Cambridge Audio 540P user manual Introduction, About this phono pre-amplifier

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing this Cambridge Audio azur series phono pre- amplifier. It is the result of our ongoing research and development program for over three decades of producing high quality audio products. We hope that you will appreciate the results and enjoy many years of listening pleasure.

About this phono pre-amplifier

The design of a high quality but cost-effective phono pre-amplifer presents a major challenge. Providing first-class performance on an unlimited budget is one matter; achieving the same performance within tight price limits is quite another, and requires all the expertise and experience that Cambridge Audio brings to its product design process. We believe we have succeeded in our aim of creating a first-class affordable product.

The 540P features a moving magnet stage whilst the 640P offers moving magnet and moving coil stages. Both use discrete transistors for the all-important input stages instead of the more common integrated circuits.

Both are designed to produce high gain and linearity, without requiring massive amounts of negative feedback to achieve low distortion. These new models also employ a single-ended ‘Class A’ gain stage with audiophile passive RIAA equalisation.

High quality components are used throughout such as 1% metal film resistors and close tolerance polypropylene capacitors.

The 640P uses more exotic amplification circuitry to provide even lower distortion and noise plus the higher gain stage for MC cartridges. In addition, the 640P employs multi-parallel capacitors to achieve exceptional RIAA accuracy of only 0.3dB up to 50kHz and features a defeatable subsonic filter.

Now we invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy!

Matthew Bramble

Technical Director

2Azur phono pre-amplifier