Cambridge Audio CD players - unreliable??

[admin_exported]

This is a sad story. I bought the 540 v2 Amp and CD player. The amp is fine but the CD refused to play. I took it back to the dealer who replaced it (actually with a 640 v2). This played but seemed to "mis-read" every so often. Back it went to be replaced again. This replacement played fine for 4 hours (not continuously) but then gave up and displayed the message "no play" whenever a disc was inserted. I'll be returning this - the third faulty unit - today. This is pretty disappointing for kit that is so well recommended

Has anyone else had problems with this kit and should I perservere or buy a different make?

Grateful for your views

Andy

 

[matthewpiano]

Sounds like you've been very unlucky. If you like the sound I'd persevere. I've had a fair bit of CA gear over the last couple of years and found it to be as reliable as anything else.

 

[vinod_david]

I've had my 640C V2 for nearly a year now, and the problems that you mentioned never happened to me ever since. It's really strange that you're caught in a CA error loop. Please replace it one last time.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys - I appreciate your views. I'll give it one more go - the store has promised to test it exhaustively this time and I'd really like it to work - the sound is terrific

Andy

 

[matthewpiano]

agjb:
Thanks guys - I appreciate your views. I'll give it one more go - the store has promised to test it exhaustively this time and I'd really like it to work - the sound is terrific

Andy

No problem. Do let us know how you get on. Are you in the UK and dealing with Richer Sounds? Sounds like they are being pretty helpful...

 

[Anonymous]

Yes and yes. To be fair their customer service has been just fine - its just a bit of a bore deinstalling the player, returning it to the store and intsalling its replacement - I feel like i'm in some sort of version of groundhog day ..

Will let you know the outcome a bit later

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have a cambridge audio 340c cd player the backlight failed after 3 months, I took it back to Richer Sounds they got it repaired it then came back screen still not working and it was refusing to play cds, I would say they are unreliable.

 

[Anonymous]

I have two Cambridge CDPS, one which has been heavily used and one which is left to stand for months / years on end. Both of them are fully functioning.

 

[basshound]

I had a 640 v1 that I got second hand via e-bay that went faulty after about a year (wouldn`t read discs) then got a new 640 v1 that worked great for 3 years or so until I upgraded in Dec last year and then sold it on via e-bay,assuming it is still working ok as I`ve not had any irate e-mails from the new owner!

 

[Anonymous]

Well I've had the 3rd replacement for a couple of days now an d so far so good. Touch wood this one will work properly. Glad I gave them a final chance - sounds great

Thanks for the advice

Andy

 

[vinod_david]

Yes, indeed, it'll work fine. Why not go for matching 640A V2 ?

 

[Scissor_digits]

Is there really that much of an improvement from the 540A V2 to the 640A V2?

Like Andy I too have a 640C V2 with a 540A V2 and MA BR2's but unlike Andy my 640C V2 has worked perfectly since I got it 3 months ago (but I still stumped up for the extra 5 year cover 'just in case')

 

[Anonymous]

Scissor_digits:
Is there really that much of an improvement from the 540A V2 to the 640A V2?

Some...but maybe not enough to warrant the expense.......jumping up to the 740 / 840 is however, a different ball game

 

[Sliced Bread]

My father and I both use a Cambridge Audio Azure 640C. They have both been solid (touch wood).

 

[Dr Beat]

Hi

I bought a CA 540C CDP about 5 months back for my sister, and then one day, the machine went mad and refused to recognize several CDs, which previously it played OK. The message always read, "no disc". It's with the shop now for repair. Hope it works out, or i am swearing off Cambridge Audio CDP.My sister is already asking me for the NAD 545.

Funnily enough, in other threads about the Cyrus SE being unreliable, i have had no such problems.

 

[Johnno2]

My only experience with CA stuff is the Dacmagic,I had to get a replacement because it would reverse LR channels sometimes when switching the inputs or filters, I also have reliabilty problems with Marantz, my CD7300 sometimes will not read discs but will after turning back on. My PM7001 has a faulty left channel on the cd input rca connectors,switching to aux input for cd has solved this, I had a pm57 which the protector relay cut out randomly . 3 Marantz units all of them with niggles.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the 840C v2, and am absolutely thrilled. It works like a charm, and reads "damaged" CDs that my iMac refuses to read and where my older NAD skipped... Higher in the range than what is discussed here, but I am pretty sure the industrialised fundamentals are the same. The NAD CD player died after 4 years. We will see how long the CA lives.

 

[Scissor_digits]

raym87:Scissor_digits:
Is there really that much of an improvement from the 540A V2 to the 640A V2?

Some...but maybe not enough to warrant the expense.......jumping up to the 740 / 840 is however, a different ball game

Maybe I'll upgrade to a 740A if I get the Audiocom Level-1 upgrade on my 640C but then I'd have to get better speakers, like maybe Epos M5i's etc. etc. and then I'd become stuck in a constant upgrade loop OR I could just appreciate the set up I've got for it's outstanding performance for a relatively budget price

 

[Anonymous]

Scissor_digits:raym87:Scissor_digits:
Is there really that much of an improvement from the 540A V2 to the 640A V2?

Some...but maybe not enough to warrant the expense.......jumping up to the 740 / 840 is however, a different ball game

Maybe I'll upgrade to a 740A if I get the Audiocom Level-1 upgrade on my 640C but then I'd have to get better speakers, like maybe Epos M5i's etc. etc. and then I'd become stuck in a constant upgrade loop OR I could just appreciate the set up I've got for it's outstanding performance for a relatively budget price

Thats the way it goes. Personally, I have decided to stick with what I have unless something goes pop or I receive an unexpected windfall. Doesnt stop me tweaking here and there though just to try and squeeze that little extra.