Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Cambridge Audio Azur 840W Amplifier (SS) by JCS

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

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