Considering Cambridge Audio Amp/CD - Need Advice

Even w/an in-home audition, you do not have a point of reference as to determine how good/refined/musical a product really is w/o first having heard different levels or classes of equipment. There is entry-level/ mid-fi and high-end. What we are talking about here is basically the same class of equipment. May I suggest one other avenue to approach. Buy used a really good high-end int. amp, say Bryston B60, Classe Cap series, Creek, etc...something which retailed new for $1500-2000 from a reputable seller. You can always resell and lose very little. You'll upgrade sooner or later, might as well skip a step. Just a thought...

I have owned a number of solid state integrated amps and receivers over the years (NAD C320BEE, Musical Fidelity A3.2, Audiosource 200, Marantz 2240, Harmon Kardon 3340) and for the money ($650), I would go with the Outlaw RR2150 receiver. The amplifier side is both detailed and musical sounding. Has a spectacular tuner, as well as some features (phono input) that might be of use to you. Here is a review .

As for the CD player, I would go with a Music Hall CD25.2 ($540). Excellent CD only player. Cambridge Adio used to make an Azur 540 DVD player which is excellent as well, if you could find one.

My bedroom system consisting of the Outlaw RR2150, CA 540, and Rega Ara monitors is a real pleasure to listen to. Very non-fatiguing sound. Sounds excellent with just about any type of music. Speaker placement is terrible ... on top of a bookcase about a foot apart and a foot from the rear wall and it is still a very pleasant listen.

Regards, Rich

Ok, ok. So after taking in the suggestions thus far and doing more research (you'd think I was buying a small moon), I must admit I'm quite pleased and enthusiastic with what I've read about the Outlaw RR2150 integrated amp/receiver (thanks, Rich!). I decided that I might want to get a subwoofer at some point to compliment my Paradigms, and this would do the trick. Also, even though I never listen to the radio, it'd be nice to have the option in case our local community radio station every does get on the local airwaves.

Thanks everyone for their help and suggestions thus far. BTW, does anyone know what a used pair of Infinity RS-5B speakers go for? I have my first piece of equipment now that have been upgraded and that I can sell to help defray the costs of what I'm looking at purchasing.

Now I just have to decide on a cd player. More research...

Soulgoober,

I have carefully compared many of these budget CDP units over a several month period and reviewed them together briefly here:

http://www.audioreview.com/cat/digital-sources/cd-players/cambridge-audio/PRD_299480_1586crx.aspx#review0

Review date is April 12, 2006.

If you go to this review site for the Cambridge 640C, you notice some people had quality problems with early 640s, but I have had no trouble owning sequentially both versions over a 1.5 year period. I have noticed a big improvement in sound quality as my 640C v2 has broken in, now sounding smoother, more open and with deeper and more musical bass.

I agree that the low cost integrated amps have very similar sound quality - so one reason to buy the Cambridge amp is that it has been voiced to work together with their CDPs, although it is possible to defeat this advantage by using the "wrong" interconnects. My gripe with NAD is that they have plastic face plates, seems like a cheap touch in a competitive market. Outlaw idea is interesting.

Another reason to go all Cambridge is that the fine Azur remote control will operate both units, for what that is worth.

If you are going for ultimate bang for the buck, used gear is a good route, but probably a better way to go once you have been involved in the hobby longer. Your remote location will mean a close relationship with UPS/FedEx until you find what you like.

One last note, save some money for good interconnects and decent budget power cables. Check out Signal Cable at: http://signalcable.com/ for relatively cheap PCs. There are many places to get reasonably priced but effective ICs including Signal.

Ok, thank you everyone so much for your responses.

I realize that I'm shooting over my budget at this point, but I believe I'm going to go with the Outlaw RR2150 receiver (used if I can find one, otherwise new), and a used Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 with the updgrades including the upsampler.

With luck, I can keep both these components to $1,500 (in fact, if I had the cash today, I know I could). So it'll take me a little longer to save the money, but it'll be worth it and I'll be able to, as someone kindly suggested, skip a step in the upgrade process.

Anyone have any other thoughts? Of course, until I've spent the money I could still change my mind, but I really like what I've found in my research on these units...