Nad vs Cambridge

PolkFan1
PolkFan1 Posts: 130
edited July 2007 in Electronics
Nad C542 vs. Cambridge Audio 640C Azur

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Post edited by PolkFan1 on
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited July 2007
    My vote Cambridge Audio 640C Azur, take the saved 400.00 and get something
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
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    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
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    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited July 2007
    This is going to very much depend on the rest of your system, especially your speakers. These two CDP's have much different presentations of the music. The Cambridge is detailed, neutral, and a forward presentation. The NAD (and I am basing this on a comparison of a 640C I had to a NAD C541, and I own the C521) will have a much smoother, laid back presentation, with less bass articulation.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited July 2007
    dkg999 wrote: »
    This is going to very much depend on the rest of your system, especially your speakers. These two CDP's have much different presentations of the music. The Cambridge is detailed, neutral, and a forward presentation. The NAD (and I am basing this on a comparison of a 640C I had to a NAD C541, and I own the C521) will have a much smoother, laid back presentation, with less bass articulation.

    Agreed.
    Introducing a NAD T572 dvd/cd player into my system has helped turn my bright sounding rig into a more nuetral, smooth sounding rig. I liked it so much that I have a NAD C542 on order- should arrive in a few days.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited July 2007
    I've had experience with both...like both...but if I had to choose one, I would go with the NAD. Again, it's just a preference..detailed and forward (CA) vs laid back (NAD). YMMV
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

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  • PolkFan1
    PolkFan1 Posts: 130
    edited July 2007
    Would it be better to get a high quality cd player or a high quality pre amp. I cannot get both because of budget.
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited July 2007
    I just recently dealt with this.
    I chose to get a better preamp 1st and found just a slight improvement in SQ and I was not satisfied with the upgrade. My problem was that my source sucked and this was limiting the benefits of the new preamp.

    Bottom line is that you need to upgrade both the cdp and preamp. I think it is fine that you can't do it all right now because of your budget. It is more fun to do it in stages anyway. This way you can really tell what each peice of gear is bring into the mix. I'd get the cdp 1st.
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  • auto_pilot
    auto_pilot Posts: 256
    edited July 2007
    Noticed this was for 640C...not 640r
    Cambridge Audio AZUR 640R
    KEF IQ2C Center, Fronts KEF IQ1 , Rears KEF Ci302Q
    Sub Outlaw LFM2
    Panasonic Plasma 1080i (50u)
    Sony DVP-NS70H (DVD)
    Belkin Pure Audio PF31 Line Conditioner
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  • auto_pilot
    auto_pilot Posts: 256
    edited July 2007
    whoops
    Cambridge Audio AZUR 640R
    KEF IQ2C Center, Fronts KEF IQ1 , Rears KEF Ci302Q
    Sub Outlaw LFM2
    Panasonic Plasma 1080i (50u)
    Sony DVP-NS70H (DVD)
    Belkin Pure Audio PF31 Line Conditioner
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