CEDIA Discoveries—Cambridge Audio Announces Blu-ray/Universal Player & more

No doubt about it: Cambridge Audio is on the same wavelength with many AVguide and Playback readers in terms of its commitment to produce new A/V components that promise high levels of performance at sensible prices. A perfect case in point would be Cambridge Audio’s new 650BD Blu-ray/Universal player as announced at last month’s CEDIA Expo 2009. The 650BD, priced at $779, which will support Blu-ray, DVD-Video/Audio, SACD, HDCD, and conventional CD discs, and that also provides a USB port for reading/playing files from USB memory devices. The 650BD is slated to begin shipping just a few weeks from now, by October 31, 2009.

But as late night infomercials are fond of stating, “wait, there’s more.” At CEDIA, Cambridge also announced a powerful new A/V receiver, the 650R, which will deliver 7 x 107 Wpc (no doubt conservatively rated, as is standard Cambridge practice), that makes extensive use of HDMI 1.3c (no, that’s not a typo) inputs, and that provides built-in, automated room/speaker setup functions. The 650R will be priced at $1799, and is slated for release a day after the 650BD Blu-ray player—by November 1, 2009.

Finally, taking the theme of affordable performance into a new-for-Cambridge arena, the firm used CEDIA as a vehicle to introduce an entire range of affordable new loudspeakers. Though it is not common knowledge, Cambridge Audio and the loudspeaker manufacturer Mordaunt-Short are sister companies, so that Mordaunt-Short supplied know-how and assistance as Cambridge prepared its speaker line. The range includes the S20 mini-monitors ($169/pair), S30 stand-mount monitors ($259/pair), the S70 floorstanders ($599/pair), and the S90 subwoofer ($350/each). 

With the arrival of the new speaker family, it will become possible for the first time to assemble an all-Cambridge home theater surround system, from disc player to AVR on through to speakers and sub(s).   

For more information, visit: www.cambridgeaudio.com