Cambridge Audio D300 Review

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Cambridge Audio D300
2 stars
Average rating for this product is: 2 out of 5

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alligator's Review of Cambridge Audio D300 CD Player

26th Dec 2003

Overall Rating

3.5 stars
  • Value for money
    4 stars
  • Features
    2 stars
Good Points

Precise and detailed sound, minimalist design, remote operates ALL functions, upgradeable DAC


Bad Points

Shuttle control is pointless, lack of track time display information, slightly cheap looking


General Comments

I bought this Cambridge Audio D300 CD player on a managers special for £90 from Richer, to go with a NAD 3020A amp and Tannoy M20 speakers which I had come by recently.

Really, with hi-fi, sound quality is paramount, and the D300 passes with flying colours. The detail that it unearths surpasses a Marantz CD player (CD4000 or something like that?), and the sound doesn't become tiring even with extended headphone listening.

The NAD amp and big Tannoys deliver a deep, clean bass the likes of which I haven't heard without a sub - proof that the D300 CD player is accurately reproducing the bass on the recording.

A 20 year old amp isn't the best thing to test a CD player's frequency extension but on the other hand I don't have any complaints.

The shuttle control is pointless - it looks as though it allows variable speed searching, but actually it's an on/off affair, and the search speed doesn't speed up like on most CD players after it's been held for a couple of seconds. This makes it tedious to search through very long tracks. It would be nice to be able to see time remaining on track/disc but the display only shows current track time.

Also, compared to something like a Marantz, this CD player looks and feels cheap. But the likes of NAD have built a reputation on spending money where it matters and it looks like Cambridge are trying to do the same.

I think Cambridge have replaced it with newer models, but I'd recommend it as something to slot into a system if you can get hold of one. The D-series CD players have a modular design which apparently allows the DAC to be upgraded. Outs on the back include co-ax and optical digital, and you can't really ask a lot more than that.

Basically, worth a look, but I'm sure there is plenty competiton at the original £150 selling price of this unit.

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