|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
208.68.49.148
Can't help but to notice how this player pops in the classifieds on an average of one or two per week, and the seller's reason is usually along the lines of "need the cash" or "doesn't get much use" which seems to me in many cases less than absolutely forthright. I think in many cases audiophiles had read the "$5000 performance for $1600" blurb regarding the 840C in TAS, then hastily ordered one sight unseen (and sound unheard), and later found it came up short in one or more areas where exceptionally high expectations are concerned. The fact that several other publications along with many owners have given the player extremely high marks (especially when compared to those costing considerably more), it would seem the 840C is overall largely well received.
And then, in a very popular high end audio forum, we find a surprisingly bold remark authored by the highly respected Paul Speltz of Anti-Cable fame that goes like this: "For example, the Cambridge Audio 840C is spouted as the best CD player under $5,000, for only $1,600" and "You will notice there always seems to be a half a dozen of these used on AudioGon. After guys figure out the 840C CD player has an artificially excitable top end zip, they sell them."
I have a feeling Cambridge might take small exception to the above generalized comment, but "the 840C CD player has an artificially excitable high end zip" ?? In anything I've ever read on this player going back two years since its introduction, there has never been mention of anything approaching such a characteristic - In fact, most remark on how neutral and and open upper ranges are reproduced - I wonder if Paul has actually heard one of these himself, and if so, what associated equipment comprised the particular system?
Of course, the same sort of trend exists with other once-rave-reviewed gear, such as the Rega Apollo player and the PrimaLuna integrated amps, where there's a seemingly regular supply of these available for sale in the classifieds; more examples of you can't please all the people all the time based on the words of a reviewer. It's mainly curiosity on my part regarding the Cambridge 840C, since I happen to own one (bought new a few months ago) after having auditioned several other players (including those more costly), and I think in the most important aspects it's a terrific sounding unit (in my case partnered with TAD tube gear and Magnepan speakers). In addition, I have CD changers connected to each of the 840C's two DAC inputs, which provides ultimate convenience during evening-long listening sessions (the only danger with this being never having to get up from my chair and before I know it polishing off an entire bottle of vino!).
So, I pose the question to those who have sold their 840C players, do you care to give your actual impressions of the player's performance while it was in your system, and then perhaps why you decided to part with it?
Cheers,
ManxCat
Follow Ups:
I bought an 840C after my Arcam Alpha 9 started skipping and after auditioning several players in the $1000-2500 range, but mostly based on the reviews, features, and build quality. It sounds great in my system; I don't find myself annoyed by any deficiencies or idiosyncrasies.
I purchased an 840C as a hold point while we were relocating to another city and attempting to find a home. We were in fact leasing for the first 8 months, so the idea of getting heavy into a search seemed excessive in light of everything else going on.
I found the 840C to be a pleasure, a REAL bargain by today's standards. The 840C was very capable at extracting the full content of the bass information from any CD I played through it, the mids were excellent, and the top end was very clean - no zip!!!!
A few months ago we moved into our new home and I went looking for a new front end, that ended with the purchase of a McIntosh MCD500, a player which I believe to be the best one box player under $20K - and I did listen to the others.
By the way, while I had the 840C I purchased my new speakers as well, those are the Monitor Audio PL300's. They are very musical, but can be ruthlessly revealing (ribbon tweeter), if the 840C had a real top end zip I would have heard it, and quite possibly needed to medicate my ears.
The only problem with the 840C is jealousy, too may people have spent too much money for their treasure.....so they trash others and the rep sticks!
Great comments, audio39 - Still wondering where Mr. Speltz gained his impression that the 840C portrays an "artificially excitable top end zip". (Some folks have made the exact same comments regarding his own cable products, and I don't happen to agree; I use Anti-Cable & Anti-IC wires throughout and the total package is very neutral and exceedingly musical.)
Nice to hear that it took a "best one-box player under $20k" to displace your 840C - I chose the this Cambridge unit over those I'd auditioned costing up to only a paltry $4000 :)
I was on the blind leading the blind bandwagon for years. At some expense, I learned to trust my ears and instincts. Reviewers I trust are Harry Pearson and Srajan from 6 moons. The 6 moons review of the Raysonic 128/168 has 10 times the thought and effort than most reviews/reviewers
that I read about in TAS. Rave reviews, but the thing was shrill strident and fatiguing on all sources.
After that I gave up on TAS.........
navman
so many come up used (and at 75% of retail!), it's hard to believe they're all that great when it comes to long term satisfaction. but then, what digital in the last 10 years is? precious little.
When my benchmark appears used. (and it will) It will be because I have decided to upgrade. Trust me, after you choose appropriate ic, vibration control, fuses, usb and pc the benchmark starts to sound pretty good. And many people seem to think so. Its not perfect but I doubt you could find a $1000 cd player that sounds as good.
Cheers
Oh yeah, the DAC-1 - Probably even a much better example than the 840C.
PHOTO: My previous office system while auditioning three vintage tuners with the Cambrisge Audio 640C on the front left. Electronics are Audio Research LS3 and D130, tuners: McIntosh MR67 and MR77, Revox B160. that's a Toshiba 3960 at the back right and a Peavey VMP-2 tube microphone preamp sitting on the 640C.
ManxCat,
I think your analysis must cover most of the possible reasons for what seems unusually numerous resales of the digital wunderkind Cambridge Audio 840C. Note that two other recent "hot numbers" in the CD world, the Rega Apollo and Saturn seemed to see steady resales almost right away also. It seems to me that some audiophiles get excited by reviewers' statements about the $5,000 player for $1,600 are prepared to experiment and suffer the losses. Personally, I tend to choose carefully and still have almost every piece of gear I've ever owned and regret about the only items that are gone now: AR3A speakers.
I was intrigued by others' comments as to the 840C sound not living up to expectation and this is how I feel about the the 640C. I have a 640C-v2 acquired in 2005 more or less as a gift. As my first CD player, a 1987 Technics, my accountant gave me in 1994, the 640C was my first "serious: CD player, unheard and I've never been pleased with the slightly dry presentation , plus the fact that it needed two trips to Canada for serious repair before it was three years old. I should mention the warranty service people were superb and repaired it after the warranty had expired. The original owner replaced it with a Creek 50 and really liked that choice.
My current thinking is to replace the 640C with a Rotel 1072.
Cheers,
Bambi B
Interesting comments so far - thanks. I do believe my initial impression that audiophiles hoping to obtain "$5000 performance for $1600" were faced with unmet expectations due to a likely system mismatch, and so moved on. The 840C is yet another one of those love-hate controversial items, and all started by a TAS reviewer's rather lofty remarks. In my system I haven't heard a better player, and I've tried many; it does everything I look for in outstanding music reproduction and more. The 840C along with tube gear and Magnepans is the magic formula in my case, so I 'spose I'm one of the lucky ones not to have to scrounge up another $3400 for a CD player :)
ppopp: I think you've hit the proverbial nail on the head, and of course this will apply to most any piece of audio gear out there (just look at the hundreds upon hundreds of every type of component made posted in the AudioGon classifieds at any given moment); total system synergy is key.
There is no perfect CD player because not everyone has the same tastes in music or the same systems or rooms. For many the 840c works brilliantly in their system.
The trick to putting together an audibly enjoyable hi-fi system has, and always will be about getting the synergy right.
I never made it to the 840C, I did have the 740C long enough to break it in. Although I was initially impressed with its clarity it quickly struck me as being overprocessed with bland dynamics and tone. I replaced it with a $180.00 NOS dac that IMO bettered it in almost every department.
Its not because its not a great player for the price also keep in mind when gaer gets good press more buy new so more used.
My buddy got one of these from Audio Advisor, taking full advantage of their liberal return policy. After two+ weeks of constant burn in and listening sessions, it went back to AA. I heard it in my system with about 100 or so hours on it. I thought it sounded ok, but a little lean in the midrange and somewhat strident on some recordings. Just not very involving. This was also the take of another audio friend and the friend who bought it. He gave it another 150 hours and it just didn't come around. Would more break in have been key? Perhaps. But he was over it by that time.
I really wanted this player to sound good. I love the way it looks and the build quality is first class. And lastly, it's extremely inexpensive. But my lowly TRL modified Sony universal player cleaned it's clock.
Oz
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
ATF asrc syndrome???
WTF......over?
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
and the 840C is just another pony. I owned it as well as the Rega Saturn, and preferred the Saturn for its more natural presentation. Sold both of those pieces and purchased a UDP-1 Deluxe from McCormack, which in my system was in another league compared to the 840C and Saturn. My point is only that nearly all mid-priced gear will exhibit one or more traits that you'll find unsuitable in your system, and even if we do get lucky and land a "suitable" piece of gear, someone is always selling something "better" or (more to the point) "different" so the merry-go-round continues...
Did I find the 840C's treble artificially "zippy"? No. But I found it a bit dark and compressed/flat compared to other admittedly more expensive players I've owned - although I actually preferred my less expensive 1991 Sonogram CD player (895.00 when new) to it by a surprisingly large margin.
"although I actually preferred my less expensive 1991 Sonogram CD player (895.00 when new) to it by a surprisingly large margin."
It's not surprising to me...... I generally prefer CD playback products marketed around that time over those being marketed today.
Yep, and I'm on the lookout for another Sonographe CD player (not "Sonogram" as I mentioned in previous post)...I owned one for 10 years, and wish I'd have kept it...
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: