, free from unwanted

noise, jitter and distortion.

The best sound from your headphonesThe DacMagic XS lets you use your headphones to

their full potential. Even if you’re only using the free

headphones that were supplied with your iPod, you’ll

notice a big improvement in sound.

But if you’ve spent your hard earned cash on better

headphones, then don’t waste them by connecting

them to the low quality output on your computer – drive

them properly with the DacMagic XS!

Know what you’re gettingThe DacMagic XS has an LED to indicate incoming

sample rates, ensuring that you always know you’re

getting the best quality, or when you’ve hit maximum or

minimum volume.

Use at home or on the goThe DacMagic XS can be used with headphones, but

can also be connected directly to your hi-fi amplifier, so

you can enjoy the same improvement at home, as well

as on the go.

Subtle, small and stylish

Smaller than a box of matches, the DacMagic XS is

small enough to be carried in your shirt pocket, and

is even fully powered over USB; ideal for improving

your listening experience wherever you are, at

home or on the go.

Top reasons you should buy the DacMagic XS

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The DacMagic XS delivers exceptional quality audio from a wide variety of sources... here are 10 reasons to choose the Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS over other systems

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A great little gadget that will transform the way your computer sounds

Listening to music on your computer is brilliant – instant, easy access to all your digital files and a world of streaming services, internet radio and video sites.

But did you know that the headphone output on a computer produces extremely poor sound? Computer manufacturers spend most of their budget on the screen and video processor, only leaving a few dollars to spend on the audio output. For example, the audio output probably only cost $4 or $5 on a $1000 laptop, so it’s not good enough to get the best quality from your headphones.

The DacMagic XS is an instant upgrade to any computer’s sound output.

It connects quickly and easily to your computer’s USB port and allows you to hear your favourite music, games and films, exactly as the artist intended.

The DacMagic XS is not just for audiophiles – if you like to listen to music online from services such as Spotify or Pandora, or if you like to listen to MP3s, watch videos on YouTube, or even if you’re a gamer, then the DacMagic XS is for you!

With the DacMagic XS, music, movies and games played from your computer have never sounded better!

Without the DacMagic XS, you’re missing out on a world of audio quality.

The DacMagic XS is an instant upgrade

to any computer’s headphone output.

You will never realise the depth, clarity

and bass you are missing out on by using

your laptop’s headphone output, until you

try listening through a DacMagic XS...

High quality DAC. The DacMagic XS

uses a a high quality ESS DAC

(Digital to Analogue Converter)

to provide far superior sound

than your computer would ever be

capable of.

Digital audio. The DacMagic XS uses

a single USB connection for

both power and audio. This

single connection minimises

untidy cabling and allows a direct digital

signal to be taken from your computer,

instead of the poor quality sound

normally available through a computer’s

soundcard. The DacMagic XS then

processes the digital audio signal for

a much better sound than you would

normally get from your computer’s

headphone output.

High power. A computer outputs between

10 and 20mW of power to

drive your headphones. This

simply isn’t enough to get

the best quality or performance from

your headphones, resulting in a loss

of bass and clarity. The DacMagic XS

outputs 10 times more power than

a typical computer! It sends 150mW

of amplification to your headphones,

allowing you to hear bass as it should

be, and is also loud and clear enough to

overcome background noise in places

like airports, trains and planes.

High resolution audio. Most computers

can’t play high resolution

audio through their headphone

output. Featuring asynchronous

USB audio clocking, and supporting

both USB Class 1 and USB Class 2,

the DacMagic XS can be used to play

everything from MP3 to the highest

quality 24-bit/192kHz studio master

recordings from your computer, free from

unwanted noise, jitter and distortion.

A wealth of technologies

The inside story

www.cambridge-audio.com

Simple to use...● The DacMagic XS has an LED to

indicate incoming sample rates, ensuring

that you always know you’re getting the

best quality, or when you’ve hit maximum

or minimum volume.

● The DacMagic XS features finger

tip analogue volume control, fully

bypassing the soundcard and

volume control of your computer.

Not only does this improve

sound quality, but also means

no more long combinations of

button presses with two hands,

or several mouse clicks to change

volume. Instead, the DacMagic XS

allows you to quickly and easily change

volume with one finger, at the touch of a button, thanks to its

simple, ergonomic design.

● The DacMagic XS doesn’t stick straight out of your computer’s

USB port, eliminating the risk of straining or accidentally

damaging your computers USB port.

● Smaller than a box of matches, the DacMagic XS is small

enough to be carried in your shirt pocket, and is even fully

powered over USB; ideal for improving your listening experience

wherever you are, in your armchair or on the go.

USB input – The DacMagic XS uses a single

USB connection for both power and audio.

This single connection minimises untidy

cabling and allows a direct digital

signal to be taken from your computer

or laptop, instead of the poor quality

sound normally available through a

computer’s soundcard. Simply connect

the DacMagic XS to any available USB

port on your computer and it will process

the digital audio signal for a much better

sound than you would normally

get from your computer’s

headphone output. There’s even a

Micro USB cable included with the

DacMagic XS.

3.5mm output – 3.5mm headphone

output socket means that the DacMagic

XS isn’t just perfect for headphones; it can

also be used to connect to your hi-fi amplifier, so you can enjoy the

same improvement at home, as well as on the go.

In a different class!High resolution audio – most computers

can’t play high resolution audio

through their headphone output.

Featuring asynchronous USB

audio clocking, and supporting both USB

Class 1 and USB Class 2, the DacMagic XS

can be used to play everything from MP3s

to the highest quality 24-bit/192kHz studio

master recordings from your computer, all

free from unwanted noise, jitter and

distortion.

Class 1 and Class 2 audio – just like

its bigger brother, the award

winning DacMagic Plus, the

DacMagic XS can be switched

into USB Class 2 mode, allowing you to play

everything from MP3 to the highest quality

24-bit/192kHz studio master recordings

straight from your computer.

Dedicated USB driver – when running in

Class 2 mode, the DacMagic XS

can also use Cambridge Audio’s

dedicated Windows USB Class

2 USB driver. This allows you to bypass the

computer operating system’s poor audio

path, preventing unwanted interference and

re-sampling, guaranteeing a professional

quality audio output.

So many great uses...The DacMagic XS’s high quality (digital

to analogue) audio conversion makes

everything sound just as the recording

artist intended.

Wherever, whenever. Your music will

sound incredible however you choose to

listen – the DacMagic XS will improve the

sound of any app or streaming service

like Spotify, Pandora or Skype, as well as

the music stored on your laptop or in the

cloud.

Music, games, films and more. The

DacMagic XS is not only for music fans –

if you like to watch films, play games or

speak to your friends on Skype, then the

DacMagic XS will transform the sound of

all of these too!

Headphones. The DacMagic XS lets

you use your headphones to their full

potential. Even if you’re only using the

free headphones that were supplied with

your iPod, you’ll notice a big improvement

in sound.

But if you’ve spent your hard earned cash

on better headphones, then don’t waste

them by connecting them to the low quality

output on your computer – drive them

properly with the DacMagic XS!

Subscription services. If you’ve paid for a

better quality music subscription service,

such as Spotify or Pandora, then use the

DacMagic XS to hear what you’re paying

for – don’t settle for the low quality output

from your computer!

Hi-fi at home. The DacMagic XS can be

used with headphones, but can also be

connected directly to your hi-fi amplifier, so

you can enjoy the same improvement at

home, as well as on the go.

The robust brushed aluminium chassis not only

looks great, but also protects the electronics from shock or damage, and minimises undesirable interference.

Did you know?

Vital statistics:DAC: ........................................ESS9023

Power: .........................................150mV

Weight: ............................... 100g (3.5oz)

Dimensions (W x H x D): .. 30 x 10 x 53.5mm

(1.2 x 0.4 x 2.1’’)

Small and stylish, with a big sound – perfect at home or on the go!Instantly connect any computer, headphones or amplifier...

“DacMagic XS adds no weight or bulk to my

existing laptop bag, but carrying it means

my music sounds so much better through my

headphones. I can hear tiny details and get

a far more emotional, immersive response to

my music.” Daniel, Business Development

Designer’s note

Max volumeBlink red

MuteLED Blinking

44.1kHz/48kHz

88.2kHz/96kHz

176.4kHz/192kHz