Cambridge Audio 840C...some thoughts and comparisons

[fallen.angel]

Originally Posted by vcoheda

^^^ for what reason would you need to add another cd player - just for comparison purposes?

I am building another system for my study room

[IceClass]

I'm soon moving on to the WC Stax rig.
I find the older I get, the more I *need* the relaxation.

[Hi-Finthen]

Sorry, but I fail to understand your bumping this thread. Did you ever decide for or against the Azur-840c???

Anyhow, I am presently enjoying what the Azur-740c brings to my system so much so, that I'm considering to upgrade to the 840c ... So, I am trying to gauge their differences, in terms of sonic qualitys to be expected between these two fine CDPs!

Should anyone chime in with new impressions furthering my understanding and expectations, I would be greatfull!

[skullguise]

So a couple weekends ago I went to my favorite dealer, he carries the 840C. Listened on a system comprised of Modwright peamp, (newer model) Bryston amp, and KEF Reference speakers.

I listened to about 14-15 tracks with the Cambridge. I WAS very impressed, especially at the price, but came away feeling there was a very slight glare in the mids/lower highs. I also wasn't exactly sure of the soundstage and image placement within it. In some senses this player seemed a little more forward, and the balance of upfront to farther back instruments/voices seemed a little artificial (good depth, but placement of sounds within the space didn't seem 100% right all the time).

Also sitting in the room was a Primare CD31 player, lists for $800 more than the Cambridge.

Played the same music on that, maybe 2 songs less. No glare, more natural soundstage and imaging; more balanced sounding overall. It seemed at first to have a slightly laid back sound, but there was no losss of details, and the mids seemed more cohesive (especially in balance to the other frequencies).

So now, I'm not sure what I want. I am thinking of saving up to try a balanced headphone system, and wanted to start with source so it could go in my current system as well. I liked the nice flexibility of the 840C (usable as a DAC), and it really is a pretty great player. But I also wonder if I would be bothered longer term by what I heard.

I asked the dealer if the 840C was fully burned in, and he said they both were. He said he had heard at least one other person say something about the slight glare, too.

So has anyone else heard this kind of glare at all? Or think that the music is a bit more up front? I'm not sure if this is a case of not REALLY being burnt in, or if there is a tendancy for this sound....

[Hi-Finthen]

Hey skullguise,

Thanks for those impressions of your audition.

I'm quite taken with the clarity,details and dynamics the 740c has brought to my system, and have been alternating the inclusion of my tube pre-amp (w/ 2ea. '66 BuggleBoys)into the mix and its removal. Still in its burn-in infancy of 120 hrs, so that process is still under development. But I can say, it has certainly settled in some, and the early sonic glare necessitating the tube pre for its removal (amongst other positive and additional audiophile traits), is now no longer necessary.

Not recognising the pre you mention, was it S.S. or tube based?

I don't think i would want anything any brighter though, even with the slight tint of warmth the Meier offers!

I do wonder now about cables for this fine tunning and of course, what the 840c would do to this tone which as i say is fine as is, but even anybit more so detailed I wouldn't trade for if it also came with an increase of glare. Which is something I'm not percieving at this point in the 740c 's maturity...

[skullguise]

Re: Modwright preamp....

Originally Posted by Hi-Finthen

Not recognising the pre you mention, was it S.S. or tube based?

Here's a link to an Enjoythemusic.com review, it's the Modwright SWL-9.0 SE; uses tubes. Very nice unit IMO, although I had only read about it before this audition.

EDIT: this was up at Fidelis in Derry, NH; I see you're somewhat local....

[selfdivider]

I agree w/ Skull on Primare. I had the 840C in my system, and although it was much better than its price, there was a noticeable sheen or glare in high-mids & treble which made the music sound too processed. In the end, my Playstation 1 outclassed 840C purely as CDP in my system & there was no reason to go for it (okay okay, you can insert your smart comments "here").

If it wasn't for setting up my analog front-end (which is going to end up costing me a LOT), I'd go for the Primare CD31. Definitely a better player than 840C in all respects. More dynamic and realistic. Less polite but more musical, and has a touch of that analog warmth or burnish. Yeah, it sucks that it has no digital-in like the 840C (which is its selling point), but if you need only a solid player w/o DAC capabilities, Primare is the way to go.

[morphsci]

Interesting, in my system I notice absolutely no glare in any section of the frequency spectrum. This includes using it with a Headamp GSX which is ruthless in revealing upstream components. I also find it surprising as I am particularly sensitive to any stridency in that frequency area (I noticed a stridency in my stock K701's there that many other users did not hear). The transducers are ALO recabled K701's, and Headphile recabled K340's and DT880's, all balanced. Oh well, if we all heard the same thing this forum would be pretty dull.

[Mher6]

Originally Posted by selfdivider

I agree w/ Skull on Primare. I had the 840C in my system, and although it was much better than its price, there was a noticeable sheen or glare in high-mids & treble which made the music sound too processed. In the end, my Playstation 1 outclassed 840C purely as CDP in my system & there was no reason to go for it (okay okay, you can insert your smart comments "here").

If it wasn't for setting up my analog front-end (which is going to end up costing me a LOT), I'd go for the Primare CD31. Definitely a better player than 840C in all respects. More dynamic and realistic. Less polite but more musical, and has a touch of that analog warmth or burnish. Yeah, it sucks that it has no digital-in like the 840C (which is its selling point), but if you need only a solid player w/o DAC capabilities, Primare is the way to go.

Wait, you thought the playstation one was a better CDP than the 840c?!

[White Mike]

Originally Posted by skullguise

So has anyone else heard this kind of glare at all?

None here. I've found mine to be almost as neutral player as I've come across. Then again I don't A/B it much anymore and have certainly grown accustomed to it.