Review: Cambridge Audio Azur 640H music server |  |  |
Price: £600
Website: www.cambridge-audio.co.uk
Size (WxHxD): 43x80x32cm
Weight: 8kg
Playback formats: Uncompressed PCM, WMA, MP3, AAC (MP4), wav, snd, mpa, mp2
Connections: Ethernet, 3x USB V2.0/1.1 (2 on rear, 1 on front, MP3 portable compatible), PS/2 keyboard, RS232, composite video, S-video, VGA, SPDIF digital out, optical digital out
Extras: CD burner, internet radio
Plus points:
The audio quality is first rate, with excellent playback of both CDs and compressed music files
Minus points:
Very noisy when copying from CD to the hard drive. Operating system has some quirks
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We've been waiting quite a while to get our hands on this product. Cambridge Audio first demoed the 640H to us in the heady days of spring 2005, but it's only now that samples are finally coming into production. The reason: well, while Cambridge is adept at producing quality audio hardware at a very reasonable price, getting involved in the software side of the equation is a different matter altogether, and the company wanted to ensure that its proprietary AudioFile system was glitch-free and robust before sending the product out into the wider world - a policy of which we approve wholeheartedly.
But it's here now, and initial impressions suggest that it's been well worth the wait. It's a solidly built piece of kit, with an attractive front panel, a nice clear screen and a smattering of well-tooled controls on the fascia. So let's just have a quick run through what you get for your £600 before looking at the specifics. Headline features include a whopping great big 160GB hard drive, which is enough for around 30,000 tracks of compressed music, so unless you're planning on running a radio station from it, you should be covered there.
Audiophiles will also be pleased to hear that it can store up to 3,000 uncompressed tracks. The obvious way of getting these on board is via the disc drawer, which in itself is a good CD player based as it is on Cambridge Audio's award-winning budget star the 640C (don't forget our competition - click here) - one of the best affordable disc spinners around. But things are a bit different here in that the CD mech is also a writer, so you can copy discs and produce your own compilations of either uncompressed of compressed music.
Those keen on the newer end of the technology time curve will be thrilled by other options on board. As this is more than just a big hard drive player, there are numerous networking options, and this device can act as either slave or hub in a wired or wireless set-up - and that goes for Mac and PC - although you'll need to splash out on additional wireless kit separately.
You can also connect up an MP3 player - there are several available sockets, including a useful USB on the fascia - and then access the music thereon via the 640H. You can also copy the music from your portable device onto the Cambridge, or take music from the 640H and put it on the player. We're talking about a highly flexible bit of kit here!
One further added bonus is internet radio. While the performance is a million miles away from Cambridge Audio's own DAB offerings, it's quite fun checking out KQXL in Minnesota and listening to down home country music (or whatever) from its place of origin.
Performance
Initial set-up is a beguiling mixture of simplicity and trickiness. If you just want to plug the device in, rip some CDs to it and then play them, it's a breeze of iPod proportions. If however you want to take advantage of the full power of the 640H, then things are going to get a little bit tougher. Having said that, if you have set up any kind of PC network at home, or even just hooked your computer up to broadband by yourself, then you should be able to work through the stages pretty quickly.
While many of the controls and options can be performed via the main unit, the stylish remote control simply via the on-screen menu, a connection to a TV really allows you a lot more control over what you are doing - with a nice and clean menu system allowing you easy access and control.
Once you have set it up, then ripping, playing and writing couldn't be easier. The AudioFile software is a great way to manage your music collection, and while it seems a tad slow at first compared to the best available on your computer - it's impressive for a consumer electronics product. The search facility allows you to quickly find what you are looking for, and allows you to make playlists, compilations and everything else we now expect of music servers.
At the end of the day though, it comes down to sound performance, and this is where the 640H excels. Uncompressed files sound no different to the original disc, and while there is a noticeable drop-off lower down the MP3 food chain, at the highest sampling rates the difference is minimal and will certainly be good enough for the vast majority of users. In fact, this is one of the best sound servers we've ever heard, with only the likes of the millionaire's club Linn system besting it in out and out audio ability - no mean feat considering the price.
There are a few drawbacks though. For instance there are times when it makes a right old racket, in particular when fed a CD-R full of MP3 tracks where it sounds like it is about to take off - and the operating system sometimes doesn't quite behave as you'd expect it to, but you still get a hell of a lot for your money, and a few minor quirks aside, this is a first rate piece of kit.
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It may have been a long time coming, but yep, it was worth the wait. The 640H is an amazing piece of kit, offering excellent CD playback and an intuitive and powerful music database. Okay, so some of the networking stuff can be a bit tricky for the novice user, but with a little bit of perseverance you'll soon be storing all your CDs in the loft and find yourself relying on this device.
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| | Discuss this article, 1 of 33 messages, read more: |  Brent Cutler | |
| Posted: 29/12/05 23:03:34 34 | I have been looking for a music server for a while but I waited until a few more appeared on the market before choosing this one. I was comfortable with it because I already have the 640 amp and 640 cd player. I had already installed a wireless network at home, this is important unless you are prepared to type in every bit of detail you need about a cd. I used a Belkin wireless G Ethernet bridge plugged into the back of the 640h and it connected to the internet immediately with no setting up required – impressive. The unit is well built as you would expect from Cambridge Audio and the software is easy to use once you get into the swing of it.
There are a few niggles though. It uses a IBM Deskstar 160GB HDD which is very noisy and runs ... |
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