For Sale: Ca540r + Ca540a

[anthonyc]

For Sale is a combined Cambridge Audio 540R AVR Version 1 and Cambridge Audio 540A Version 2

All Items are in good working condition. 540R is +2 years old and the 540A is 10 months old. No boxes available so best they are sold locally but will entertain some arrangement to send them further. The setup is using the AVR in a HT configuration with HT bypass (direct mode) on the 540A for 2 channel. Also the B speaker on the amp powers my second zone.

The equipment is currently in operation so can be easily auditioned in Brisbane.

$800 for both units

Edited September 12, 2008 by anthonyc

[Juicester]

the 540Av2 has ht bypass?!! i didn't think that came in until the 840Av2..

the 540Av2 retails for $650 - that seems crazy for an integrated with HT bypass.....

[anthonyc]

the 540Av2 has ht bypass?!! i didn't think that came in until the 840Av2..

the 540Av2 retails for $650 - that seems crazy for an integrated with HT bypass.....

On the CA540A its called 'direct' mode. However most people would identify with HT bypass better.

Why does $800 for both the CA540R + CA540A seem 'crazy' then ? RRP together its ~$1600.

Maybe been sucking on the wrong kind of juice lately ?

cheers,

AnthonyC

[Juicester]

you misread my post. I said that $650 seemed a crazy price (CHEAP crazy) for an integrated that had HT bypass. I say this, because I've been looking for a decent integrated with HT bypass, and the cheapest I've found is

rrp $2200 (Cambridge 840Av2) or $2000 (Arcam A28) - which both have HT bypass.

I wonder what the difference between direct mode and HT bypass is....

PS - best to ask if i'm having a go at you before jumping down my throat.

[anthonyc]

you misread my post. I said that $650 seemed a crazy price (CHEAP crazy) for an integrated that had HT bypass. I say this, because I've been looking for a decent integrated with HT bypass, and the cheapest I've found is

rrp $2200 (Cambridge 840Av2) or $2000 (Arcam A28) - which both have HT bypass.

I wonder what the difference between direct mode and HT bypass is....

PS - best to ask if i'm having a go at you before jumping down my throat.

No problems best to ask the questions directly in a for sale thread - also I was just having some fun with you name at the same time hence the smiley.

Direct Mode bypasses the tonal control controls on the Amp, so you get a clean, direct path to the amplifier stage. The signal is still processed by the DAC on the AVR and fed to the AMP via the AVR pre-amp stage. In summary, the 540A produces a much better sound in 2 channel.

cheers,

AnthonyC

Edited September 12, 2008 by anthonyc

[Juicester]

judging by your explanation, direct mode is not ht bypass then.

[anthonyc]

judging by your explanation, direct mode is not ht bypass then.

Juice,

The ability for the amp to 'bypass' the tonal controls on any integrated amp is often described as HT bypass. The feature is really about not changing the gain on any incoming signal. Even in your first post you mentioned the CA840A having HT bypass however it has the exact same 'direct' option my CA540A has.

If you are refering to a HT bypass in a pre-amp setup - thats fine, but my description above does not include a pre-amp in the mix.

thanks for bumping the thread up however I would prefer if you want to have a debate take it outside of my for sale thread and stop hijacking it.

kind regards,

AnthonyC

[Juicester]

sorry - i didn't intend to highjack your thread (and you're welcome for the bumps). I just wanted to clarify that for anyone interested in this, it does not have HT bypass as indicated. I feel it important that potential buyers are clear on what they are purchasing.

Please refer to this thread in which jeffie and lyle discuss the differences.

terms for HT bypass

kind regards.

[50mxe20]

Please refer to this thread in which jeffie and lyle discuss the differences.

terms for HT bypass

Mostly jeffie and alebonau explaining to me.

[anthonyc]

jcjuice,

The description of items for sale and how thet are setup in my HT are accurate.

There is nothing in there to suggest i am not using the 'HT Bypass' (Direct mode) of the CA540A or that feature does not exist on the CA540A at all.

From the CA540A manual :-

Direct

This control gives the audio signal a more direct path to the power

amplifier stage of your amplifier, bypassing the tone control circuits for

the purest possible sound quality.

AnthonyC

[Juicester]

bypassing tone circuits does not mean HT bypass though - from my limited understanding. Anyway - I'll leave you alone now!

[anthonyc]

the 540Av2 has ht bypass?!! i didn't think that came in until the 840Av2..

So what were you talking about when you made this post above ? CA840AV2 has the same 'direct' option that the CA540A has and here you are syaing it has HT Bypass !!!!

HT bypass, bypass, direct and anything else that manufacturers might refer to in an integrated amp is the same in the end isn't it ?? a signal that is passed through without gain ????

Seems to me you trolled around in my for sale thread for a while and then left when you messed it up enough maybe ????

[Juicester]

So what were you talking about when you made this post above ? CA840AV2 has the same 'direct' option that the CA540A has and here you are syaing it has HT Bypass !!!!

i'm just going from info i recieved from CAV. They said their cheapest integrated amps that had HT bypass, were the 840av2 and the A28 - and they do sell the 540av2. Don't shoot the messenger. I wasn't trying to troll your thread, just help potential buyers, which is why i said I would stop posting in the thread.

[anthonyc]

i'm just going from info i recieved from CAV. They said their cheapest integrated amps that had HT bypass, were the 840av2 and the A28 - and they do sell the 540av2. Don't shoot the messenger. I wasn't trying to troll your thread, just help potential buyers, which is why i said I would stop posting in the thread.

- So you posted second hand information in my for sale thread from another source without checking it.

- You have stated you have 'limited understanding'.

- Claim to 'help' potential buyers by confusing what is for sale in this thread.

- Didn't ask one question about the gear itself as potential purchaser.

- You think you have to spend $2K to get a decent integrated with HT bypass.

- and you want to have the last comment.

So let me help you here.

A28 Manual :-

Proc Mode

Processor mode enables you to fix the gain (volume setting) of your A28. The A28 (in combination with a power amp.) can then be used to drive the front left and right speakers of a surround-sound system, when fed from a separate processor. The volume of the entire system can then be controlled using the processor.

Feed the sound from the processor into the AV input, then set the gain of the A28 to match the amplifiers that drive your other loudspeakers.

CA840A Manual :-

Direct

This control gives the audio signal a more direct path to the power

amplifier stage of your amplifier, bypassing the tone control circuits for

the purest possible sound quality.

The Bass/Treble icon ( ) appears in the display when the bass and

treble circuit is active (in circuit) and is not present when they are

bypassed.

Note: Direct can be set on or off individually for each input. This settting

is recalled each time a source is selected.

I can't see any reference to 'HT Bypass' however both amps have a way to allow you to 'pass a signal through without gain'. Maybe myself and CAV are on the same page ?

Most people look at a for sale thread, leave if not interested, ask a few questions if they are, pm if they want to /negotiate/purchase. 'For sale' threads are not meant to be for debate you idiot.

WTF ?

[50mxe20]

I don't believe jcjuice was taking a shot.

Rather he was pointing out a mis-use of the term.

Plagiarising from some one (another DTV forum member) else:

HT Bypass - irrespective of what it is called, is a feature that enables a 2 channel integrated (or pre) amplifier to be used to drive the front mains in a surround setup, by taking the pre-outs from the AVR, bypassing the 2 channel's volume setting, and utilising the integrated's amplifier stage (or pre outs in the case of a 2 channel pre).

Direct - irrespective of what it is called, refers to the bypassing of tone controls to provide a more pure sound. Direct can be featured on both AVRs and 2 channel integrateds and pre's. It DOES NOT refer to the function only ever found on 2 channel gear for integration in a HT set up.

[anthonyc]

Hi Lyle,

If he wasn't taking a shot then he was trolling. In my original post I have :

'HT bypass (direct mode) on the 540A'

and then the next post I classified it for him further :

'On the CA540A its called 'direct' mode. However most people would identify with HT bypass better'

Then juice makes this wrong claim :

'rrp $2200 (Cambridge 840Av2) or $2000 (Arcam A28) - which both have HT bypass.'

So on one hand he's trolling that the HT bypass and Direct are not the same and I am misleading potential buyers and then on the other hand he claims the above amps have HT bypass where they clearly do not, in fact one of them has Direct mode same as the 540A.

All this in a simple 'for sale' thread.

cheers,

AnthonyC

[Juicester]

Sorry for confusion anthony. 1 quick question - If direct mode is selected on the 540A, does the volume control on the 540A still affect output?

Edited September 13, 2008 by jcjuice

[Ace_Beef]

I know its probably not "ok" to ask but...would you consider selling the units individually im mostly interested in the 540A

[anthonyc]

Hi Ace,

This is an option and I have had a couple requests already for the 540A but not the 540R. I would like to sell them together if I could as they are paired up nicely as a very good entry level 5.1/2 channel setup.

If i do split them I will let you know.

cheers,

AnthonyC

[Gutty]

I wouldn't normally get involved in a F.S. thread, but in this case i feel the term HT Bypass is misleading.

HT Bypass is not a mode, it's an input that bypasses the volume control.

From the CA site:

Azur 840A (Version 2) Class XD amplifier features

Fixed level inputs allow the 840A to provide the front channel amplification when integrated with home cinema systems that use an AV processor

The 540 does not have this feature.

Yes, you can use direct mode to bypass tone/bass controls, but you still need to set the volume control for HT purposes.

Direct mode is NOT a HT Bypass !

Edited September 15, 2008 by Gutty

[Juicester]

Thanks for clarification gutty - this is all i was wanting to find out from anthony. But since he didn't answer my last question I presumed I was right anyway.

[anthonyc]

I wouldn't normally get involved in a F.S. thread, but in this case i feel the term HT Bypass is misleading.

HT Bypass is not a mode, it's an input that bypasses the volume control.

From the CA site:

Azur 840A (Version 2) Class XD amplifier features

Fixed level inputs allow the 840A to provide the front channel amplification when integrated with home cinema systems that use an AV processor

The 540 does not have this feature.

Yes, you can use direct mode to bypass tone/bass controls, but you still need to set the volume control for HT purposes.

Direct mode is NOT a HT Bypass !

Gutty,

In fact if you really want to be technical, HT Bypass is used as a input mode on a 2 channel pre-amp setup to let the signal through the unit without gain.

On a integrated amp setup the term is used loosely as you are not letting the signal through on the unit since your amplifier stage is still on the same unit. This is evident by the different opinions of what it is and different implementations by the vendors and how best to generally categorise it (which generally is described as HT Bypass).

There is no pre-amp in my description of items for sale and further I have clarified the 'direct' mode of the 540A in the next post when the question was asked.

The discussion of what the CA840A has is moot, despite it bypassing the tonal and/or volume controls, CA call it 'Direct', however most people would better associate it as HT bypass.

kind regards,

Anthony

[50mxe20]

The discussion of what the CA840A has is moot, despite it bypassing the tonal and/or volume controls, CA call it 'Direct', however most people would better associate it as HT bypass.

I don't believe 'most' people on this forum would consider it the way you do.

Direct, to most of us, has a completely different meaning than HT bypass.

[Kazz]

I don't believe 'most' people on this forum would consider it the way you do.

Direct, to most of us, has a completely different meaning than HT bypass.

I have to agree with Lyle on this one.

[50mxe20]

I have to agree with Lyle on this one.

LOL. You make it sound like we don't agree very often.

When, in fact, we often agree. We just don't post that we do.