Cambridge Audio and Richer Sounds

[Simpo Two]

It seems odd that the only outlet for Cambridge Audio products is Richer Sounds. Are they connected? http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/dealers

Is it a retail chain that makes its own kit, or a maker with its own retail chain? Just trying to work out which is chicken and which is egg.

[anonymous-user]

I seem to recall that Richer Sounds bought Cambridge Audio a few years ago, or at least the exclusive use of the name. I might have dreamt it though.

[trashbat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Partnership

[LotusMartin]

really disappointed with my Cambridge Audio floor standers and surround sound set, wish I'd spent a bit more on a proven brand. linked to an Onkyo SR607. just no depth or richness of sound. might just be my ears though.

[anonymous-user]

LotusMartin said:

really disappointed with my Cambridge Audio floor standers and surround sound set, wish I'd spent a bit more on a proven brand. linked to an Onkyo SR607. just no depth or richness of sound. might just be my ears though.

I'd tend to agree; back a few years when I first put my cinema kit list together, I demo'd some CA S70 floorstanders (at Richers) - tinny...thats how I could best describe them. I ended up with some Wharfedale 10.1 stand mounters - to this day they've been brilliant. I did get 2 CA S90 subs, but they were also awful, and one packed up completely within 6 months anyway.

Overall I've found that CA produce some pretty average speakers, but have produced some stellar disc spinners in the last few years (651 through to 752 have been brilliant). I see them as 7/10 of an Oppo, but at half the price most of the time. If they could re-design their remotes, and tweak a few bits, they'd be onto a winner

I'm not sure what their AVR's are like, never demo'd those.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks guys; I did think they looked rather like a PC accessory - and the 'product details' are full of marketing BS rather than facts.

Has anyone listened to their 'Minx' range as per my other thread? I suppose I'll have to fight my way into Cambridge and demot them.

[Rick101]

Had a few bits over the years.

Making some cheaper stuff these days which I'm not that keen on. Some of their top end stuff is excellent value.

[Wozy68]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks guys; I did think they looked rather like a PC accessory - and the 'product details' are full of marketing BS rather than facts.

Has anyone listened to their 'Minx' range as per my other thread? I suppose I'll have to fight my way into Cambridge and demot them.

I think its a pretty damn shame that CA is now built in China, I'm guessing a lot of UK hifi has gone that way. I was told CA co owner and Richer were big mates from a long time back.

[Honestherbert]

I found the CA amps and disc players are an excellent value for money compared with other higher end brands, but agree the speakers just don't seem the same quality as the other products they sell.

[telecat]

CA Electronics are OK for their price point. I would expect them to last as well as most Chinese electronics though. Many "old" names are now made over in China but the British built versions are more sought after. The Audiolab 8000A being a case in point. The chinese built ones are not considered as good.

[Simpo Two]

telecat said:

CA Electronics are OK for their price point. I would expect them to last as well as most Chinese electronics though

But does that include the speakers? That's all I'm interested in... and with the side speakers at £59-£99 and subs for £250-£350 that's £368-£548 for what is essentially two tiny speakers and a bigger one. £548 buys quite a lot of conventional (ie stereo) speakers - but I really don't want such a big profile. Maybe you pay for for the small size?

It's a pity it's a monopoly.

[telecat]

I personally would not want to look at Chinese made speakers. Personally I don't think they Travel well and again I do not think they "do" them too well no matter what the makers say.

[Simpo Two]

I'm inclined to agree - they always did say that (the Japanese in those days) couldn't make speakers and British were best.

Sooo... tiny Blitish, I mean British, speakers anyone....?

[anonymous-user]

Simpo Two said:

I'm inclined to agree - they always did say that (the Japanese in those days) couldn't make speakers and British were best.

Sooo... tiny Blitish, I mean British, speakers anyone....?

Wharfedale 10.1 (or the newer replacements). Good VFM, British, look swish and sound super. Floorstanders available too, but I've always been a standmounter buyer.

[Frik]

Wozy68 said:

I think its a pretty damn shame that CA is now built in China, I'm guessing a lot of UK hifi has gone that way. I was told CA co owner and Richer were big mates from a long time back.

Is that the case? Still a few well known high-end manufacturers doing their thing here.

[Apache]

fuelracer496 said:

Simpo Two said:

I'm inclined to agree - they always did say that (the Japanese in those days) couldn't make speakers and British were best.

Sooo... tiny Blitish, I mean British, speakers anyone....?

Wharfedale 10.1 (or the newer replacements). Good VFM, British, look swish and sound super. Floorstanders available too, but I've always been a standmounter buyer.

I had a pair of Missions which were nice, pretty cheap too, Tannoy are also pretty good but I'd be tempted to buy something second hand for better vfm

[Simpo Two]

fuelracer496 said:

Wharfedale 10.1 (or the newer replacements). Good VFM, British, look swish and sound super. Floorstanders available too, but I've always been a standmounter buyer.

Aha:



But too obvious; ideally I'd like a room without anything saying 'Look at me I'm a loudspeaker'.

[Wozy68]

Simpo Two said:

fuelracer496 said:

Wharfedale 10.1 (or the newer replacements). Good VFM, British, look swish and sound super. Floorstanders available too, but I've always been a standmounter buyer.

Aha:



But too obvious; ideally I'd like a room without anything saying 'Look at me I'm a loudspeaker'.

You sure Wharfedale are still building everything in the UK?

[itsnotarace]

Simpo Two said:

But does that include the speakers? That's all I'm interested in... and with the side speakers at £59-£99 and subs for £250-£350 that's £368-£548 for what is essentially two tiny speakers and a bigger one. £548 buys quite a lot of conventional (ie stereo) speakers - but I really don't want such a big profile. Maybe you pay for for the small size?

It's a pity it's a monopoly.

Can you up the budget a bit? I just bought a set of these Monitor Audio Radius 90's on a killer deal

http://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/p/monitor...

[anonymous-user]

Wozy68 said:

You sure Wharfedale are still building everything in the UK?

Not a clue to be honest, but they have heritage, and all the speaker parts in my system that are produced by them, have been top notch thus far. 10.1CM, 10.1, 10SR - all fantastic. The centre speaker is admittedly a bit of a monster, but I found the 10.1's to be quite subtle (so long as you leave the grills on to hide the nicely finished bling beneath ).