Operation Manual

14
Advanced USB audio
The DacMagic 100 is both USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) and USB 1.1
(Full-speed) USB port compatible.
It will also work with the new USB 3.0 ports where the PC
will simply treat the DacMagic 100 as if it were a USB 2.0
or 1.1 device.
The DacMagic 100 also supports two USB Audio protocols
(not the same as the port types themselves) USB Audio
1.0 (which works over USB 1.1 ports and supports up to
24-bit/96kHz) or USB Audio 2.0 (which requires a USB 2.0
port and can support up to 24-bit/192kHz).
The default configuration is USB 1.1 and USB Audio 1.0
which works with nearly all common operating systems
and computer types without drivers and supports up to
24-bit/96kHz audio, simply plug in and play.
In this configuration the DacMagic 100 is able to work at up
to 24-bit/96kHz by declaring to your computer that it can
handle any sample rate from 32kHz to 96kHz.
However in some Windows/Mac operating system variants
the operating system itself may restrict or fix the output
sample rate or re-sample the audio.
See our online guide at www.cambridge-audio.com/
DacMagic100Support on USB Audio for more details on
this. With careful choice of playback software and settings
many pitfalls can be avoided.
In particular our free Windows USB Audio 2.0 driver
(available from our website) supports up to 24-bit/192kHz
audio and WASPI Exclusive or ASIO modes that can give
enhanced performance.
A brief explanation of your choices is below:
Switching between USB Class 1 and USB Class 2
operation
Your DacMagic 100 will come set to driverless USB Audio
Class 1.0 by default, but it can be configured to run in
either USB Class Audio 1.0 or 2.0 mode. To change USB
Class, press & hold the Source button while bringing the
unit out of standby . One of the digital input source LEDs
will illuminate to indicate the current USB setting: Digital 1
represents USB Audio Class 1.0, likewise Digital 2 is USB
Audio Class 2.0.
Use with PCs
With the DacMagic 100 switched to USB Audio 1.0 (this is
the default setting) the DacMagic 100 will work with the
native Windows XP, Vista or 7 Audio 1.0 driver (no need to
load any new driver) and accept audio up to 24-bit/96kHz.
With the DacMagic 100 switched to USB Audio 2.0 the
DacMagic 100 needs the Cambridge Audio USB Audio
2.0 Driver to be loaded and can then accept up to
24-bit/192kHz (and support ASIO and WASAPI Exclusive
if required).