Cambridge Audio Azur 650BD

The 650BD is Cambridge Audio’s latest take on the universal disc player, a breed of player that Cambridge have had great success with, starting with the DVD89 DVD universal. The 650BD plays high resolution Blu-ray discs and decodes the accompanying new audio formats and also plays legacy formats such as DVD-Audio/Video, SACD, CD and a variety of computer based formats off physical BD/DVD discs or through its USB inputs. High quality Crystal 192kHz/24-bit DACs and full on-board audio decoding takes care of the latest high resolution audio formats and delivers audio to your AV processor in digital or analogue form. With a versatile set of outputs (HDMI, component, S-video, composite, S/PDIF, coaxial, optical, 7.1 analogue), the 650BD can be slotted into almost any system, past or present. The only thing absent is the Scart output from older Cambridge Audio DVD players. Not a big deal unless you are still using an Euro-centric TV with Scart inputs.



When the pre-launch information on the 650BD was released, sceptics flooded internet AV forums, seizing upon real and imagined similarities with the popular Oppo BDP-83 player, proclaiming the Cambridge another expensive Oppo clone like the infamous Lexicon (take one $US500 OPPO, add some fancy casework and voila, a $US3500 BDP). Pretty soon the Cambridge Audio CEO posted an official riposte; any similarities were down to both companies using the same basic Mediatek building blocks. Mediatek is a major supplier of Blu-ray technology so it was no surprise more than one company would turn to them for a cost effective BD solution. Mediatek supplies the basic engine (video chipset, transport, operating software), customers can then fine tune DACs, power supplies etc. They were a natural partner given Cambridge’s past success with Mediatek’s DVD applications in models like the DVD89/99, 540D et al.

Unpacking the 650BD from an admittedly very Oppo-like box and protective bag, and you are greeted by Cambridge’s classy brushed aluminium faceplate, complemented by new look, soft edged, less resonant, wrap around casework. The rest of the faceplate follows standard Cambridge disc player layout of basic transport controls and the clear blue display panel, with the addition of a USB port. Turn the player around and there’s a nicely laid out rear panel offering a wealth of output options, plus Ethernet input and another USB input. The only notable omission is the lack of dedicated two channel audio outputs.



The remote handset is an old-fashioned affair, slim and nice to hold but festooned with many unlit, similarly sized buttons, identified by eye straining legends.

Plug it in and you are greeted with a six step setup wizard, that in the immortal words of the cringeworthy Freeview TV guy, makes setup so “easy-peasy” that almost everyone will have this player running in ten minutes tops.

As with past universal players, the first stop was to test the 650BD’s chops as an audio disc player. Plugged into my music system (Krell integrated amp, Magnepan speakers, XLO cables) via the analogue outputs, Pure Audio engaged (which turns off the video section except for the HDMI output, necessary for the synchronisation clock when HDMI is used) the 650BD was a surprisingly good listen. It may be boxed like an Oppo, have an onscreen menu like an Oppo but it sure didn’t sound like an Oppo. Here was a player with a lively, balanced sound that didn’t put me to sleep (unlike the OPPO). It won’t replace my regular disc players (Marantz CD-23, Denon DVD-3910 for hi-rez SACD, DVD-A) but for a predominantly video disc player, the Cambridge did an excellent job with music discs (CD, SACD, DVD-A). Soundstaging was a little compressed but images were focussed and dimensional. Tonally the sound was clear and open, with good detail and punchy, well resolved bass. Dynamically this was one of those rare video-based players with plenty of get-up and go. Overall, a very listenable player with no major weaknesses.

Moving along to video (connected via HDMI to my Rotel/Energy/Pioneer home theatre system) and the 650BD turned in a fine performance with Blu-ray. Quick start up and loading times with curiously, more mechanical noise from the player with BD than DVD or audio discs. BD pictures were sharp and detailed with low noise, excellent colour saturation and shadow detail. The accompanying sound was clean, detailed and punchy, reproducing a convincing sound field to match the images onscreen. BD playback was as good as any other top BD player I've had in house (Oppo, Panasonic, Sony). However, the lack of any advanced SD video processing resulted in DVD playback that was good but distinctly second to BD, noisier and less detailed, with occasional video artifacts.

Currently the Cambridge is in a class of one, where it does a commendable job as a jack-of-all trades. Blu-ray playback is as good as any player I’ve used. DVD playback is not on the same exalted plane but still pretty good. The excellent audio playback isn’t embarrassed by dedicated audio disc players. Superior build quality, ease of use and fair pricing makes the Cambridge 650BD hard to ignore.

Cambridge Audio Azur 650BD Blu-ray Universal Player $1199.