Review of Cambridge Audio 340C Azur CD Player
Why CD Player ?
After collecting a disk load of MP3, losing a disk, rebuilding the collection again, i really asked myself if i want quality or quantity ? Do i really have a few hours a week to listen to a cd dedicatedly ?
The answer is obvious.
Purchase:
Was looking for the Marantz CD5004, this is one week before the CD Player was available in the group by. The marantz player has mp3 support and has headphone out both not significant for me. If the marantz was available earlier i would have bought it but no regrets since i am quite impressed by the CA.
First went to Viola in Andheri, to my surprise all they had were AVR and home theatres, no disc players !! Left my name and number, its been 3 weeks have not got their call.
A little ahead was 'The Shop', their equipment range was much better and I asked for a demo. They had Cambridge Audio 340C and Cambridge Audio 540C, paired it with a Denon PM 710 amp and Canton speakers. This combination was very good, the music was spell bounding. At one point i felt i was going into a meditation like state listening to Eagles. I can't recall the Canton speaker model but it was priced at 25,000
I liked the Cambridge audio 340C so much that I heard for some time and was convinced to book it. Ofcourse the 540C was better with noticable differences but I decided to save for a better amp (i have a norge 2030) than spend on a better CD Player. Dissappointingly, After a few minutes the sales man came back stating that the C340C priced at 17,500 is out of production and there is a new model with similar specs priced at 21,000. I didn't want to buy blindly without any demo so left my name and number asking him to call me when he gets the piece. Better give it a ear before buying. Next morning, i got a call saying one new 340C was available and he was ready to send it at Rs16,500. Since this was a out of production model i gave it some thought, finally gave in. I asked him to send the player.
Difference:
I was using a mass market Sony DVD player with a Norge 2030 and Norge Millenium BS. Being used to their 'desi' build quality, i was surprised when i felt the 340C. The heavy metal case, the brushed aluminium finish, heck..even the remote had a metal surface :licklips: This was in a different class i must say.
Check this out : the time you hit play on a open tray till the time the cd starts playing : 340C -> 05.16 secs, Sony DVD -> 16.53 secs. The whole theme around this player is quality.
Performance
Sonic differences between the DVD player and 340C are significant.
- Instrument Seperation, you can hear each instrument better
- Instruments earlier inaudible can be heard specially ones in background,
- Improved Sharpness in all vocals and instruments including drums
- Slight improvement in sound stage
Its a joy listening to my small CD collection. I am re-listening to all my stuff all over again. I was planning to bring this to the grandly successful Mumbai HIFI meet but could not make it due to other appointments, hopefully next time. :licklips:
Why CD Player ?
After collecting a disk load of MP3, losing a disk, rebuilding the collection again, i really asked myself if i want quality or quantity ? Do i really have a few hours a week to listen to a cd dedicatedly ?
The answer is obvious.
Purchase:
Was looking for the Marantz CD5004, this is one week before the CD Player was available in the group by. The marantz player has mp3 support and has headphone out both not significant for me. If the marantz was available earlier i would have bought it but no regrets since i am quite impressed by the CA.
First went to Viola in Andheri, to my surprise all they had were AVR and home theatres, no disc players !! Left my name and number, its been 3 weeks have not got their call.
A little ahead was 'The Shop', their equipment range was much better and I asked for a demo. They had Cambridge Audio 340C and Cambridge Audio 540C, paired it with a Denon PM 710 amp and Canton speakers. This combination was very good, the music was spell bounding. At one point i felt i was going into a meditation like state listening to Eagles. I can't recall the Canton speaker model but it was priced at 25,000
I liked the Cambridge audio 340C so much that I heard for some time and was convinced to book it. Ofcourse the 540C was better with noticable differences but I decided to save for a better amp (i have a norge 2030) than spend on a better CD Player. Dissappointingly, After a few minutes the sales man came back stating that the C340C priced at 17,500 is out of production and there is a new model with similar specs priced at 21,000. I didn't want to buy blindly without any demo so left my name and number asking him to call me when he gets the piece. Better give it a ear before buying. Next morning, i got a call saying one new 340C was available and he was ready to send it at Rs16,500. Since this was a out of production model i gave it some thought, finally gave in. I asked him to send the player.
Difference:
I was using a mass market Sony DVD player with a Norge 2030 and Norge Millenium BS. Being used to their 'desi' build quality, i was surprised when i felt the 340C. The heavy metal case, the brushed aluminium finish, heck..even the remote had a metal surface :licklips: This was in a different class i must say.
Check this out : the time you hit play on a open tray till the time the cd starts playing : 340C -> 05.16 secs, Sony DVD -> 16.53 secs. The whole theme around this player is quality.
Performance
Sonic differences between the DVD player and 340C are significant.
- Instrument Seperation, you can hear each instrument better
- Instruments earlier inaudible can be heard specially ones in background,
- Improved Sharpness in all vocals and instruments including drums
- Slight improvement in sound stage
Its a joy listening to my small CD collection. I am re-listening to all my stuff all over again. I was planning to bring this to the grandly successful Mumbai HIFI meet but could not make it due to other appointments, hopefully next time. :licklips:
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