Cambridge Audio Azur 740C CD player

The 740C is the latest in Cambridge Audio's Azur series of CD players. Using the upsampling technology present in the top-of-the-range 840C barnstormer, now married to dual Wolfson WM8740 24-bit DACs with a newly developed Bessel implementation of the proprietary virtual earth balanced filtering, the 740C is set to rejuvenate the mid price sector. The 740C incorporates the same 32-bit DSP as the 840C and upsamples to full 24-bit 384 kHz. The 740C is the first CD player at the price to provide upsampling technology, a benefit normally bestowed upon products costing up to six times as much. Key to the abilities of the 740C is ATF (Adaptive Time Filtering) an upsampling process developed in conjunction with Anagram Technologies of Switzerland. This system intelligently interpolates 16-bit/44.1 kHz CD (or other) audio data to 24-bit/384 kHz through the use of a 32-bit Analog Devices Black Fin DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for the very best sound quality. The ATF system applies sophisticated polynomial curve fitting interpolation and incorporates a time domain model which allows data buffering and re-clocking. This almost completely eradicates digital jitter. The 740C uses an enhanced version of Cambridge Audio's proprietary Dual Differential Virtual Earth Balanced filter topology. As the upsampled audio data rate is so high, aliasing artifacts are moved well above audible frequencies, this in turn means a new low order two pole linear-phase Bessel version of the topology can be used for constant group delay and minimal phase shift in the audio band. Two high quality Wolfson WM8740 24-bit DACs (Digital to Analogue Converters) are used in dual differential mode. As each channel has its own DAC to process information, completely separate and symmetrical analog filter circuitry can be implemented. These allow both left and right channel circuitry to operate identically, ensuring the 740C delivers fantastic sound-staging and stereo imaging properties. The unit is equipped with two digital inputs allowing other digital sources to be brought into the 740C and upsampled so that the 740C works as a prodigiously high quality DAC. A digital output is also fitted which can even output upsampled data at various rates and word widths, independent from the main audio output, which is always set at 24/384kHz for best sound quality. In addition to these audiophile features Control Bus Input/Output and IR emitter inputs are provided to make it easy to integrate this unit into custom installations if desired. All this proprietary engineering is housed within the low resonance, acoustically dampened chassis. An Azur navigator style remote is also provided, giving full control of your CD player and Azur amplifiers in an attractive and easy to use handset. As an additional facet, all Cambridge Audio remotes feature iPod Command - which means that basic iPod controls such as volume and track select can be controlled from the comfort of the user's armchair. This boon requires the use of an Apple or other universal dock.