SOUND ADVICE - Cambridge Audio 640R A/V Receiver

Building on the huge success of the award-winning Azur 640R, Cambridge Audio is proud to introduce its new 650R AV receiver featuring full HDMI 1.3c reception and processing.

The hugely powerful yet simple to use 650R decodes all the latest surround sound formats and its immense video capability is coupled with 7 x 100 Watt audiophile grade discrete amplifier stages. This awesome combination is guaranteed to reproduce the most demanding movie soundtracks and music with all the passion their creators intended.

Using a completely new Cirrus Logic / Crystal chipset with the latest twin core 32-bit DSPs, Cambridge Audio has enabled full support for Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution and the superb new Lossless Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats.

DTS speaker re-mapping allows the playback of DTS-HD High Resolution or Master Audio formats with encoded height information on standard 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 speaker setups.

A new video PCB with digital-domain video transcode means the 650R can also transcode analogue video inputs to HDMI for simplicity and flexibility, requiring just one cable to the TV screen.

The 650R is also the first to feature Cambridge Audio Mic Controlled Auto Set-up (CAMCAS) with a supplied microphone for extremely quick and easy installation. And completing the perfect picture, LipSync audio delay means the user can simply adjust for processing delays in the source or TV.
But perhaps most critically, whereas some manufacturers optimise their AVRs for features and processing ability, sound quality, whether with music or movies is critical to the brand’s values. Indeed Cambridge Audio truly believes the new 650R to be its best sounding AV receiver to date. Key to this claim are the 650R’s seven 100 Watt audiophile grade fully discrete amplifiers which are kept separate from the processing and input stages and feature a substantial power supply and an oversize low flux toroidal transformer. This careful design of the amplifier stages ensures that the 650R can replicate the dynamics and scale required for the most demanding movie soundtracks whilst also being able to reproduce a genuinely musical performance with either stereo or multi-channel music sources. .

A full range of digital and analogue inputs enables connection of a plethora of source equipment including the latest Blu-ray players such as Cambridge Audio’s own 650BD. The 650R subsequently decodes inputs into stereo, stereo and sub or the latest digital surround formats including Dolby Digital Plus, DTS- HD High Resolution, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio in 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1. It’s also capable of decoding analogue or digital stereo sources in Dolby Pro Logic® II or IIx and DTS Neo:6, again in 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 variants for a convincing and effective surround experience from a matrix encoded stereo source. Post-processing of 2.0, 5.1 or 6.1 digital material is also possible with PLIIx or DTS Neo:6 to turn these formats into full 7.1.
The 650R carries a 5.1/ 6.1 /7.1 channel analogue input for connection of a DVD Audio or SACD player equipped with a 5.1 output and is also compatible with future external 6.1 or 7.1 audio formats. Multi-channel PCM over HDMI is supported for playback of lossless content. As well as the full complement of audio inputs, the 650R performs composite, S-video and component video input switching and transcoding to HDMI. The component video inputs and outputs are progressive scan and HDTV compatible and the unit features full On Screen Display on all video outputs.