Cambridge Audio 840C

I think there is now widespread agreement that to maximise the performance of your 840C, three things need to be done.

1. Run in for at least 200 hours
2. Replace the feet, which are a real weakness of the unit
3. Use the balanced connectors.

I've now clocked about 400 hours on this player and i enjoy it immensely. I bought the 840C after auditioning the Naim cd5i, Cyrus 6 & 8, Arcam CD192, Cayin CDT-17A and the MF A3.5CD.

I would like to comment on 2. & 3. above.

I've read many reports of 840C owners replacing the existing feet with Herbies Tenderfoot. This seems to have paid dividends - but also voids the warranty. I prefered instead to leave the feet in place but use another form of isolation. I experimented with a few options including Golden Sounds DH cones and pads. I achieved the best result with Nordost's Pulsar points.

On the RCA vs. XLR debate, unfortunately i can't make any conclusive comments because i used a different IC cable for both. Initially i used Nordost's Blue Heaven with RCA phono connectors. The result was most pleasing. But then the Nordost dealer threw me a Heimdall IC with XLR connectors to try. The dealer never got the Heimdall cable back - the difference in resolution and soundstage were given the short IC lenght (1m) staggering. XLR appears to be better in that it's higher gain (reducing the noise floor) but whether the overall difference was impacted more by the IC cable - i can't be sure, so the result in inconclusive.

I use a Nordost Visnhu power cord with my 840C.

10-05-07: Mdconnelly
While the Wadia may have an edge on the 3D thing, I have to agree with Smargo about the 840c's musicality. You won't be disappointed by the 840c... and you'd have to get a bit anal when comparing to the more far more expensive competition to hear the differences. Give it a listen - you won't be disappointed. It's far better than anything in its price range that I've heard.

What was your final conclusion on the Cambridge Audio 840C vs. The Wadia 830?

I have since sold the 840c because I had an opportunity to try an Oracle CD1000 transport over the holidays that I just fell in love with. Please note that it's MLP is 3 times that of the 840c.

Wow the transport looks great. What are you doing for a DAC? I see Oracle offer the DAC1000 which includes a pre-amp.

02-25-08: Mdconnelly
Kiwi, I've got a modded Tact 2.0s which has a modded DAC as well. The room correction of the Tact has done wonders for my listening room (which doubles as our living room hence no room treatments allowed ;-).

Thanks for the update - enjoy the Oracle

Hi Bavarian,

I tried both the Shiva and Vishnu with my 840C. The Vishnu was far better. In comparison with the Shiva it added some meat to the bones of the music. I agree that the Shiva whilst revealing is also thin.