Incredible power, terrific look, no distortion

I purchased this amplifier with the Cambridge Audio D500SE CD player, Klipsch SP1 speakers and 150$ connectors in addition of 300$ worth of high quality cables to the speakers. The result is the most incredible sound system I ever heard in my life. Formidable bass, highs that never distort... If you listen to jazz, voices, chords or techno this is exactly the system you need.


Little anecdote:
When I first setup my system and I made it in a hurry, so I didn't pay attention to details, so when I turned the volume to the maximum (with no music playing, of course) I heard a very little electric noise; I double-checked my connections to the speakers and put my video player that was next to it on another shelve and that was it... this sound speaker don't have any noise at all. Even at the maximum level, there is no distortion.

warm detailed sound, powerfull, true sound

none

this amp match to the d500 cd really drives the music cleanly, sounds are very well detailed. The price is right on target for my budget wich is around 600$ cnd. great details on highs, bass and also mid (but this could be also related to the cd and speakers...but I noticed a nad 540cd play also great on it, and not as well on a Nad c340 amp...so the amp surely helps alot). I listen mostly to rock, but slowly finding a liking for some classical, and it drives both very well.

I'm not an expert on audio equipement..., but I surely know what I like and what as geat detail and sounds true, and this amp does it better than any I heard in this price range.

I know that there are better sounding amp out there (I listened to McIntosh equipement....niiicceeee), but the price is also much higher!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Nad, denon, yamaha, onkyo.

Musical, clarity, dynamic.

There really are 2 models of this amp.

If you read below, there is confusion as to whether there are two models of this amp. No matter what Cambridge may tell you there are two models. If you go to HiFiChoice.co.uk and look through the archived reviews you will find two reviews for the A500. The one for the second model, will refer to the first version and comment on why Cambridge did not change the name slightly. They comment on how the new model has more power than the original's 50 watts. They also compare the two models and conclude the new version A500 is an improvement and they give it their recommendation that they did not give to the first model.
This change happened over two years ago, so if you buy one now from a dealer, you can be pretty sure it is the newer model. (I Hope).

Similar Products Used:

A3i, P55

Wow, what a great little Amp!

Wow, what a confusing "Certificate"!

My certificate states:

"The A500 maximum output power of 50 watts rms
into 8 ohms, or 85 watts rms into 6 ohms, ...."

Huh? It's not 50/60, but it's not 65/85 either!

I guess I have the 'only' model, anyway.
Good bargain. I'd recommend the A500 to anyone.

Warm, relaxed, smooth sound; "Direct" switch for pure sound; generous "audiophile" features for price; bi-wiring terminals

Confusion over UK specs; very basic remote control

For £200, it would be fair to agree with the UK Hi-fi press in saying that this is among the best amps available for the price. With plenty of power and flexbility, and high quality build and components, there is little to complain about (although some have criticised its "inconsistency" and "looseness"). It seems to provide good clarity of music, with a luscious mid-range. Perhaps its only weakness, as with most budget amps, is its failure to hold onto a firm bass-line with more demanding music (particularly dance), although this has a lot to do with the speakers it is coupled with.

My only problem remaining after one month of usage is the confusion over the UK specifications. I fall into the category of those with certificates quoting "50W into 8ohms and 85W into 6ohms", which disagrees with the specs sheet quoting 50W and 60W respectively, which disagrees in turn with the web site which rates 65W and 85W respectively. The conservative speaker compatibility suggests 6-16ohms, but the web site quotes 4-16ohms, which in my opinion is a critical difference given that many larger speakers have a nominal impedance which dips down to 4 ohms at times.

In my case, I am using it with Eltax Liberty 5+ floorstander speakers, with nominal impedance of 4-8ohms and Maximum Continuous Power handling of 100W RMS. I get no sense of the amp struggling to power these relatively demanding speakers, even approaching high volumes, but I remain reluctant to push it until I have confirmation of the UK specs. Anyone with any up-to-date pertinent info would be thanked if they could contact me with this info.

Overall then, little to complain about bar Cambridge Audio's poor communication (it seems impossible to contact them directly by e-mail or phone). A sound that will certainly satisfy anyone looking for a powerful clean budget amp.

Direct button (makes it a pass through, not altering the sound), good sound, remote control light switch buttoin on remote!

remote is volume only and moves the dial quite a bit so I cant listen to it at night unless i get up and turn it down manually, cant switch input on remote

Good amp. It it well coupled with the P500 power amp. the sound is very tight and clean. I am using it with Mission 702e speakers, a marantz cd 6000ose and Cambridge Audio interconnects (the yellow ones - which arre the same as used inside the amps apparently!) and gale 3.1 bi-wire.
I haven't turned it up too loud yet cause it is fairly powerful. the specs may not sound it, but it certainly sounds like it could be a lot more than the 50w or whatever is listed. I couldnt really be happier other than the volume problem and the inability to switch inputs (both of which I 'd rather go without to get this quality sound).
I dont know what the product year is, so i just put last year in.

THIS AMP IS VERY GOOD VALUE FOR THE DOLLAR. IT IS AN ENTRY LEVEL HI-END INTEGRATED AMP RATED AT 85WPC AT 6OHM AND SOUNDS EVERY BIT OF IT. WARM, DETAILED, VERY CLEAN AND POWERFUL. THE PREAMP SECTION IS QUITE GOOD AND FEATURES BASS AND TREBLE TONE CONTROLS WHICH CAN BE BYPASSED. IT PRODUCES A FAIRLY LARGE SOUNDSTAGE WITH CRISP HIGHS AND DEEP CONTROLLED BASS. TEAMED WITH THE CAMBRIDGE AUDIO D500 CD PLAYER AND VANDERSTEEN 1C LOUDSPEAKERS I HAVE A SYSTEM THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT COST $10,000!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Powerful bass and good frequency separation / clarity

Remote control for volume only, adjusts volume in large increments

I can confirm the info that Andy Pizza gives in his review of the A500. I have spoken to Neil, one of the engineers at Cambridge Audio U.K. where these amps are built for the world market. He told me that the power output info quoted on the Cambridge Audio website i.e. 65 WPC @ 4ohms is correct for all A500's ever sold on the world market. And no, the Americans and Canadians have never received a more powerful version!!!! So let us now and forever lay these misconceptions and myths to rest!!!!

I have my A500 connected to Mission 701's and this seems to be a very effective partnership. The amp produces a very solid deep bass and a crisp treble. Mid-range is well defined and music is projected well into the room. I listen mainly to hard rock music and the amp copes well with the typical snarling bass guitar rhythms quite easily even if you push it hard. It also produces classical very well, so well in fact that I have started listening to a little classical whereas formerly I was not a fan!! The amp is of a high build quality with gold-plated line-level inputs and a stylish aluminium fascia. There are pre-outs for a sub woofer if needed. I recommend the A500 wholeheartedly.

Clarity, soundstage, bass control.

Nothing at the price.

I have listening to this amp for more than a year now, with D500 as a source and a pair of Avance Omega 530's. The A500/D500 system was recommended in the press, and it is with no doubt worth the recommendations. I have listened to similarly priced combos from NAD, AMC, ROTEL and MARANTZ, and CA was simply better. An excellen all-arounder, from deep and controlled bass, through open and sweet mids, to clean and detailed highs.

Trying to complete the system I have stubled upon Triangle Zephyr speakers, and here is a word of warning: with these speakers which are exellent for tube amps, and probably with many other speakers, the CAs sound too shiny; on the other hand, with JPW 610s they were muffled and lifeless, so you have to take your time to match the CA electronics with the right speakers. An it is definetly worth the time, as complemented by the Avances (2-way, floor standing, built on VIFA speakers), the Brits really sing!

The amp is as neutral and dynamic at the same time, as I think it can be at below US$ 1k.

After a few months, I have exchanged Audioquest Turquoise connector with a pure silver, multistrand cable (ALBEDO, probably not available outside Poland) and the difference was ENORMOUS! I could say the Audioquest is useless - definetly not worth the US$ 45 I paid for it, not even US$ 4.5 in comparison to the US$ 120 silver wire. I have yet to look at quality speaker cables like ALBEDO, SILTECH or FLATLINE (currently I am using SONIC LINK AST 200). I expect another major improvement here.

Although my review is slightly off the subject, it might be useful for beginners like me a year ago. Anyway, the CAMBRIDGE AUDIO equipment is worth every penny, and especially the amp is an excellent base of an entry level system.

Similar Products Used:

Creek 4330, Yamaha 492