NAD M5 vs Cambridge 840c

WOOPS......also for $2000 or less consider the
Meridian G 08.

I personally found the M5 to be much better sounding than the 840c. Both are very good players. Without getting into
the usual three paragraphs why the one is better than the other, I found the NAD to be much more musical and detailed while being less digital than the Cambridge.
Plays SACD and HDCD also. A tad shy on bass. A good
power cable will help the bass. I even thought it sounded
better than some of the players costing much more which
I have owned.

The DAC feaure and MUCH BETTER resale value go to the Cambridge. The 840c is no slouch for sure. It comes down to personal taste. I do not even look at magazine reviews anymore.

By the way take a look at a Meridian or an Esoteric DV-50s if you can spend up to$1800-$2000.

Just another two cents.......the "gem" in the Cambridge
line is the 740c. If you do not need balanced outputs
save yourself some money and audition this player. It
comes real close to the 840c.

I have had the MF A5....a superb overlooked player
on this site. They can be had for a great price on
Audiogon also. The price has really come down on these over the last year and a half. For less than $1300
you cannot go wrong. If you are willing to spend that
$1800-$2000 look at a Cary 303/300, Esoteric Dv-50s
or a Raysonic cd-168. All used of course. The Raysonic
cd-128 is a real gem below that $1200 mark. I personally
preferred it much more than the MF A5. Of course in my system. TO EACH HIS OWN !!!!!!