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Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Cambridge Audio Azur 840W Amplifier (SS) by JCS Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
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Model: Azur 840W Category: Amplifier (SS) Suggested Retail Price: $2,500.00 Description: 200W/400W sloid state stereo amp Manufacturer URL: Cambridge Audio
Review by JCS on August 05, 2008 at 10:11:01
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for the Azur 840W
Just put the amp into my system a few hours ago so this will be brief, but felt the need to give my initial impressions.
This amp is replacing my ARC VT 200. A tough job for a $2,500 solid state amp to replace a $10,000 tube amp. But my VT 200 has generated more frequent flyer miles from my house to ARC in the past two years than my wife and I have traveling.
I saw an add for the Azur in the latest Audio Advisor and read a review in the August hi-fi news.
I will say out of the box it sounded very good. The depth of sound stage was as deep as the VT 200, but not quite as well delineated or three dimensional. This could be due to it not being nearly broken in. I would say that in some cases I could better understand various words in the music better with the Azur, but slightly.
One thing that did become obvious was the fact I needed to play the music slightly louder than with the VT 200. One major strenght of the VT 200 was its ability to sound fantastic at any volume level.
Anyway I am very impressed with what the folks at Cambridge Audio has been able to do at this price point. This amp resides in a system that it most likely was not designed for, but aquits itself very well.
IMHO a excellent value.
Product Weakness: N/A Product Strengths: Smooth and detailed with good control of the speakers.
Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: ARC VT 200 Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): ARC Ref 2 Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sony SCD-1, VPI HW19 MKIV Speakers: Sonus Faber Extremas Cables/Interconnects: Nordost Vahallas, Stage III Concepts Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock for this session Time Period/Length of Audition: (2) hours Other (Power Conditioner etc.): (2) PP 300s Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: Cambridge Audio Azur 840W Amplifier (SS) - JCS 10:11:01 08/5/08 ( 2)
- RE: Cambridge Audio Azur 840W Amplifier (SS) - philltubes 12:02:48 08/5/08 ( 1)
- RE: Cambridge Audio Azur 840W Amplifier (SS) - teymseng 05:53:35 08/30/09 ( 0)
- RE: Cambridge Audio Azur 840W Amplifier (SS) - feverfive 22:41:33 08/5/08 ( 0)