The ABC has a number of stations catering to different genres but its use of a relatively low 80Kbps bitrate across the board really shows itself here.
#Cambridge audio tuner upgrade
If you find that your tuner has the same issue contact the place of purchase and they will arrange a free upgrade for you.Īs DAB+ is a compressed format based on AAC you've got to expect some give and take when it comes to sound quality, but we were surprised that the most "high brow" stations sounded the worst through the 650T. Note: the first tuner we received was one of a small initial batch that didn't have the digital output enabled. The tuner also includes digital outputs (for DAB+ only) so you can connect it to your receiver or an even better DAC if you wish. The 650T even features two different antenna ports for each section, but as most people don't have a specialised DAB+ antenna in their house the company includes a strip antenna in the box. The tuner has completely separated FM and DAB+ sections, with the digital section featuring a high-end Wolfson 8740 DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) - the same as in the DacMagic. While the 650T lacks for features it funnels its attentions in a different direction: audio quality. If this information is important to you you may instead look to a device like the Pure Sensia which includes a 5.7-inch colour screen. It lacks features like pausing and rewinding, and doesn't even have a video out which is a shame as many stations are now broadcasting cover art, weather and station IDs alongside the music signal. In comparison to the similarly-priced Sangean WFT-1D+ the Cambridge Audio is fairly light-on for features, with DAB+ reception its main selling point for metropolitan listeners. Some of the function buttons are a little obscure though as they feature symbols instead of names. The remote control is a faux-metal device which looks impressive and comes with pleasantly squishy buttons. By comparison, the Sony STRDA5500 receiver we were using as a test bed has a lovely, high-contrast screen which would be perfect for scrolling DAB+ information such as artist and song names. Unfortunately, it has a fairly low contrast and is hard to see from a normal distance. These buttons flank a dimmable blue LED display, which displays two lines of text at a time.
#Cambridge audio tuner series
The front of the display features 12 buttons across the fascia - six for directly accessing station presets - and a series of navigation controls. The rest of the case is steel, and the top of the unit features the Cambridge Audio symbol stamped into the metal.
The casing is available in a choice of silver or black and features a large slab of brushed aluminium slammed onto the front. Cambridge Audio is based in London, and the 650T shows off the Brits' stylish, no-nonsense aesthetic.
#Cambridge audio tuner how to
Given that hi-fi is the national sport of British shut-ins it makes sense that they know how to make a piece of good-looking equipment.