User manual CAMBRIDGE S80

[. . . ] Trying to understand what a player like this offers is easiest if split into roles. It can be connected up simply using phono cables, because it has `traditional' analogue outputs, in the form of phono sockets. There's a full set of eight (Front L&R, Centre, Surround L&R, Back L&R, Subwoofer) to feed an (old) receiver having analogue inputs only. With a player of this quality the HDMI digital multichannel link should be used in preference to analogue cables, but Cambridge provide a full set of phono outputs all the same, to aid compatibility with a wide range of older products out there. [. . . ] Used like this, where all processing is carried out in the receiver, the S80 becomes a transport, simply sending raw data to the receiver ­ and this is the best arrangement. Ironically, it makes all the onboard processing Cambridge include redundant, but then this affects all current Blu-ray players. Alternatively, to match older receivers unable to process anything other than basic digital code, or PCM, the S80 can be set to convert all proprietary digital formats to PCM before sending them out over the HDMI link. I tested both arrangements, as usual, using a 24/192 2L `Divertimenti' disc and the S80 converted SACD, DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD to PCM without difficulty. to Bitstream output), the Cambridge played a wide variety of CDs. HDCDs (remember them?), DVD-As and SACDs without a glitch, and it also played all varieties of Bluray movie soundtrack, from Dolby and DTS, as well as straight PCM, making it a great universal player. This is one of the UK's first players to do it all ­ and not at a daft price!Because the S80 carries as many video options as audio options, its set up menus are extensive and the handbook is required reading. Ominously, there is a `get you going` wizard and, in the tradition of wizards, pioneered by Microsoft, it was nonsensical, saying press `OK" when there was no OK to press (they mean Enter) and asking a user to choose a video output, with no instructions on how to do so. . . Blu-ray players are deadly slow to load and ­ more annoyingly ­ to unload. The S80 is advertised as being `fast' ­ and it is, taking just 10 seconds to load a Blu-ray disc or CD, and 5 seconds to stop and eject either. Formatting must be in FAT32, which both PCs and MACs can read and write to, but the S80 will not read AAC music files from iTunes, only MP3, WMA and WMA Pro and PCM. There is an ethernet socket on the rear panel too, for wired connection to an internet router. Where some machines even now will not see my standard Netgear router the S80 did immediately, via DHCP. This allows software update and BD Live, about which I know nothing ­ and I want to keep it that way!Masochists can set the router information manually and, usefully, the player declares its MAC Address so it can be spotted on a LAN client list. Camcorder users may like to know that AVCHD video can be read from disc too. SOUND My first impression of this player's sound was that it was lush and smooth, and produced unusually well defined, firm images ­ even after rigorous comparative tests against a Samsung BD-P1600. I used both machines as a transport to feed raw digital to the Marantz receiver for processing, so there should be no difference between them. Where I have always felt my 2L disc of Divertimenti sounded a draw, pressed Play and `Bad Romance' little shrill when playing 24/192 PCM, shook the room with its pulsive Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD Master synths and Gaga's anthemic yells. Audio streams into the Marantz Again, the Cambridge sounds fulsome for processing from the Samsung, and propulsive, but detailed too. It's a the S80 produced a fuller, great listen and a lot of fun. Whatever denser sound that was altogether I threw at the player, from 24/192 in more balanced and impressive. [. . . ] - small display panel music with vivid insight but sufficient smoothness to be both plausible and Frequency response with CD via -6dB 0. 0016 acceptable, it was a the analogue outputs, shown in our -60dB 0. 25 masterful demo. I fancy analysis, measured flat from 5Hz to -80dB 4. 3 21kHz. Bass management put in the the alternative SACD usual filtering below 200Hz. Separation (1kHz) 109dB disc sounded denser With SACD analogue output is and warmer, if perhaps surprisingly from the DSD layer, not the Noise (IEC A) -125dB a trifle turgid, but CD layer, shown by a high frequency differences like this are limit of 34kHz, above the limit of CD. [. . . ]