Price Paid:  $300.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
Overall the CD4 is a fine sounding CD Player, very capable especially for the money. It does have reliability problems as mentioned by an earlier reviewer. I took one back coz it kept skipping. The replacement has worked fine for 3 years now, although now the display has given up and left a blank screen.

Strengths:
Good build. Good sound. Simple to use and nice chunky engineering , a poor mans Linn?

Weaknesses:
Been known to have skipping problems. Display is poor and now packed up

Similar Products Used:
same priced Yamaha

Price Paid:  $275.00 from Applause Audio

Summary:
Purchased some 2 years ago, and listened lots of other CD players, but still very much satisfied.

On the back panel " Digital to analog conversion designed in conjunction with Pink Triangle" !!! Very interesting.

If you have enough space behind the speakers, very deep space! Also firm bass, and very articulate midrange with a lot of air.

What I most like in it is the musicality. It is very involving, and makes you just enjoy the music. This is what I miss from most audiophile products.

It is the greatest for me on human voice. Just loves operas!Nicely reveals the 'natural' character of instruments. Little coloration. Probably great for country too.

On the flip side, not suited well for big bands, or symphony, or other very complex music. Some may find the overall picture a little bit dark.


Used with Cambridge Audio A1 MK3, XLO inteconnect, bi-wired XLO pro speaker cables, and Acustic Energy AE100 speakers.

Strengths:
Very musical, involving, build quality, great for human voice

Weaknesses:
does not handle easily complex music, display

Price Paid:  $175.00

Summary:
Picked up a used one on eBay. Well worth the price paid. I tried the Cap Plug tweek mentioned in and earlier review. It does work.

Strengths:
Good Stereo image and detail for the price.

Weaknesses:
Slightly rough at times for classical (not smooooth enough for strings).

Similar Products Used:
CD4SE, D300

Price Paid:  $210.00 from Sound City

Summary:
I use the Cambridge in my analog system; VPI turntable, Rega
arm and cartridge, McIntosh MC240 amp and MX110 tuner/preamp and Near 50Me speakers. I find the Cambridge to have more clarity and detail than the NAD 514, but lacks the warmth/you are there feeling of the Arcam. But, I really like the Cambridge for the money, and I feel the build quality is a step above the NAD. I have owned the Cambridge CD4 for over one year and had no reliability problems. I would recommend the Cambridge to anyone wanting quality CD sound for an entry level price. 5 Star value, honest 4 star sound.

Strengths:
A very nice neutral and detailed sound.

Weaknesses:
Display is hard to read.

Similar Products Used:
Arcam Alpha 5+ and NAD 514.

Price Paid:  $225.00 from Richer Sounds, Bristol

Summary:
This is CD player that is very good for the price. It has a very natural sound and you feel in nearly all cases that you are hearing the sounds that the artists who recorded the music wanted you to hear. It can sound a bit clumsy at times when things get complex, but during quietier moments it really comes into its own (within it's price range). I used to own a Sony and compared it to a Sherwood Multichanger, and the extra detail from this player was easily audible. Recommended to almost anyone, except maybe people with systems that they think already sound a bit too flat.

I used it with:

B&W 602 speakers
Cambridge A3i Amp (since changed to NAD 340, I actually think the NAD makes a better pairing with the CD player than the Cambridge amp!)

I later added a Cambridge DACMAGIC 2 (note: not 2i), which made little to no difference, so I wouldn't recommend trying to upgrade the CD4 with this.

Strengths:
Neutral, uncoloured presentation - very natural sound.

Weaknesses:
Can sound a bit flat / shows up poor quality recordings.

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Sherwood