Cambridge Audio Azur 640A V2 Amplifier
Our regular readers are already acquainted with integrated amplifier Azur 640A - the development of Cambridge Audio. In 2005 British engineers made changes into the design of the device. I want to pinpoint attention upon the main differences of the second version - I assure you that after that you will find the predecessor to be a graduation work of students from Cambridge.
Firstly, input, correcting and output cascades met the modernization. By the way, in Azur 640A V2 driving of output transistors was released by fairly rare scheme (for the equipment of such price category): "different input - cascode buffer". This led to higher signal rise speed at the output. Secondly, the system of volume control was improved. And the main innovation is Incognito Ready buss for the integration of the amplifier into a system of "smart house". Of course, the last-mentioned feature is not directly related to Hi-Fi and moreover - due to this the second version of Azur 640A has risen in price. But you shouldn't refuse multi-room capabilities, even if they seem to be unnecessary now - they can be useful in future.
The body, chassis, the front aluminum panel with matte coating (black variant is also available) and the typical oval balance and tone control handles were left the same. The amplifier has also inherited the branded microprocessor protection system - CAP5, which controls the condition of all vital circuits by passive sensors (and therefore has no negative influence on the quality of sound). There are no changes also in selector and power parts - the device is designed for the connection of two pairs of speaker systems, four sources and two recorders (in addition to recording outputs there is Pre Out) and the power is supplied from the toroidal transformer.
The amplifier differs by softened attack in basses; the main bass is slightly simplified, but Azur brilliantly works out sharp middle-high-frequency components. Sound is if sparks, the acoustic atmosphere is overflown by air. The instruments with soft, high-frequency tail sound naturally and the vocal due to the perfect transmission of "breathe" obtains the natural liveliness (though I must confess that the voices need more flesh). Yes, Azur 640A V2 has a little deficit of musical details in lower case, but it is still able to give a faithful and emotional interpretation. There are no claims to the transfer of space: stage is quite compact but correct and accurately focused.
It is very important to select a speaker system for Azur 640A V2. For example, a pair of shelf Dynaudio Audience 42 perfectly fit by the tonal character. But these speaker systems have such a low sensitivity that at the attempt to make maximum volume level the system CAP5 immediately activated, protecting output cascades from clipping. At switching on floor Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20 the described problem didn't arise any more, but the sound became less interesting at HF - strings got a glass shade. I don't even doubt that if you take "lighter" and more sensitive speaker systemswith fast responsive woofers and qualitative tweeter with soft dome British amplifier will burst open at 100%.
