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.