BD/SACD player: Cambridge Audio AZUR 650BD

Originally Posted by Stimby

I don't see gold plated connectors on the back though - the cheaper Oppo has those.

Originally Posted by hdblu

I found this Looks interesting
It's taken a fair amount of time after the introduction of PS3 before we saw the first SACD-compatible BD player but now they're coming one after the other (see more universal players here). The latest brand to announce one is Cambridge Audio. The model is called azur 650BD.




Besides BD Profile 2.0 (BonusView and BD-Live), SACD and of course CD and DVD-Video also DVD-Audio and HDCD are supported.

Apparently the on-screen menus, or the Graphical User Interface if you will, look very similar to the Oppo's. The rear panel however suggests these two players do not share the same chassis.

The azur 650BD is scheduled for release in November 2009 at a price of €799.

Originally Posted by duggy40

I wonder and hope it's gonna pass DVD-A/SACD via HDMI.
I would think so,huh???

Interestingly the 650BD supports all high-resolution audio formats including DVDA and SACD, both can be output via HDMI, or output through the 7.1 channel analogue outputs.

Originally Posted by Cambridge Audio

The forthcoming Cambridge Audio 650BD is based on the Mediatek MTK8520/MTK8575 chipset. Cambridge Audio of course have a long relationship with Mediatek having based our DVD89/99, DV30 and 540D V1 and V2 DVD players on various Mediatek platforms.

Originally Posted by Smarty-pants

True that Mr. rdgrimes.
However, still curious what level of quality the audio will be coming out of this player.

Each manufacturer then edits these to greater or lesser extent to add their own flavour of sockets, DACs, power supplies etc. as they see fit.

Originally Posted by Cambridge Audio

The forthcoming Cambridge Audio 650BD is based on the Mediatek MTK8520/MTK8575 chipset. Cambridge Audio of course have a long relationship with Mediatek having based our DVD89/99, DV30 and 540D V1 and V2 DVD players on various Mediatek platforms.

When we decided to enter the Blu-ray market we did in fact investigate several alternatives but the sophistication and performance of the Mediatek platform made it a natural choice. As you would expect we are not the only brand to be using Mediatek development kits and application software, Oppo being the most well known other brand. Actually generally brands like us prefer to use platforms that are also used by other customers as it means that when/if issues with discs and playback formats are found everyone is feeding back into a common knowledge pool (Mediatek in this case) and all brands benefit in terms of the reliability and robustness of the chipset.

In terms of what Mediatek offer each customer the processor includes an OSD generator and tools for defining setup menus and the like. In fact Mediatek supply application code that gives an excellent framework for this. This does of course mean that any machine based on the chipset is very likely to have a similar look and feel to the On-Screen Display.

Ditto the connectors can be similar as there are various guidelines and designs included for PCB layout. Each manufacturer then edits these to greater or lesser extent to add their own flavour of sockets, DACs, power supplies etc. as they see fit.

So, in short, CA and Oppo or others actually have no relation. We are merely connected by our relationship with the actual chipset supplier, Mediatek.

James Johnson-Flint
CEO, Cambridge Audio Ltd / Audio Partnership Plc

Originally Posted by Nascar_984

I will wait for some measurements and open chassis pictures on the 650BD but from what we have been told I doubt much if anything will be better or different from the oppo.

Originally Posted by JohnAV

I note in the brochure: The 650BD is a multi region DVD player, so there is no need to
throw out all your old DVDs!

Interesting you advertise this tidbit, is this allowed for the USA market?

Originally Posted by alebonau

one of the criticisms of oppo product for me has always been their dacs, power supplies used and analog implementation. Something I'm sure the like s of cambridge could do much to improve upon.

Originally Posted by rdgrimes

As has already been stated, this player has nothing in common with the Oppo BDP-83. VERY different machines.

Originally Posted by alebonau

one of the criticisms of oppo product for me has always been their dacs, power supplies used and analog implementation. Something I'm sure the like s of cambridge could do much to improve upon.