If you can get the V1 for significantly less than the V2, that is a better purchase.  I've heard people from Cambridge say that the V2 is better but not significantly.  For £250 less my money would be going on a V1.  A little while ago they were offering it for £399 to people on their mailing list.

It's a very good amp; I have one.  Marginally on the smooth side of neutral.  It's a touch behind a Sugden A21 but not that much and with a lot more power.  Where Sugden really scores is in second hand value but you're talking about a significantly more expensive amp.

The best time to buy a Cambridge amp is usually when they're being phased out.

No; they're not the same operation that Stan Curtis led but they're doing some really good stuff at the moment on the stereo side.  I think the 840c is actually the star of the range.

I heard a pair of Performance 6 just recently.  An interesting listen. Good resolution but I was a little too aware of where the drivers were. Very difficult to audition them - these were the first that I've ever seen.