Cambridge CXC Woes

[Haselsh1]

In April of last year I bought a Cambridge Audio CXC CD transport to use with my Audiolab MDAC. Fourteen months on and it has already started to play up. Two days ago, track one 3:34 into the track and it crashes. Last night, 4:44 into track one and it crashes. Switch off, switch back on and 9:30 into track four of the same album and it crashes. It requires a switch off and switch on to even release the CD.

So I call into action an old Sony multi format CD/SACD/DVD player as transport. Absolutely stunning ! The first thing I had to do on Zero 7's 'When It Falls' CD was turn down the sub volume. I then sit there in darkness and be amazed by the phenomenal increase in detail clearly hearing three voices where there used to be one.

Younger Brother's album 'A Flock of Bleeps' is another in question. A phenomenal increase in detail and clarity but on this CD and the Zero 7 CD there is such a huge improvement in the precision of the stereo image.

Mucho impressed.

[webby60]

Every cloud.....................:)
I'm guessing that the Cambridge only has a 12 month warranty?

[Macca]

Try the Sony without the MDAC Shaun, might be better again.

[Audio Al]

Contact Cambridge, fit for purpose is 3 years I understand , trading standards

[Ian7633]

Had my CXC a couple of years now and never missed a beat. That's bollocksed it now.

[Roy S]

Still like mine, used in conjunction with a Cyrus CDT through a Chord Hugo TT. The Cyrus is a little particular about what it plays so if it shrugs it's shoulders at a cd I switch to the CXC.

[Haselsh1]

Cheers for your comments guys. I have tried the Sony without the MDAC and it is bloody good but only really using SACD's. I didn't know about the extended warranty on this item. I certainly will check that out but in terms of sound quality, the Sony is way better through the MDAC using the 'optimaltransient' filter.

[Macca]

I've known Richer Sounds repair Cambridge gear free even out of warrantee. They are pretty good in that regard.

[Haselsh1]

OK so it appears that the Cambridge needed unplugging for a while as it was fine again last night.

My partner Sue decided she would take control last night and give things a bloody good listen herself. Starting with Zero 7 'When It Falls' which she is very familiar with she used the Sony as transport. After some tracks of that CD she swapped to the Cambridge CXC. Obvious differences. Then George Michael's 'Older' CD.

Having listened for quite some time the conclusion was drawn that the Cambridge Audio CXC was probably the best solution due to the large amount of acoustic and space that it resolved when compared to the Sony. The Sony though had more control in the low frequencies and a less bright sound.

I felt that the CXC was a more artificial sound but with a much more realistic vocal sound. Recorded acoustic and studio space was way more obvious with the CXC.

The final choice of filter in the MDAC was optimalspectrum. This gave the most natural sound from our system.

[Haselsh1]

Nah soddit ! The CXC has started crashing again. I think though after some considerable listening that the main difference between the CXC and the Sony is the closeness of the sound. The CXC has a seriously good space and ambience whereas the Sony is much more like vinyl tonally but much closer and more intimate. In my opinion and in my system, the Sony is bloody wonderful with jazz.

I have checked out the Richer Sounds website and I can't find any info on warranty repairs. There is info on less than 30 day jobs but no real mention on warranty T&C's.

[Pigmy Pony]

Probably best to phone them, or call in Shaun - I haven't met a Richer Sounds guy who's been any less than a perfectly decent human being, and I'd be surprised if they didn't help you out, warranty or no :)

[mikeyb]

Probably best to phone them, or call in Shaun - I haven't met a Richer Sounds guy who's been any less than a perfectly decent human being, and I'd be surprised if they didn't help you out, warranty or no :)That was going to be my advice too

[Alex_UK]

Slightly off topic, but Julian Richer is one of my businessmen heroes, and the fact that he basically gave the business to his colleagues is testimony to the lifeblood that runs through that business. Regardless of if it was turnips or hi-if, most anyone at Richer Sounds will do their best to keep a customer happy, and to keep a happy customer.

[Haselsh1]

Cheers so much you guys but I think I may have found the problem. Mains electricity.

I noticed yesterday that the Sony had two or three 'dropouts' but not complete crashes. I'm guessing that the Cambridge is maybe more susceptible to mains problems. I now have the digital stuff going through a Tacima filtered distribution block but haven't had a prolonged listen yet. I had a thirty minute session last night and the results were good but not perfect. One 'dropout' no crashes.

I think it is the fridge/freezer !

[Haselsh1]

Oh yes though, it doesn't explain why it has only recently started.

[Pigmy Pony]

Have you started putting anything different in your fridge freezer? Like vegan ready-meals? :) Is there something that can go between the fridge's plug and the wall socket, that could suppress the "switching" effect? Feel free to laugh at that one, I don't know if that's a thing or not.

[Haselsh1]

Have you started putting anything different in your fridge freezer? Like vegan ready-meals? :) Is there something that can go between the fridge's plug and the wall socket, that could suppress the "switching" effect? Feel free to laugh at that one, I don't know if that's a thing or not.

VEGAN...!

Honestly mate there is a device that can be wired into a plug that may be just the ticket for the frigid hare. I have to look into that one.

[willbewill]

Just a thought, do you use homeplugs? They caused lots of problems with my systems.

[Haselsh1]

Just a thought, do you use homeplugs? They caused lots of problems with my systems.

Malcolm, don't know what they are.

[willbewill]

Malcolm, don't know what they are.No need to worry then ;-)

[Lawrence001]

Just out of interest which Sony is it? Might have to rethink selling mine which is way down in the classifieds at the moment

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

[Haselsh1]

Wow... Since first starting this thread I have relocated to another part of the UK and gathered lots of boxes. I bunged it on to ebay and sold it as spares/repair and got 93 squids for it. Result..! I replaced it with a Denon DCD800NE CD player as a transport for use with the MDAC but found out that the Denon is way different to the Audiolab so will be using the Denon as a standalone player. The sound of the Denon is just so precise in comparison.