Azur 540R
Azur 540D
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Homegrown hi-fi specialist Cambridge Audio has introduced two hot new AV products to the market as individual items, with the intention that two be used in conjunction to marry high-end performance with wallet-friendly pricing.
The Azur 540D V2 is an HDMI-enabled DVD player priced at £250. And as with all Cambridge Audio products, on pure looks alone it should cost twice as much. Behind that clean, uncluttered solid aluminium façade beats the heart of a true audio and videophile. Capable of upscaling a video source to 720p and 1080i, the 540D uses a highly evolved DVD chipset and proprietary Phased Lock Loop (PLL) system that produces incredibly low jitter. Indeed, the DAC specified and anti-aliasing filter circuits mean the 540D is also a true audiophile CD player. Most disc formats are playable (including DivX and MP4), there's multi-room support and, according to Cambridge Audio, 'the 540D's HDMI output (upscaling to 720p or 1080i video formats) for screens under 50 inches is unsurpassed'.
Also released is the £350 6.1 HDMI AV receiver the Azur 540R V3, which, as the name suggests, is the third version of the model. Its bountiful features are too many to list here but rest assured with 80 watts per channel at eight ohms with all channels driven and 100 watts per channel at eight ohms with two-channel, there's plenty of very refined grunt and volume on offer.
The 540R also features two-in-one out HDMI pass through so that, for instance, an HDMI DVD player and Sky HD set-top box can be connected with just one cable to the screen. With the same stunning aesthetics (both are available in either black or silver) and Cambridge Audio's exceptional audio heritage, it looks like a great companion to the 540D DVD player and an AV double whammy.
More information: Cambridge Audio website | Cambridge Audio Products
