Cambridge Audio & NAD, Midrange.

[PLuKE]

I have currently been listening to a NAD 320BEE and an Azur 340A. I have found the Cambridge Audio to have a more smoother and softer midrange (vocal) which i very much like.

Are all Cambridge Audio amps the same? Say the Azur 640A?. And are all NAD amps more stronger in the midrange?.

Thanks.

 

[John Bailey]

I have currently been listening to a NAD 320BEE and an Azur 340A. I have found the Cambridge Audio to have a more smoother and softer midrange (vocal) which i very much like.

Are all Cambridge Audio amps the same? Say the Azur 640A?. And are all NAD amps more stronger in the midrange?.

Thanks.

Having owned the NAD (paired with PSB Image 2B) and auditioned both NAD and Cambridge (I think the 540 at the time, but could be wrong) I chose the NAD. However, I don't think there's really any difference between the two and you should go with the one that sounds best to you. If there's any way to audition them at home, I would do that, because, they will sound different than at the store.

John

 

[PLuKE]

Well i tryed the CA Azur 340A at home and it was a nice sounding amp maybe lacking alittle deep low bass. So i went back and tryed the Azur 540A V2 and it has the deep low bass, While still being quick and punchy and still keeping the smooth midrange and nice highs. Am happy for £230 .

The NAD 320BEE is a good amp, But the midrange was far to much for my liking and the NADs build isnt as good IMO as the CA.

Thanks.

Luke

 

[dorokusai]

I've owned alot of gear from both manufacturers and Cambridge Audio is really putting out some great products. I'm a vintage NAD fan but would probably lean towards CA depending on what it was.

CA has a long way to go in the AVR/RCV area but the Integrated Amplifiers and CDP's are fantastic. I believe they introduced a Turntable at CES this year so they are definitly trying to hit the entire market.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

 

[3db]

I've owned alot of gear from both manufacturers and Cambridge Audio is really putting out some great products. I'm a vintage NAD fan but would probably lean towards CA depending on what it was.

CA has a long way to go in the AVR/RCV area but the Integrated Amplifiers and CDP's are fantastic. I believe they introduced a Turntable at CES this year so they are definitly trying to hit the entire market.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

It seems like everyone is beginning to jump on the vinyl bandwagon. I'm curious to see how long this is going to last.

 

[3db]

Cambridge Audio review.

Here's a review of some Cambridge products, DVD player and AVR. They compared the AVR to a Denon.


http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2007/cambridge_540d-640r.shtml

 

[dorokusai]

It seems like everyone is beginning to jump on the vinyl bandwagon. I'm curious to see how long this is going to last.

I'm essentially a digital audio child and while I've heard stellar R2R, Vinyl and other Tape media.....I have zero interest in bringing that home. There has definitly been a surge of vinyl from new folks but it's just market driven to me.

I wish vinyl would die so it could really be exclusive, unique and cult oriented but if they keep producing it, I'm not that interested. My vinyl friends call me heretic and a digital fiend but they will eventually become slaves to the 0101

Mark

 

[fmw]

It seems like everyone is beginning to jump on the vinyl bandwagon. I'm curious to see how long this is going to last.

That happened about 10 years ago too - after the CD itself had been the standard for about 10 years. I'm not sure what the fascination was then or now but it seems to be a recurring theme. I'm still digitizing my vinyl collection to make it more convenenient to use. Nothing like being able to listen to my vinyl on my Squeezebox! It will take about another year yet. After that, I might sell my turntables. I doubt I will ever spin another record after that.

 

[3db]

That happened about 10 years ago too - after the CD itself had been the standard for about 10 years. I'm not sure what the fascination was then or now but it seems to be a recurring theme. I'm still digitizing my vinyl collection to make it more convenenient to use. Nothing like being able to listen to my vinyl on my Squeezebox! It will take about another year yet. After that, I might sell my turntables. I doubt I will ever spin another record after that.

Could be that the loudness war is starting to push people back to vinyl. I've invested in a new TT and despite the ocassional tick, I really do prefer the sound over the newer CDs being released. I guess everyone has their own preferences.

 

[PENG]

.

I wish vinyl would die so it could really be exclusive, unique and cult oriented but if they keep producing it, I'm not that interested. My vinyl friends call me heretic and a digital fiend but they will eventually become slaves to the 0101

Mark

I can live with 100% CD only if they figure out how to reproduce the sound of the violin. I thought SACD/DVDA was the answer but my lowly Project turntable with a cheap Ortofon cartridge still sounds better. To me, that is the only problem, otherwise why would I want to get up and change/or flip the rocord every 15 to 30 minutes and clean the stylus everytime before playing anything with it.

Back to Pluke's question, I don't why he heard so much difference between the NAD and the CA (He wrote: "The NAD 320BEE is a good amp, But the midrange was far to much for my liking and the NADs build isnt as good IMO as the CA.") To me that kind of difference only happens with loudspeakers, not between comparable amp. That being said, the 340A is only rated for 40 watts so it may not do well with difficult to drive speakers.

 

[mtrycrafts]

That happened about 10 years ago too - after the CD itself had been the standard for about 10 years. I'm not sure what the fascination was then or now but it seems to be a recurring theme. I'm still digitizing my vinyl collection to make it more convenenient to use. Nothing like being able to listen to my vinyl on my Squeezebox! It will take about another year yet. After that, I might sell my turntables. I doubt I will ever spin another record after that.

Jumping on bandwagons is not unique to audio.
Other consumer marketplaces see this too. Old ideas, beliefs, etc being recycled.