" The Pangea P-100 is for those who want to wrest the very best from their budget gear. " Sam Tellig, Stereophile, February 2012
"The Best Hundred Bucks You Could Spend"
We've sold thousands of Cambridge Audio DacMagic and Musical Fidelity V-DAC USB DACs over the years. Our customers love their outstanding performance for the money. Being audiophiles, the folks at Pangea Audio wondered how they could make these DACs sound even better. Using better cables makes a big difference, but they wanted to dig even deeper.
The answer to better performance from these components is the Pangea Audio P-100, a new highly regulated power supply created by legendary audio designer Peter Madnick exclusively for Pangea Audio.
"If you own one of the Cambridge Audio or Musical Fidelity models listed above, then I suggest that $99.99 for a Pangea P-100 is the best hundred bucks you could spend," says Sam Tellig in the February 2012 issue of Stereophile. "Dynamics improved. The little V-DAC MkII sounded bigger… The Pangea Audio P-100 is for those who want to wrest the very best form their budget gear."
Just Plain Better in Every Way
Compared to the power supplies that come with the DacMagic and V-DAC, the P-100 boasts better filtering, better regulation, and a much lower output impedance. You might say that the P-100 is just plain better in every way. And the circuitry is housed inside a noise- and vibration-resistant compact steel chassis. All of this dramatically cleans up the power flowing to the DAC, resulting in a noticeable upgrade in sound quality.
A No-Brainer to Use
The P-100 couldn't be easier to use. Just substitute it for the AC adapter that comes with the DacMagic or V-DAC. In fact, you can use the P-100 with any Musical Fidelity V-Series components for a nice performance enhancement, and that includes the new V-Series II products. And if this isn't enough excitement for you already, the P-100 will also upgrade the Cambridge Audio Azur 540P and 640P phono stages.
The P-100 includes all the cables you need for connecting to the DacMagic (plus 540P and 640P), and V-Series components. Each cable is 1.0M long and clearly labeled. Get listening, and have a blast.
Update: January 25, 2012:
Our engineers have discovered the P-100 will also power the older Musical Fidelity X-Series components with the round face -- including X-10D, X-CANS, XLPS, etc. Use the cable marked for the Cambridge Audio DacMagic for these devices.
Please Note: The P-100 is not compatible with the Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus or DacMagic 100.
Highly-regulated and filtered low-noise AC power supply
Compatible with Cambridge Audio DacMagic, Cambridge Audio 540P and 640P phono stages, and Musical Fidelity V-Series components (including V-Series II)
All needed cables are included (see below)
Noise- and vibration-resistant compact steel chassis
Power On/Off switch
Front Panel LED light
Everything You Need Is Included
P-100 Regulated Power Supply
IEC-style AC power input cable
DC power output cable for Cambridge Audio DacMagic (also works with 540P and 640P phono stages) (1.0M long)
DC power output cable for Musical Fidelity V-Series components (including V-Series II) (1.0M long)
Instruction sheet
Update: January 25, 2012:
Our engineers have discovered the P-100 will also power the older Musical Fidelity X-Series components with the round face -- including X-10D, X-CANS, XLPS, etc. Use the cable marked for the Cambridge Audio DacMagic for these devices.
Please Note: The P-100 is not compatible with the Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus or DacMagic 100.
Pangea P-100 with the Musical Fidelity V-DAC Mk.II:
"Compared to the wall wart supplied with the V-Series gear, the Pangea kicked up the performance a notch. Or two. Or three. Who knows how many notches?"
"Seriously. Dynamics improved. The little V-DAC Mk.II sounded bigger. Da. It sounded like a DAC with a big power supply. The noise floor was lower. Low-level details in recordings became more apparent, more clearly delineated. Piano recordings became more immediate: the attacks and decays of the notes."
"The Pangea P-100 took a certain electronic edge off the music -- voices and strings, especially. I'm not faulting the performance of the V-DAC Mk.II. For another $99.99, its performance became all the more convincing, and did so more in musical than in hi-fi terms."
"The Pangea P-100 is for those who want to wrest the very best from their budget gear."
Pangea P-100 with the Musical Fidelity V-CAN Mk.II:
"As with the V-DAC MK.II, the Pangea P-100 lifted the performance of the V-CAN Mk.II to a much higher level, and in much the same way. I found the sound cleaner, more dynamic, more sweetly extended, less electronic."
-- Sam Tellig, Stereophile, February 2012.
The Pangea Audio P-100's designer, Peter Madnick, has designed an amazing range of audio products, from the inexpensive Audio Alchemy DACs and preamps, to the astronomically expensive Constellation Audio products. We contacted Peter about his new P-100 power supply.
"What gave you the idea for this new product?"
"I heard intriguing things about the performance of the DACMagic and that Cambridge Audio had sold more than 40,000 units. I thought there might be a market opportunity for a device to improve the sound. One look and I knew I could design a far better power supply than the one supplied by the manufacturer. After all, I've been designing audio power supplies for more than twenty-five years."
"How is the P-100 better?"
"Without giving away too many secrets, let me just say that I used better filtering, regulation and also the P-100 has much lower output impedance. All this dramatically cleans up the power flowing to the DAC. Audio circuits always sound better when they are fed ultra-clean power."
"What was the trickiest part of making the P-100?"
"Finding the right transformer was the hard part. We tested many before we found one that exceeded our specs for both electrical and mechanical noise."
"How did the P-100 evolve to also work with the Musical Fidelity V-DAC?"
"After discovering that P-100 made a substantial improvement in the sound of the DACMagic, I wondered what else we could mate it with. Musical Fidelity was selling thousands of V-DACs, so I added additional taps to the transformer and, presto, I had a marvelous V-DAC upgrade, too. We supply cables with the P-100 so the customer can use it with either DAC – or any of the Musical Fidelity V-Series components."
"What does it mean when you say that the P-100 is a 'regulated' power supply?"
"Regulated power supplies contain ICs which limit their output voltage to a precise value despite the incoming voltage, thus making them stable regardless of drifts in the incoming AC line voltage. In the case of the P-100 these regulators are linear devices instead of digital, thus reducing the amount of high frequency noise coming along with the regulated DC voltage."
"Does the transformer act as a power line filter both ways? In other words, does it filter noise from coming into the component and also from leaving the component and getting into other audio gear in close proximity?"
"The P-100 has a power transformer to reduce the incoming AC line voltage to the levels we need. More importantly, the P-100 contains a common-mode choke. This essentially consists of two identical low pass filters, one on each side of the low voltage AC line, coupled to each other in a way that attenuates high frequency noise going in both directions. Thus, we reduce any noise attempting to come in on the AC line, as well as noise coming back from the power device trying to go out to the AC line."
Audio Advisor Review - Pangea Audio P-100 Power Supply
I have had a DACMagic for over 3 years. I was using it with a 192 mps streaming audio service. I wasnt impressed and barely listened to it. It wasnt much better than going directly from my PC to my receiver. Recently I switched to a 320 mps service and the DACMagic performed better, but the sound lacked depth and a clear soundstage. It was unsatisfying. I bought the Pangea power supply and used it with my Pangea AC-14 power cord. The performance was very impressive, surprising, about 95% of the way toward my Music Hall CD player. I now listen to streaming audio on my hi fi system, vs. reserving it for my portable powered speaker system. While not quite CD quality, the difference is subtle and the availability of 16 million songs certainly enhances my music options. Nice to have my DACMagic doing more than gathering dust.
- Bob O, RI
Nice - But
I have 5 of these power supplies and so far 2 have died. Both were protected on some expensive PS Audio surge outlets along with my other gear so the problem is not with line surges. I have been able to fix both for less than $10 in parts, but discovered a weird design inside, I see now why Wadia would not support its use with their i170 dock. [i170 needs 12v, i171 needs 9v].
This is a +12 & -12 volt split supply, with the 12vac for the DAC magic coming off 1/2 the secondary through some 22uH inductors, so I can only surmise it was designed with some other primary purpose in mind.
- Phil D, MD
Tweaks Musical Fidelity X-CAN v2
As advertised, the P-100 is a useful, inexpensive upgrade to the venerable Musical Fidelity X-CAN v2 headphone amp. The tweaked X-Can plays louder, with blacker blacks and no hum.
- Michael R, VT
dac magic much cooler
Like others, I have noticed more defined bass and detail. But the biggest improvement I have noticed is a unit that is cooler to the touch. It was never hot, so to speak but the difference is noticeable.
- GERALD POMPA, WA
V-DAC II Turbo Charge
I have to admit, I was not overly impressed the first few times I listened to my MF V-DAC II with the Pangea P-100. I switched back to the stock supply and then back to the P-100 and really started to hear what I was missing with the stock power. The bass is much more defined... the separation is wide... instrument placement deep and precise... vocals, especially female vocals, are spot on... like having the vocalist in the room! I also notice that V-DAC II runs cooler with the P-100 and the noise floor is dead quiet. Beautiful upgrade to an already wonderful little DAC.
- Glen M, CA
Well worth the money
I bought the P-100 expecting some improvement, as per Sam Tellig’s review, but I am dumbfounded at the overall improvement in the coherence and clarity of the music coming out of the DacMagic. This is one tweak that is well worth the money!
- Guy W, GA
well worth the money
used with mf v-can..from top to bottom improved so did low level resolution..found new details in recordings thought i knew inside and out
- Tony S, GA
Unbelievable
Completely changes my MF VDAC. New warmth, depth, definition, and punch. Read the reviews; its all true. Now, if I could only get a connection for my Arcam rDAC Ill never ask for another thing...except maybe to make wall warts illegal.
- Barry S, WA
Dont miss out
Paired with the DacMagic, this is a great deal. I thought the complaints were on the DacMagic lights being too bright...not so. Hide the power unit or make it part of you listening room ambiance. I like it. I am a big believer in great power supplies but luckily dont have golden ears. Get the power supply as part of the deal package.
- Phil D, MD
A Tweak That Works
The DacMagic by itself is an awesome product. I hooked it up in my office with a pair of Def Tech Studio Monitor 350s and and a Supercube III sub. I have had systems costing ten times as much but the level of detail is beyond compare. The Pangea power supply just releases this remarkable product from its restraints. The bass is so much better defined. I was skeptical, but this product is a must for those owning a DacMagic. The improvement on an already great product is unbelievable. Buy one!
- William S, IL
Outstanding Product
Paired with the V-LPS unbelieveable, superb, I would not have believed the improvement in the bass, but it is more than that. Improved in every way. My highest recommendation!
- Timothy V, CO
Nicely Built & Robust
First impression was a nice solid unit, fit and finish are very good and really cool black! Im using a new .6 mtr of Pangea AC-14se so theres no way to hear an improvement in my system until after burn in, but I expect great things! My DacMagic is fed via fiber from Krell KAV-280cd player...As always AA rocks!!
- CRAIG AHRENS, UT
Great Little Black Box!!
I am using this P-100 with my Cambridge DAC magic, and it never sounded better!! Highley Reccomended. The only draw back is the front pannel LED is very bright.
- Don D, NY
Linear Regulated awesomeness!
I got the DacMagic a last year to bypass my processors dacs and the magic made a huge difference in detail and soundstaging. I just got the P100 and all I have to say is that 16/44.1 sources have taken another leap forward in sound quality. I agree with the other two reviewers and just want to add that this little guy has nailed the bass. I have 10in woofers in my main speakers and a 10 sub and the bass has come into tight/fast focus, while remaining deep. If you have a dacMagic, you have to get this.
The LED is way too bright as another reviewer said, but I just covered it with a little piece of blue electrical tape and all is good in stereo world.
- Josh K, IL
The Pangea P100 along with the Dacmagic.
I use my Dacmagic in my headphone set-up. I received the Pangea P100 not too long ago and gave it over 50 hours of burn-in. After doing a lot of listening I found that the P-100 added more detail and better definition to instruments & sound fx as well as better imaging. I listened carefully and found a deeper soundstage too. The differences were noticeable but not dramatic. I didnt have one of those a veil was lifted kind of differences. Overall Im enjoying my Dacmagic more because of the P100 and plan to keep both together.