Price Paid:  $699.00 from Audio Advisor

Summary:
Great sound. Poor build quality. The unit sounded great with my KEF speakers, very open and natural. Unfortunately, the left channel went bad at about 10 hours. After shutting off power for 10 minutes or so both channels came back but heavily distorted. The unit was returned to Audio Advisor. In all fairness, this was a "demo" unit but still should not have shut down and failed.

Strengths:
Sound quality.

Weaknesses:
Overall build quality.

Similar Products Used:
Denon MosFet amplifier, Samsung CD player, KEF speakers, Yamaha A/V receiver.

Steve62

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $599.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
The Cambridge Audio Azur 640A is a heck of good amp. An overachiever, delivering ultra-smooth and almost tube-like liquidity from a budget solid-state integrated amplifier is a rare find. The 640A sounds more powerful than its 75Wpc rating and the 640A’s build-quality, features, and remote control make this amp a tremendous bargain. I paired the 640A with Cambridge Audio's Azur 640C CD player. The two have a synergy that is hard to fault and for the price, are incredible values.

In comparison with my NAD 372, I found this amp - especially when paired with Cambridge Audio's Azur 640C CD player, to be superior to the NAD in almost every way. Even though the NAD's superior power rating (150 wpc vs. the Cambridge Audio's 75 wpc) may work better for your speakers, I found the 640a to be an excellent match for the Definitive Technology BP7006s. Of course the Definitive Technology BP7006 Bipolar SuperTowers have two 8" infrasonic bass radiators driven by a built in 300-watt amp relieving the 640A from having to power the woofers. That leaves 75wpc for the mids and highs in my system so you may experience different results with your speakers in your room.

As for me, the Azur 640A and 640C have transformed my room into a refuge where I immerse myself in whatever music I play. "Immerse" is the right word, for this system as it provides marvelous soundstaging, pinpoint imaging, and virtually holographic presentations of musical events. It's incredible-and addicting. The spatial aspects of recordings - depth, height, and width are exemplary. The system also presents a very good sense of the recording venue with a sense of air over and around performers. The combination produces a seamless, wall-to-wall soundstage with excellent depth and precise image focus. On the best program material, the speakers fade, letting the performers and music take over. Not at all aggressive or forward in its presentation, the amp is neutral, non-fatiguing and easy to listen to. You'll probably hear things on your favorite recordings you haven't heard before. And because the darn thing is so musical, you'll spend a lot more time being immersed in music than wondering if you are hearing every little detail contained in recordings.

That's not to say you'll be missing anything, you'll hear it but with this amp it won't matter - you'll be enjoying the music. On one of my favorites for spatial information, detail and soundstaging is the Cowboy Junkies "Trinity Session." While this is old news, on the first track "Mining For Gold" as the tape rolls, a HUGE soundstage is presented. You can hear the air surrounding the musicians in the church where the tracks were recorded. It also sounds like an air vent is flapping in the background as Margo Timmins starts to sing the first track. And Margo Timmins is RIGHT THERE in the room!

For a more contemporary example, on the Various Artists album, Dirty
Martini, the Afrolicious track by The Dining Rooms. The music literally surrounds me. Front, behind, sides, depth, layering (you get the idea) - and from only two speakers! Imagine that only TWO speakers!! Imaging, detail, dynamics - it's all there and then some!

For something completely different, I put on Telarc's recording of Erich Kunzel/Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Mancini's Greatest Hits. This is a great recording for choral vocals and a great test for how well your system handles imaging and detail. The 640A excelled as and is especially evident on the Moon River and Days of Wine and Roses tracks. Each person's voice in the chorus is easily identifiable. What is heard on lesser systems as voices singing in a chorus, you hear individual voices singing in unison.

Some say the Azur 640A's power capabilities at 75 wpc are a drawback. I haven’t found this to be true. I’ve played a lot of material that demands to be played at fairly loud volume levels. Unless the volume level became insanely loud, I never got the sense the amp was close to meltdown. Even on "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits, the guitar solos and drums were driven well. As I turn up the volume knob on recordings, the amp/speaker combination was plenty loud and loud enough for me. I never felt like I needed more as the amp allows me to "dial in" the appropriate amount of volume for each recording.

Bass is tight and defined too. Better than I have heard from my Definitive
Technology speakers when paired with other amps and receivers including the NAD 372 and a SONY STR-DG710 AV Receiver. In deed, several DVDs like War of The Worlds and the Star War movies produced room shaking bass. Indeed music was no different with the bass drum featured on the "Dances with Wolves" soundtrack well defined, deep (for these speakers) and controlled. Not sure why this is since the speakers have a built in amp. Go figure!

The midrange was also very good. It’s neutral and extremely easy to listen to. No fatigue here! If I had to say whether the amp errs on the analytical vs. sweet side, I’d definitely say the sweet side. This amp would never be confused with a tube amp but it does deliver ultra-smooth and almost tube-like liquidity. The amp simply doesn't call attention to itself in the all important midrange. Music lovers know what I mean. There are times when you are playing a recording and you find yourself thinking "wow" – music. Not “wow” - my equipment sounds good! (Although it is fun to say both - let's face it!) Once such recording for me is on Chris Botti's album "To Love Again: The Duets." Paula Cole's voice on "My One and Only Love" is superb. Her voice hangs between the speakers – smooth and liquid. Imaging is excellent as you can hear every breath she takes as she sings this song and in three dimensions. Vocals, especially female vocals are always difficult to get right and this amp does it extremely well.

The highs are silky-smooth and somewhat extended. I can't say that the
BP7006's are the last word in extended highs but the music was consistently smooth with an appropriate amount of sheen and sparkle. Way better than the NAD which I find to be rolled off. The 640 was extended without any hint of harshness.

Strengths:
An overachiever, delivering ultra-smooth and almost tube-like liquidity from a budget solid-state integrated amplifier.

Weaknesses:
Could be underpowered for some speaker systems. Careful speaker matching is important.

Similar Products Used:
NAD 372 Integrated Amplifier

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tahoe joe

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
A smashing amp! I've only had it for about a month now, and I'm in love with it already. Smooth, warm, deep and powerful sound. I agree with the other reviewers, that pairing is very important. It likes high quality speakers that are bright, fast and forward sounding. I have mine paired with Monitor Audio Silver rs6, and it sounds absolutely fantastic. The soundstage is huge and engaging. Bass is deep and warm, yet controlled and accurate. I really can't say enough about the sound. Sure there are better amps out there, but for this price? Look no more. I highly recommend this amp to anyone putting together a solid hi fi system on a budget.

Strengths:
Outstanding sound: warm, musical, and engaging
Huge soundstage presence
Plenty of clean power reserve
Looks sexy...the wife likes it
Low price = great value

Weaknesses:
Remote is finicky at best.
The volume knob could be better.
Speaker wire terminals in back are a little weak.
No performance weaknesses at all

Similar Products Used:
Rotel, NAD, Marantz

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Uptown Audio

Summary:
I need to preface this review by saying I have the 75 watt 640A v.2 as opposed to the older 65 watt model. I don't think this amp lacks for very much. The power is good on my Tannoys and the distortion is very low. Most types of music sound good. People wanting a colored sound will not find it here. The response is flat and clear. If you want a taste of the high end start with this amp. Better sound will cost twice as much at the least. Piano and plucked strings sound astonishing. It is brutally honest on horns with a good recording sounding like the instruments are in your room.

Strengths:
Honest fidelity

Weaknesses:
No midrange bloom to color or gloss over bad recordings.

Similar Products Used:
Jolida 801, some type of NAD product

Nimue

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.90 of 5, 10.00 votes

Price Paid:  $299.00 from richer sounds

Summary:
wow!!!! Think people need to listen to what they get for the dosh paid out. This amp is surprisingly lovely, rich bass, good build and warm. Partner it with the right speakers and u'd have to shell out £500 plus to better the sound. I love heavy dance but as a pianist, have a lot of piano concertos that i love listening to on my system.

Strengths:
clarity,warmth, surprisingly good build.

Weaknesses:
so hard to say. this is a budget amp that does way more than it's job. i own the original a60, this is just so much better to hear, doubt it will live as long tho. I actually own the cambridge azur 640 v2, only difference really being the extra 10 watts. This amp LOVES better speakers, i partner mine with Castle Conway 3's, an amazing combination. The Cambridge is quality with lesser speakers too

Similar Products Used:
Mordaunt Short ms 3/40's, castle stirlings (1988) Monitor Audio BR6, Castle Conway 3