Cambridge DacMagic 200M not playing DSD

vmiguel · May 26, 2022, 2:45pm

Yep, I don’t have high hopes on 200M. Maybe on a future device… that I almost surely will not buy!

gkkpch · July 3, 2025, 6:46pm

We’re 3 years on and a check with Cambridge support shows that they have no intention to support Linux, although it only needs one (ONE!!) simple email with a one-line patch to the linux maintainer, a patch which we use for all official Volumio products, PC version and some selected Radxa and Odroid devices. Selling my Cambridge DAC 200m now, if they continue refusing linux support, then I don’t see any point in holding on to their products. Plenty other DACs on the market.

Attila_Bogar · November 1, 2025, 4:19am

Hi gkkpch,

I’d like to try the Cambridge Audio DACmagic 200m.

My understanding you came up with a quirk patch to add Linux support.

Would please kindly share the kernel patch, so I can test native DSD on my 200m with a patched kernel.

Thanks,
Attila

gkkpch · November 1, 2025, 10:02am

In case you are running on a Volumio device (rivo, motivo etc.) then the patch is already included, same for RPi and x64.

Look at this patch, it is a very simple one:

github.com

volumio/build-platform-x64/blob/0d6b2ce022fb4d3977cf0beb91a8911e89f99f26/patches/6.12.y/0001-snd-usb-audio-dsd-additions-1.patch#L20


      
          diff --git a/sound/usb/quirks.c b/sound/usb/quirks.c
          index c5fd180357d1..b227206d4fdd 100644
          --- a/sound/usb/quirks.c
          +++ b/sound/usb/quirks.c
          @@ -2323,6 +2323,10 @@ static const struct usb_audio_quirk_flags_table quirk_flags_table[] = {
           		   QUIRK_FLAG_DSD_RAW),
           	VENDOR_FLG(0x22d9, /* Oppo */
           		   QUIRK_FLAG_DSD_RAW),
          +	VENDOR_FLG(0x22e1, /* TempoTec Sonata BHD */
          +		   QUIRK_FLAG_DSD_RAW),
          +	VENDOR_FLG(0x22e8,  /* Cambridge */
          +		   QUIRK_FLAG_DSD_RAW),		   
           	VENDOR_FLG(0x23ba, /* Playback Design */
           		   QUIRK_FLAG_CTL_MSG_DELAY | QUIRK_FLAG_IFACE_DELAY |
           		   QUIRK_FLAG_DSD_RAW),
          @@ -2340,6 +2344,8 @@ static const struct usb_audio_quirk_flags_table quirk_flags_table[] = {
           		   QUIRK_FLAG_DSD_RAW),
           	VENDOR_FLG(0x2d87, /* Cayin device */
           		   QUIRK_FLAG_DSD_RAW),
          +	VENDOR_FLG(0x2fc6, /* E1DA #9038D  */
          +		   QUIRK_FLAG_DSD_RAW),

Attila_Bogar · November 1, 2025, 10:33am

Thanks so much for the patch.

I saw someone mentioning the DACmagic 200m needs firmware changes by the vendor and its reluctant to do.

Or this quirks patch fixes all problems with the DACmagic 200m?

gkkpch · November 1, 2025, 11:58am

Correct, Cambridge does not want to support linux.
Though I gave them the patch, including the contact details of the usb sound driver maintainer at kernel.org, they still refuse to submit it for Linux support.

Firmware changes are not necessary, with this patch DSD will work out-of-the-box.

Attila_Bogar · November 1, 2025, 12:10pm

Thanks so much for the clarification and sharing the patch.