Cambridge Audio Azur 350A Integrated Amplifier
Anyone who has been reading hifi-reviews.com for any length of time will know we have a lot of respect for Cambridge audio products especially at the top end of the non audiophile consumer market turning out a large number of hard hitting amps & CD players over the years so with this in mind we come to the recent Cambridge Audio Azur 350A Integrated Amplifier, I have to say that with this unit the team at Cambridge have exceeded my expectations for an integrated amplifier a this price point. First impressions of the unit is that it is extremely solid in construction with the volume, tone and balance knobs all having an assured smoothness to their glide and a general feel of quality. The brushed aluminum case is both attractive and well constructed. The back of the Azur 350A sports all the standard inputs (mp3,CD, Tuner/DAB, BD/DVD & Aux) a Tape in and 1 Record Output as well as 4 sets of easy to use speaker terminals (This unit does not come with a built-in phono preamp). There is also a second mp3 input at the front of the unit for easy plugging in of your iPod or other portable mp3 player. The remote supplied with the Azur 350A is reasonably attractive and can control both the unit itself and the iPod touch we tried it with. As with most Cambridge Audio where this unit really shines is the quality of the output, the Azur 350A is an excellent performer, I found the bass end to be punchy, but controlled. It never feels like it is about to loose its clarity or heft even at high volumes. The highs are extremely well managed keeping any harsh edges lesser units may throw out in check and allowing a very relaxing listening experience even with material that packs a lot of high end. One very minor complaint is that the unit could be said to be slightly hollow in the mid range on very quiet acoustic passages, but this is a minor niggle and didn’t actually impact on my enjoyment of the music. Overall the Cambridge Audio Azur 350A overall has a smooth detailed and very powerful but controlled sound which manages to never sound sterile and to my mind stayed musical throughout our testing. So in conclusion, this unit scores highly both in looks, build quality and where it really counts audio quality it is verging on audiophile territory in summary if you are looking for a quality, solid home use stereo amplifier for less than $1,500 the Cambridge Audio Azur 350A should definitely go on your list of “listen to” amps. Manufacturers Description The new 350A is truly an amplifier to be reckoned with. Separate high quality integrated circuit amplifier modules eliminate all possible crosstalk and guarantee excellent stereo imaging. Very close attention has also been paid to the quality of passive components selected and their performance potential. In particular, a very high quality ALPS black box film volume pot has been specified for its superior sound quality and excellent channel balance. This is particularly noticeable at low volumes when your awareness of left and right channel balance is most acute. The power supply is a critical component in any power amplifier and here, we’ve stretched our budget to the limit to bring you an oversize toroidal transformer. Selected for its very low external magnetic field and much lower noise than laminate type amplifiers – as are more commonly specified in entry-level amplifiers – power and refinement are palpable from the moment the music starts. Tone controls further enhance your listening experience giving subtle control of the frequency response and enable compensation for ‘difficult’ room acoustics. And for the true audiophile touch, they can be defeated using the Direct switch to ensure the shortest possible signal path. Indeed, the performance of every single component specified in the 350A has been maximised to the last degree by the engineers at Cambridge Audio’s London-based R&D centre to guarantee that every last drop of your music is realised. Connect just about anything! Just as importantly, in terms of connectivity, the 350A offers a plethora of inputs and outputs to accommodate sources of all types. iPods and MP3 players get the VIP treatment and can be connected directly to the front panel via a dedicated 3.5mm jack and matching source control. In addition, the supplied Navigator remote features iPod command codes enabling control of any iPod (except Shuffle) when connected to a suitable dock such as Cambridge Audio’s new iD50.
Check Amazon for Current Pricing
Check Amazon for Current Pricing
