I had the CAMBRIDGE Azur 650R AVR in a prior HT 7.1 system before I upgraded to high-end separates .
Strengths
It's audio performance in HT multichannel is far superior to the other Chi-Fi AVRs . The only ones I have seen better are the top two ARCAM FMJs.
Three year warranty is far better than most other choices but this discontinued model may already be past that stage.
Works best with its matching mate AZUR BluRay player.
Weaknesses
It's still a disposable item as the Codecs change.
It's still Chi-Fi . 99% of AVRs south of $2000 are. Let's remember that Arcam pulled out its top FMJ AVR production out if China and brought it back to the UK because of the made-in-China quality control problems and the frequent unit failure problems.
Mine also failed twice within the three year warranty period . The first time was a big motherboard replacement under warranty. The second time was the HDMI ports failure that somehow was deemed not a a warranty item -- go figure. I sold it and moved up to made-in-UK and USA high-end separates .
It's still just an AVR unibox with inherent compromises therein for 2-channel. The receiver works great for HT but with the exception of the top ARCAMs , no receiver competes with a quality integrated amp in two channel audio performance.
Takeaway
--IMO it bests most other AVRs at its price point .
-- You only get what you pay for
-- It's still a disposable ... The Codecs do change and will continue to change. That's why I went with a stand alone preamp / processor unit and separate amps.
--Just be wary that it also has its own warts just like all the other sub $3K AVRs out there . Repairs out if warranty can be costly .
--When it works, it sounds great in HT with an audio performance in multichannel that will easily best most other choices in the sub $2K price strata .
Strengths
It's audio performance in HT multichannel is far superior to the other Chi-Fi AVRs . The only ones I have seen better are the top two ARCAM FMJs.
Three year warranty is far better than most other choices but this discontinued model may already be past that stage.
Works best with its matching mate AZUR BluRay player.
Weaknesses
It's still a disposable item as the Codecs change.
It's still Chi-Fi . 99% of AVRs south of $2000 are. Let's remember that Arcam pulled out its top FMJ AVR production out if China and brought it back to the UK because of the made-in-China quality control problems and the frequent unit failure problems.
Mine also failed twice within the three year warranty period . The first time was a big motherboard replacement under warranty. The second time was the HDMI ports failure that somehow was deemed not a a warranty item -- go figure. I sold it and moved up to made-in-UK and USA high-end separates .
It's still just an AVR unibox with inherent compromises therein for 2-channel. The receiver works great for HT but with the exception of the top ARCAMs , no receiver competes with a quality integrated amp in two channel audio performance.
Takeaway
--IMO it bests most other AVRs at its price point .
-- You only get what you pay for
-- It's still a disposable ... The Codecs do change and will continue to change. That's why I went with a stand alone preamp / processor unit and separate amps.
--Just be wary that it also has its own warts just like all the other sub $3K AVRs out there . Repairs out if warranty can be costly .
--When it works, it sounds great in HT with an audio performance in multichannel that will easily best most other choices in the sub $2K price strata .