Description
Cambridge Audio Azur 650A – Stereo Integrated Amplifier
“Developed as part of our on-going research and development regime, including extensive listening tests, we have incorporated many subtle tweaks and improvements to our circuits, components and layouts in the pursuit of our passion for sound quality. Specifically, these models use new output transistors, a new high-quality Alps volume pot, new polypropylene signal capacitors, gold-plated speaker outputs, custommade electrolytic capacitors in critical positions and several new circuit tweaks. These models are amongst the first to feature a new casework design with a thicker braced front panel, more rigid wrap-over lid assembly and dual-layer damped feet, all of which contribute to better resonance control. A new version of our proprietary CAP5 system has been developed to allow a greater dynamic envelope to the protection scheme, offering a more dynamic real-life performance. Also featured is an environmentally friendly low power (<1W) standby circuit. This circuit completely powers down the amplifier circuits in Standby mode yet is itself totally isolated when the amplifier is on, thus having no effect on sound quality. Both the 550A and 650A have fully buffered input circuits for low crosstalk and improved stereo imaging, driving a completely discrete bipolar transistor-based amplifier and all powered from a custom audiophile-grade toroidal transformer. A new MP3/Portable Media Player input has been fitted to the front panel for convenience, and the supplied remote can control the amplifier, any of our matching CD players and basic iPod functionality. The 650A differs from the 550A by having separate transformer secondaries for left and right channels, twin rectifiers and separate PSUs for dual-mono operation of the left and right power amplifiers. An even larger heatsink and transformer are also employed which allows for a greater power output of 75wpc (compared to 60wpc for the 550A). Your amplifier can only be as good as the system it is connected to. Please do not compromise on your source equipment, speakers or cabling. Naturally, we particularly recommend models from the Cambridge Audio Azur range, which have been designed to the same exacting standards as our amplifiers. Your dealer can also supply excellent quality Cambridge Audio interconnects to ensure your system realises its full potential.”
Cambridge Audio Azur 650C – Compact Disc Player
“Developed as part of our on-going research and development regime, including extensive listening tests, we have incorporated many subtle tweaks and improvements to our circuits, components and layouts in the
pursuit of our passion for sound quality. We have developed a completely new S3 servo for these models. The S3 is our third generation proprietary audiophile servo solution and draws on all our experience with this technology. It utilises the latest doublesided surface-mount technology for ultra short signal paths with freedom from wire links. It can dynamically adjust the focusing, tracking and output level of the laser in real-time, allowing for maximum retrieval of the digital information with extremely low data jitter. This is complemented by our use of a highly accurate master clock oscillator and very carefully designed impedance-matched clock buffering schemes. We have also incorporated support for CD-text to enhance those discs that feature it. For the critical Digital to Analogue converter stages, we have also moved to double-sided surface-mount to remove wire links and shorten all signal paths. New Metal Electrode Face resistors, polypropylene caps and custom-made electrolytic capacitors have all been used for their superior sound quality. Both models employ the WM8740 24bit/192kHz-capable Digital to Analog converter from Wolfson Microelectronics. This very high quality part is coupled to our proprietary Double Virtual Earth Balanced filter topology which has been revised and re-calibrated for Bessel coefficients in both the 550C and 650C. In line with all our models, a toroidal transformer is fitted to provide lower noise and less waveform distortion for quieter PSU operation. The 650C differs from the 550C in using a pair of WM8740 24bit/ 192kHz-capable Digital to Analogue converters implemented in a dual differential configuration. Since each channel has its own DAC to process information, completely separate and symmetrical analogue filter circuitry can be implemented. The 550C features a Three-Pole Double Virtual Earth Balanced filter topology with new Bessel co-efficients. The 650C features an even more sophisticated Four-Pole Dual Differential Double Virtual Earth Balanced version of this filter. This means that 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. A further first order balanced filter stage sums the balanced outputs of the earlier filter stages. This double-balanced configuration largely rejects noise and distortion products present in the DACs and filters themselves to produce an unprecedented level of performance. These models are amongst the first to feature a new casework design with a thicker braced front panel, more rigid wrap-over lid assembly and
dual-layer damped feet, all of which contribute to better control of resonance. Another highlight is an eco-friendly low power (<1W) standby circuit. This circuit completely powers down the CD player circuits in
Standby mode yet is itself totally isolated when the CD player is on, thus having no effect on sound quality. Your CD player can only be as good as the system it is connected to. Please do not compromise on your amplifier, speakers or cabling. Naturally, we particularly recommend amplification from the Cambridge Audio Azur range, which has been designed to the same exacting standards as our CD players. Your dealer can also supply excellent quality Cambridge Audio interconnects to ensure your system realises its full potential.”
Cambridge Audio Azur 640T – DAB/FM Stereo Tuner
“Thank you for purchasing this Cambridge Audio 640T DAB/FM tuner. The 640T represents the coming together of two very successful areas of Cambridge Audio’s product lines. The FM section of the 640T is the
descendant of a long line of Cambridge Audio tuners dating back to the late 1960’s, which recently included such award winning models as the T500. The Digital section has a shorter lineage but no less pedigree- our
two previous digital tuners have both been multiple award-winning units. About this unit The 640T uses a combined DAB/FM module developed to offer high performance in both the digital and analogue bands. This ensures that you will be able to listen to all of your favourite radio stations irrespective of whether they have made the move to digital broadcasting. A full range of presets are available in both FM and DAB bands. The 640T also retains the input “loop through” feature that we fit to our other digital radios, that allows you to keep a high quality analogue tuner running alongside the 640T without using an additional input on your amplifier.
Externally the 640T has the same high quality aluminium casework as the rest of the Azur range and is available in the same black and silver finishes. A specific version of the Azur remote is provided, giving full remote control of the tuner functions in an attractive and easy to use handset. A full set of controls are also on the front panel. The 640T can only be as good as the system it is connected to. Please do not compromise on your amplifier, speakers or cabling. We would, in particular, recommend amplification and cabling from the Cambridge Audio range with suitably revealing loudspeakers.”
Cambridge Audio Azur 540P – Moving Magnet Phono Preamplifier
The design of a high quality but cost-effective phono pre-amplifer presents a major challenge. Providing first-class performance on an unlimited budget is one matter; achieving the same performance within tight price limits is quite another, and requires all the expertise and experience that Cambridge Audio brings to its product design process. We believe we have succeeded in our aim of creating a first-class affordable product.
The 540P features a moving magnet stage whilst the 640P offers moving magnet and moving coil stages. Both use discrete transistors for the all-important input stages instead of the more common integrated circuits.
Both are designed to produce high gain and linearity, without requiring massive amounts of negative feedback to achieve low distortion. These new models also employ a single-ended ‘Class A’ gain stage with audiophile passive RIAA equalisation. High quality components are used throughout such as 1% metal film resistors and close tolerance polypropylene capacitors.
