Legacy Focus HDs

I hope you really enjoy it! Based on the numbering system Rotel uses, it should be 29.5% better. ;)

Impossible to answer based on the information; a head to head comparison would be the only way to know. The rotel should be a pretty good transport; you could consider adding a dedicated DAC. The Cambridge DacMagic is supposed to be very good for the money. You'd want to find a very good digital cable that suits you. It would likely give you a very good result for a resonable investment.

For general edification, I just last week upgraded to the Silver Edition of the Focus. Quite a satisfactory improvement in many respects. I enjoyed the rosewood finish on the HD, but the black pearl of the SE is appealing and looks suitably hard core/extravagant in my HT.

I have a very simple philosophy regarding upgrades: If you can't hear the improvement in about the first five or ten minutes, much less first minute, then it's not that much of an upgrade. Just as with the HD version, it took about ten seconds to realize that this was something special.

It took approx. 30 seconds to reach the firm conclusion that the SE is a large jump in performance from the HD version. All continuing listening has reinforced that assessment. Particularly the bass is more substantial, better impact and depth as it reaches 16Hz. I was a bit concerned over the possibility that the treble would be a bit "biting" with the silver internal wiring, this was unfounded. It's actually more pristine and delicate.

In time I will likely write up a short addendum to the HD review on Dagogo.com, and I would do so not for any quid pro quo incentive, but purely because I am enjoying the sound and want the community to know about it.

The other review which I point people to which was undertaken of my own initiative and I am still using the equipment out of sheer enjoyment is the twin Pathos Classic One MkIII review. These amps sound voluptuous with the Legacy Focus SE and source under review not yet revealed.

Yes, Steve, I did spend extensive time with the combo of the Cambridge 840C and the Focus HD speakers. They are wonderful components together. The Azur is an excellent player at the price, and the Focus HD an excellent speaker at the price - and yes, they do meld together quite, well... nicely!

Considering that personal tastes vary, I found them to be highly compatible, and would not hesitate to recommend them to be used together. Via amp and cable selections I think a vast majority of people purchasing those two would be able to assemble an immensely satisfying rig. I especially appreciate the "Digital In" feature so much that I purchased a second 840C for use at my office. Both of these proudcts are packed with value for the audiophile, and they both perform very well.

I have been experimenting with the use of Digital cables as ICs in order to add warmth to Redbook playback. I have more testing to conduct with different digital cables to determine if the added "warmth" is an artifact common to all digital cables or if it is only with the Wire World Gold Starlight that I am getting such a pleasing sound. I didn't find the Cambridge treble to be harsh or etched, but use of the Gold Starlight digital cables as ICs has improved many components' sound by adding a wonderful golden glow much like a fine tube amp. I found it was especially helpful with putting a touch of warmth in Class D amps' performance.

I would enjoy discussion of this if people have two identical digital cables and would care to comment on how they impact the sound when used as ICs.

I am fully aware of the "inappropriateness" of using digital cables as ICs, but I like experimenting and once in a while an amazingly good sound will result. In some set ups I have enjoyed the digital cables over even balanced ICs.

Anyway, I highly recommend both the Azur 840C and the Legacy Audio Focus HD as highly affordable products with excellent performance. If you are considering purchasing either I suggest you read the reviews of them so as to be familiarized with their idiosyncrasies and virtues.

The 840C is a very good unit, and I hope you will enjoy.
I have very much enjoyed having the "Digital In" function as I can stream audio to the player's DAC. This is, imho, what will save cdp's from the scrap heap - at least for the next few years. Eventually, my guess is that any player which does not have that feature will find little accommodation among the audiophile community. I'm seeing more players with that function, so that's a good sign. I use Sonos currently and I find the sound to be very respectable when fed into the Digital Input of a cdp's DAC.

I have Sonos and the 840C set up both at the office and the listening room (to be clear, the 840C is not the primary/reference cdp in the listening room; it is my "budget reference" player), and I have an Azur 840C both for Redbook playback and Sonos signal treatment at the office. It's a very enjoyable arrangement.

Stephen, I think you made the right decision, as it is very unlikely that any break in effect would get the unit as "...way too bright," down to the level of warmth (lack of "brightness" you want).

"Bright sounding" is somewhat subjective, you know, and there is a continuum from tubby, "chocolate" sound to tight, technical sound. The Cambridge I found to be a pretty good compromise, with an emphasis on detail; yes slightly bright. A lot depends on the associated cabling and components going to the speakers. I am able to reduce what you'd call brightness quite a bit by placing two Digital cables in the system in place of interconnects. This will work in any rig. It's unorthodox, but it does a wonderful job of adding a rich, tube-like sound. The power cords are also very effective in moderating some detail/brightness.

I felt the unit was excellent as a transport and have used it with the Monarchy M24 tube DAC quite effectively. It increased the warmth dramatically, and with Digital cables was even more mellow sounding. I do like the detail that the 840C is capable of, and there are ways to make it less aggressive sounding. One DAC which has a very high degree of the tube sound is the Van Alstine UltraDac.