Cambridge Audio - any good?

wadewade

Richer Sounds are advertising a kit comprising Cambridge Audio 340A amplifier, 340C CD, ID10 iPod connector, S30 speakers for £299.

Is this good value for £300 or could I do better with something else - budget up to £400?

Fifer

Cambridge Audio is excellent quality audio for the price. You can't go far wrong with them.

jgriggle

Yes, Cambridge Audio is VERY good stuff. I used to work for Richer Sounds so had lots of experience of it.The reason it's good value for money is that Julian Richer part owns the company that makes Cambridge Audio (he did when I was there anyway). If you google the same items on American or European websites and convert the prices back to sterling you'll see what I mean. The S30 speakers are brilliant but quite small so see if they'll do some bigger ones like Mordaunt-Short 902i's instead - they may meet you halfway on the difference. Don't go for the trendy makes like Denon & Marantz etc. They make fantastic high end stuff but at this price range it's not quite as good. Oh, and if you don't like it they'll let you return it within 14 days!

rednose66

Cambridge is very good for the price - as good sonically as the supposedly better brands like Marantz and NAD. Ive had good quality hifi equipment for twenty years and the only things I have to say against Cambridge is that you are forced to buy from Richer so no shopping around for cheaper prices.

aliEnRIK

Cambridge Audio are the mutts nutts for the price. Though id be looking at better speakers personally

redseven

As I understand it Cambridge Audio are almost an 'own-brand' for Richer Sounds, however this doesn't mean a compromise on quality. I've had a number of Cambridge Audio components over the years, the build quality often outweighs some of the bigger brands, I've been very pleased with Cambridge Audio

NickMidgley

How big is the room you're planning to put this into?

The speakers may be a little small...

isofa

It's very good quality, always well received by reviewer.

Their website is here: http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/default.php

In the UK, Richer Sounds as rednose66 says, is the exclusive distributor for Cambridge Audio.

aliEnRIK

Heres some reviews ~
http://whathifi.com/Review/Cambridge-Audio-Azur-340A-SE/
http://www.otest.co.uk/test-results/cambridge-audio-azur-340c-61555.html
Both rated 5 out of 5 by what hifi

epninety

Just to add a contrary view... over the years I've had 3 bits of Cambridge Audio kit. All went faulty within a couple of years.

CD player had only occasional use, wouldn't recognise any disc inserted -> Bin.

DAB Tuner - became progressively more deaf every day over a period of a few weeks, until it couldn't hear any multiplexes at all. -> Bin

Amplifier - One channel failed, placing DC supply on the speaker output and destroying the speaker. Rebuilt by me with new components just for fun (I'm an electronics engineer) and given to a mate (with appropriate warnings).

By contrast, my 15 year old Harmon Kardon amp and Technics CD player still work perfectly.

Maybe I'm just very unlucky? :rotfl:

aliEnRIK

epninety wrote: »

Just to add a contrary view... over the years I've had 3 bits of Cambridge Audio kit. All went faulty within a couple of years.

CD player had only occasional use, wouldn't recognise any disc inserted -> Bin.

DAB Tuner - became progressively more deaf every day over a period of a few weeks, until it couldn't hear any multiplexes at all. -> Bin

Amplifier - One channel failed, placing DC supply on the speaker output and destroying the speaker. Rebuilt by me with new components just for fun (I'm an electronics engineer) and given to a mate (with appropriate warnings).

By contrast, my 15 year old Harmon Kardon amp and Technics CD player still work perfectly.

Maybe I'm just very unlucky? :rotfl:

Intriguing.
May I ask when you bought them? Its just I believe the build quality over the last 3 years has been upped considerably.