wanderfowl
04-16-2009, 09:43 PM
Cambridge Audio 840A (Version 2) Review
If any of you have seen me posting in the last month or so, you've probably heard me talking about the Cambridge Audio 840A I've been trying. Well, here are the results of my experiment, and a bit of a review of the amplifier.
Backstory
My McIntosh MAC4100 integrated amplifier has been my reference amplifier to this point, and is one heck of a unit, but the three working inputs it has coupled with the lack of remote control and odd speaker terminals have been really wearing on me. Also, I've always felt like the sound is slightly veiled, especially in the higher frequencies. So, I've been trying a variety of different gear, seeing if I can find something that sounds as good or better, but without the baggage described above. I had initially tried the Beard P35 35wpc tube amp in my system, but found it too hot, too high maintenance, and less-than-ideal at low level. Then, I tried the PS Audio GCC-250 in my system (when it went on clearance), but found it way too sterile for my taste. Having then auditioned a series of amplifiers ranging from Musical Fidelity to Rotel to Jeff Rowland, I was beginning to think that nothing was going to beat the old McIntosh.
After trying (and loving) the Cambridge DACMagic, I decided to give Cambridge Audio's amplifiers a shot. I contacted my local dealer (who I very much recommend, if you're in Colorado), and his supplier had a demo unit of the 840A V2 in black, in good shape, and at a great price. So, I ordered, and the dealer assured me that if I didn't like the sound, I could return it to him with no loss except shipping.
Here's the product website, for those of you completely unfamiliar with it:
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=292&Title=Azur+840A+%28Version+2%29+Class+XD+amplifier
The Review
Soon enough, the amp arrived. But all was not well in Cambridge. When I plugged it in, it heated up to a near-crazy degree (untouchable), and what's more, it sounded very labored, like it had to fight desperately to get any sound out at all. Calling my dealer, he quickly determined the unit was defective, and arranged to have another unit sent out to me. This happened to me with a DACMagic as well, and I've heard of this same issue in many other cases too, so clearly, it seems Cambridge Audio has some quality control issues. This is, perhaps, the biggest downside to this particular amp: You might have to give it a few tries before getting a working unit. I took the unit back, swapped it out, and put the (new-in-box, A-stock) replacement into my system.
First impressions were good. The input naming and switching was very smooth, and the remote pleasant. The tone controls were similarly well done, and there's definitely something satisfying about hearing all those little relays clicking as you raise the volume or change the inputs around. The black finish is very nice, and the dimmable screen is easy to read from across the room. It does still heat up pretty significantly, but even at its hottest, you can lay your hand on it without any sort of burns. Switching it on, there's no noise at rest, and with the balanced inputs from the DACMagic hooked up, it runs dead silent. In addition, the 120wpc into 8 ohms can really throw a set of speakers around, if needed.
Naturally, I gave the new unit some time to break in, playing overnight and while I was at work, without doing any serious critical listening or A/B testing. Historically, up until this point I've always "liked" new amps in my system, thinking them pretty decent and musical, but then I've put my MAC4100 back in the system, and promptly packed up the newcomer, wanting to listen to the MAC more. I was, truthfully, expecting the same thing from the Cambridge, even to the extent that I was already starting to hedge with my dealer, letting him know that a return might be in his future.
Finally ready to test, I switched to my music source: a Sonos feeding lossless files to the DACMagic, the DACMagic feeding into the 840A via balanced inputs, and listened. Of course, it was impressive, but with good quality amps, comparison yields more than simple listening.
So, I put my reference, the MAC4100, back into the system, both as an integrated and as a power amp (using the Cambridge Pre), anticipating an abrupt end to the honeymoon, and something shocking happened: I didn't like it as much. After going back and forth a few times, the Cambridge was the clear favorite. The channel separation/soundstage was far greater than with the McIntosh, the highs were much clearer, and on the whole, it seemed like there was detail present that just wasn't making it through the McIntosh amp. In fact, the only area where the Cambridge lost points was for its neutrality and dryness, as I tend to prefer a warmer sound, but the increased detail more than made up for that. After about 30 minutes with the McIntosh back in, for the first time, roughly ever, I found myself thinking "Hmm... can I take the McIntosh out of my system yet?". I'm still planning on doing a mutli-trial blind test when my girlfriend is back in town to confirm the effect, but I'm pretty happy with the sound now, and as such, I think the Cambridge wins.
In my mind, this is a clear upset. The Cambridge 840AV2 outclassed all the prior competitors, as well as a very good condition McIntosh integrated, and as such, found its way to a permanent home in my system, despite the price to upgrade. So, despite the build issues, despite the price, and despite the sentimental bias towards
keeping the McIntosh in, I've decided that the Cambridge is now going to be my main amplifier, with the MAC4100 used instead as a tuner.
In my mind, that's quite an accomplishment, and as such, quite a recommendation. If you've got a local dealer for Cambridge and want a nice, new, detailed integrated amp, I'd highly recommend you give it a listen.
Pics (because this thread would be worthless without them)
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=146333&stc=1&d=1239936049
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=146334&stc=1&d=1239936049
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=146335&stc=1&d=1239936049
If any of you have seen me posting in the last month or so, you've probably heard me talking about the Cambridge Audio 840A I've been trying. Well, here are the results of my experiment, and a bit of a review of the amplifier.
Backstory
My McIntosh MAC4100 integrated amplifier has been my reference amplifier to this point, and is one heck of a unit, but the three working inputs it has coupled with the lack of remote control and odd speaker terminals have been really wearing on me. Also, I've always felt like the sound is slightly veiled, especially in the higher frequencies. So, I've been trying a variety of different gear, seeing if I can find something that sounds as good or better, but without the baggage described above. I had initially tried the Beard P35 35wpc tube amp in my system, but found it too hot, too high maintenance, and less-than-ideal at low level. Then, I tried the PS Audio GCC-250 in my system (when it went on clearance), but found it way too sterile for my taste. Having then auditioned a series of amplifiers ranging from Musical Fidelity to Rotel to Jeff Rowland, I was beginning to think that nothing was going to beat the old McIntosh.
After trying (and loving) the Cambridge DACMagic, I decided to give Cambridge Audio's amplifiers a shot. I contacted my local dealer (who I very much recommend, if you're in Colorado), and his supplier had a demo unit of the 840A V2 in black, in good shape, and at a great price. So, I ordered, and the dealer assured me that if I didn't like the sound, I could return it to him with no loss except shipping.
Here's the product website, for those of you completely unfamiliar with it:
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=292&Title=Azur+840A+%28Version+2%29+Class+XD+amplifier
The Review
Soon enough, the amp arrived. But all was not well in Cambridge. When I plugged it in, it heated up to a near-crazy degree (untouchable), and what's more, it sounded very labored, like it had to fight desperately to get any sound out at all. Calling my dealer, he quickly determined the unit was defective, and arranged to have another unit sent out to me. This happened to me with a DACMagic as well, and I've heard of this same issue in many other cases too, so clearly, it seems Cambridge Audio has some quality control issues. This is, perhaps, the biggest downside to this particular amp: You might have to give it a few tries before getting a working unit. I took the unit back, swapped it out, and put the (new-in-box, A-stock) replacement into my system.
First impressions were good. The input naming and switching was very smooth, and the remote pleasant. The tone controls were similarly well done, and there's definitely something satisfying about hearing all those little relays clicking as you raise the volume or change the inputs around. The black finish is very nice, and the dimmable screen is easy to read from across the room. It does still heat up pretty significantly, but even at its hottest, you can lay your hand on it without any sort of burns. Switching it on, there's no noise at rest, and with the balanced inputs from the DACMagic hooked up, it runs dead silent. In addition, the 120wpc into 8 ohms can really throw a set of speakers around, if needed.
Naturally, I gave the new unit some time to break in, playing overnight and while I was at work, without doing any serious critical listening or A/B testing. Historically, up until this point I've always "liked" new amps in my system, thinking them pretty decent and musical, but then I've put my MAC4100 back in the system, and promptly packed up the newcomer, wanting to listen to the MAC more. I was, truthfully, expecting the same thing from the Cambridge, even to the extent that I was already starting to hedge with my dealer, letting him know that a return might be in his future.
Finally ready to test, I switched to my music source: a Sonos feeding lossless files to the DACMagic, the DACMagic feeding into the 840A via balanced inputs, and listened. Of course, it was impressive, but with good quality amps, comparison yields more than simple listening.
So, I put my reference, the MAC4100, back into the system, both as an integrated and as a power amp (using the Cambridge Pre), anticipating an abrupt end to the honeymoon, and something shocking happened: I didn't like it as much. After going back and forth a few times, the Cambridge was the clear favorite. The channel separation/soundstage was far greater than with the McIntosh, the highs were much clearer, and on the whole, it seemed like there was detail present that just wasn't making it through the McIntosh amp. In fact, the only area where the Cambridge lost points was for its neutrality and dryness, as I tend to prefer a warmer sound, but the increased detail more than made up for that. After about 30 minutes with the McIntosh back in, for the first time, roughly ever, I found myself thinking "Hmm... can I take the McIntosh out of my system yet?". I'm still planning on doing a mutli-trial blind test when my girlfriend is back in town to confirm the effect, but I'm pretty happy with the sound now, and as such, I think the Cambridge wins.
In my mind, this is a clear upset. The Cambridge 840AV2 outclassed all the prior competitors, as well as a very good condition McIntosh integrated, and as such, found its way to a permanent home in my system, despite the price to upgrade. So, despite the build issues, despite the price, and despite the sentimental bias towards
keeping the McIntosh in, I've decided that the Cambridge is now going to be my main amplifier, with the MAC4100 used instead as a tuner.
In my mind, that's quite an accomplishment, and as such, quite a recommendation. If you've got a local dealer for Cambridge and want a nice, new, detailed integrated amp, I'd highly recommend you give it a listen.
Pics (because this thread would be worthless without them)
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=146333&stc=1&d=1239936049
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=146334&stc=1&d=1239936049
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=146335&stc=1&d=1239936049