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When you move up to the next stage from entry level in amplifiers the variety of approaches expands dramatically, some brands offer no-frills minimal designs with a few inputs based on the less is more theory while others bring a whole raft of features to the party, some of which are even useful.
There was a time when the hi-fi enthusiast would poo poo any kind of unnecessary knob or button but if you can combine features and sound quality then why not make life a little easier for yourself? Read without prejudice and you'll listen for longer, and that after all is the name of this game.
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Advance Acoustic MAP305DA II
Advance Acoustic is a French brand that makes loudspeakers and electronics. The company follows the model popularised by Cambridge Audio among others of designing products in Europe but actually building them in China, virtually the only way of getting as much amplifier as this for anywhere near the price.
And it is a lot of amp. It weighs over 15kg and is specified as delivering 100 watts into eight ohms and twice that into four. This combined with casework that puts the various internal components into separate compartments and digital inputs alongside the analogue ones makes the MAP305DA II look nigh on unbeatable on paper. And that's even before you look at the gorgeous power meters - and they do flicker most seductively.
This amp delivers an attractively upbeat and tuneful result. It's not perhaps the smoothest but we were told that it takes quite a while to run in properly - news that arrived after the amp had left the building! Nonetheless the generous and lively sound was highly entertaining and devoid of the dryness that afflicted some of the competition.
The onboard DAC couldn't better those within decent CD players but will definitely help older digital sources. The sound was also slightly smoother when using the supplied 'cups' for the conical feet on our glass equipment rack. But overall the AA's sound clearly lives up to its appearance.
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Plus points
A lot of well built amplifier for the money, nice remote, nicer level meters and a wealth of inputs make it hard to beat
Minus points
Sound is a little more forward and edgy than some and lacks the solidity in the bass that the power rating would suggest |  |
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Cambridge Audio Azur 740A
The Azur 740A slots in between the popular 640A and the all conquering 840A amps in Cambridge's ever expanding range, it brings much of the functionality of its bigger brother at a £250 price saving. This includes the ability to name inputs which are displayed on the large LCD front panel and to adjust their relative volume level, useful if you have a phono stage or tuner with much lower output level than your CD player. It also has a plethora of connections to aid its use within a multiroom system alongside two sets of speaker outputs.
In fact, power was one thing that was immediately apparent when the 740A was swapped in for the other amps in this group - it's possessed of a noteworthily taut and solid bass and a nicely chunky bottom end. It does however have a slightly dry balance that can make music appear slightly colourless, and lacking in dynamic punch. This is not really a major issue and it's a characteristic that might be ameliorated with run in, but it's a characteristic nonetheless.
Its timing is good if not in the same league as the Pioneer but it does a good job of revealing the space in the recording, and music sounds appealingly open in its grip. I have marked it for its sound quality first and foremost but if the features it offers make you drool then it's worth a look regardless.
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Plus points
Open and spacious sound with decent bass weight and good resolution of bass lines, features like input naming and gain setting are impressive too
Minus points
Slightly dry presentation and less spritely timing put it at a disadvantage next to the competition at £100 more | |
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