A.Thorsen
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2006
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Choose in silver or black
Quote:
High-Resolution Playback from Standard CDs The Cambridge Audio 840C upsampling CD player manages to surpass the performance of the critically acclaimed, award winning 640C. And that's no small feat. The 840C is based on a critically acclaimed proprietary Cambridge Audio CD transport and servo solution along with proven Sony laser optics. This sophisticated technology is coupled to an all new and highly sophisticated Adaptive Time Filtering (ATF) asynchronous, upsampling DAC, developed by Cambridge Audio in conjunction with Anagram Technologies of Switzerland. ^^Read this: LINK The ATF system intelligently interpolates 16-bit, 44.1 kHz CD data to 24-bit, 384 kHz data, through the use of a 32-bit Analog Devices 'Black-Fin' DSP. This, in turn, feeds two 24-bit, 384 kHz DACs from the same company in dual differential formation. The result is amazing high-resolution from standard CDs, reveal a level of detail you never imagined possible from non-SACD source material. Not only does each channel of the 840C has its own DAC to process information, but each channel also has completely separate analog filter circuitry, yielding a huge improvement in stereo separation over less ambitious designs. Because of the separation of left and right audio converters, this completely new DAC board for the Azur series embraces a perfectly symmetrical layout. This ensures that both left and right channel circuitry operate identically. These enhancements ensure that the 840C delivers fantastic soundstaging and stereo imaging properties. The dual differential configuration also offers superior signal to noise ratios and exceptionally low distortion characteristics. Comprehensive Filtering for Ultra Low Distortion The 840C features a Four Pole Dual Differential Double Virtual Earth Balanced topology. This means the DAC for each channel features two fully balanced outputs, each of which are then summed in a third order virtual earth balanced filter stage for very low noise and distortion. This balanced configuration largely rejects any slight remaining distortion products present in the DACs. Then a further first order filter stage sums the balanced outputs of the earlier filter stages to reject the distortion products present in the filters. Superior Chassis and Wireless Remote The foundation of the 840C's excellence is a custom-designed chassis. An incredibly thick aluminum 7mm front panel and extruded side panels combine with a 2mm formed steel base plate and specially designed vibration absorbing feet. The result is an ultra rigid, low resonance, acoustically damped platform for the electronics. The LCD provides two levels of brightness, and the new 'Navigator' wireless remote is highly ergonomic, making operation a pleasure. Features:
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^^ Lots of very good word of mouth going around for this. One example being a 93/100 glowing review from Hi-Fi Choice out of the UK.
I'm definitely liking its features at its price point which is streeting around $1375 or so.
Among several things I'm considering doing with my present rig include finally going balanced. I also would like to have upsampling and some of these other nice features people are enjoying these days. It's just a question of how I get it done.
I can do that one of two ways:
1.) Via an external DAC off my Onkyo 1000
2.) Off a dedicated upsampling CD player like this Cambridge 840c or some other player.
I have all kinds of wide open options on the table.
I'd love to hear from any owners of this piece and see what you think.
Footnote: There is a 740c model forthcoming that will be using Wolfson DACs and not have any balanced features.
Not official, but take note of posts 32 and 35 of this thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=804863&page=2
EDIT: 3 days plus and over 110 some odd views and nothing? Wow.