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Review 3 of 3
Price Paid:
$89.00
from AVHiFi Summary:
It really is amazing that you can buy this little gem for less than $100. I don’t know how they do it. Building it in China helps keep the labor costs down, but I’m still blown away by the 540P’s sound and build quality. The casework is top notch and on par with units costing far more. The components are not in the same league as much more expensive stages but are certainly acceptable and, judging by the sound, closely matched. One reason for the great sonics may be the use of discrete transistors for the input stages (you will usually encounter cheap opamps in this price range). Another may be the circuit design and dual mono configuration.
As for the sound, this unit has a nice, open sonic quality that is detailed but never harsh or fatiguing. Low and high frequency extension is excellent. Rhythm and timing are very good. It is easy to follow complex bass lines. Imaging and sound staging are a bit one dimensional and constricted compared to much higher priced units but noticeably better than many in the 540P’s price range (and above).
I’ve had some experience with the Parasound PPH-100 (with upgraded Burr Brown opamps) and Creek OBH-8se (discrete transistors). Both are nice units and match the build quality of the Cambridge. However, in a direct comparison with the 540P, the Parasound is not as smooth and detailed and the bass is not as refined. The Creek, which cost about three times as much as the Cambridge when it was being produced, is detailed and extended but at the expense some hardness and glare (in this case, I am relying on memory, though).
I haven’t sampled, nor would I want to sample, every entry level phono stage. There are other units by NAD, Pro-ject, Music Hall, KAB, Creek, etc. All are good for the money, I am sure. But when you consider that the Cambridge can be had for less (in some cases, much less) than any of these other units, I don’t see any reason to pay more. The QED Discsaver costs about the same as the 540P, but I don’t see how a cheap plastic chassis with low grade parts can compete with the Cambridge.
The five-star rating for sound is in the context of entry level and intermediate phono stages. It isn’t going to put Pass Labs, EAR, or Manley Labs out of business, that’s for sure! But I feel the 540P is a definite overachiever. I’d give it ten stars for value if it were possible. Strengths:
Build quality
Parts quality
Sound quality
An amazing bargain for the money. Weaknesses:
Somewhat wimpy wall wart power supply.
Will not handle low output MC cartridges (the 640P is equipped for this, however). Similar Products Used:
Parasound PPH-100, Creek OBH-8se, various built-in phono stages
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5 of 5
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