NAD M5 vs Cambridge 840c

I personally found the M5 to be much better sounding than the 840c. Both are very good players. Without getting into
the usual three paragraphs why the one is better than the other, I found the NAD to be much more musical and detailed while being less digital than the Cambridge.
Plays SACD and HDCD also. A tad shy on bass. A good
power cable will help the bass. I even thought it sounded
better than some of the players costing much more which
I have owned.

The DAC feaure and MUCH BETTER resale value go to the Cambridge. The 840c is no slouch for sure. It comes down to personal taste. I do not even look at magazine reviews anymore.

By the way take a look at a Meridian or an Esoteric DV-50s if you can spend up to$1800-$2000.

Just another two cents.......the "gem" in the Cambridge
line is the 740c. If you do not need balanced outputs
save yourself some money and audition this player. It
comes real close to the 840c.

I owned both players. I preferred the NAD. However neither IMO can compete with either the Modwright (sony or denon) or the Exemplar 2900, or the rega Saturn. I have listened to them side by side.

I owned both and compared them side by side. IMHO the 840C was brilliant in balanced mode but just good in single ended mode. The balanced amp left the house and so did the 840C. In a single ended system, the NAD M5 had more body and musicality, it continues to please. However if I ever get a balanced system, I might have to give the 840C another shot.

I do not have experinece with that particular NAD but a friend and I did try the 840. We used it in two different systems wit Cardas Neutral Reference and thought a Denon 1650 sounded better. However when he switched to balanced (not an option for me) Zu cable it really changed for the better. I now have a Sony SCD XA777ES and he has the 840 keith