Recently bought off eBay: a Cambridge Audio P50 integrated amplifier.
I have always wanted one of these amplifiers since they first appeared on the market and I started getting involved with Hi-Fi. Not only did they receive very good reviews at the time, what also attracted me was the beautiful elegant styling. Only B&O displayed an equally similar styling.
The elegant, slim, ‘low-profile’ look was achieved by using a toroidal mains transformer. I believe Cambridge Audio were one of the first to use toroidal transformers. I also liked the look of the metal knobs and switches. Again, this was a refreshing change from the cheap plastic ‘toothpaste cap’ knobs used on current equipment at that time (apart from some up-market Japanese designs, but then they used those ugly ‘clunky’ toggle switches).
Being an impecunious student, I simply could not afford to buy one.
(In those days I had to build my amplifiers.)
Looks good doesn’t it? It was basically in good condition, with no ‘dings’, scratches or rubbed lettering, but it was not particularly clean. Thanks to a very useful article in the AoS Library:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7659 (
), the amp scrubbed up well!
It now joins a Cambridge Audio T55 tuner, in what may become a third system.