Cambridge Audio Azur 540A VS. NAD C320 BEE

Well I brought both amps home and spent two days comparing. Both units had been extensively broken in. The Cambridge 540a did sound very good and was a very smooth performer. The bass did not have the weight and authority that the NAD C320BEE has. The NAD had more body and was on the warmer side of neutral. With my speakers being a tad on the bright side, I found the NAD complimented my speakers better. I do like a good bit of electronic music and the extra bass weight works quite well.

Cheers,
Glenn

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Originally Posted by anamorphic96

Well I brought both amps home and spent two days comparing. Both units had been extensively broken in. The Cambridge 540a did sound very good and was a very smooth performer. The bass did not have the weight and authority that the NAD C320BEE has. The NAD had more body and was on the warmer side of neutral. With my speakers being a tad on the bright side, I found the NAD complimented my speakers better. I do like a good bit of electronic music and the extra bass weight works quite well.

Cheers,
Glenn

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I'm actually in the market (again) for an amp, and from your review it looks like I'm going to have to check out the Cambridge 540a. My second HT system speakers can be a little too warm and bass heavy sometimes, and although my receiver powers them well, I'm a firm beliver in discreet amplification.

They ditched the classic green button. What the hell. :p The volume knob is now gray. Hmm. I have actually always liked the understated look of NAD products. Its the whole wolf in sheeps clothing thing I appreciate. But the green button would have been nice. But im just being ridiculous though.

The capacitors are also black instead of the white I saw in some reviews. :confused: Im not to worried it still sounds fantastic. :D

Cheers,
Glenn

I have both the Cambridge A500 integrated but has been replaced by a Jolida tube amp because I found the cambridge to be a little too bright and over the top with the highs for my taste. I have heard nothing but good remarks about NAD stuff, so if you believe it sounds warmer, and you like the warm, full sound, go with the NAD.

Well folks I returned the C320BEE and stepped up to the C352. I loved the 320 so much I had to listen to the others and 352 is a major upgrade. Not a big power jump but a substantial increase in control and focus. :) Includes and all metal chassis and ditches the plastic faceplate which is nice. Volume control seems a little cheap but other than that its great improvement in build quality. :D Oh and you get and extra set of pre outs as well. :p

Cheers.
Glenn

my vote in the sub1k category would be...
(drumroll)
A second hand adcom 5500 power amp. That will run you at least 600-700 hundreds, plus an extra hundred bucks for the interconnects.
i bought it yesterday because my 540a was struggling to drive my 84db Platinum Audio solos, specially at higher levels when the music was dynamically demanding (its amazing how the sound would collapse when Wagner had the whole orchestra going at once).
it gives you 200 watts of PURE class A power to drive almost ANYTHING in this planet, and i'm AMAZED by how much more open the sound is compared to the 540 alone. It resolves trebble wonderfully and the attack and decay of drums is even more wonerful now than when i went from my crappy reciever to the 540.
All in all, its a hefty pricetag, but in my opinion its well worth it. the soundstage is vastly improved too.
Keep in mind this is with what are considered to be reference bookshelf speakers (another wonderful second-hand buy), and that the B&Ws u have might behave slightly differently, but i'm REALLY pleased with the results.
Plus this allows me to save up for a nice tube preamp, and then sell the 540.
cheers!
(oh btw, it gets hotter than my radiator... i have one of those little paper spirals balanced on top of a pencil spiraling away atop one of the massive heatsinks... Ah, the joys and the worries of class A...)