I have owned the Rega Saturn, and have had the Esoteric DV-50, and the Marantz SA11S1 in my home at the same time as the Cambridge 840c.
Compared to the Rega Saturn, Esoteric DV-50, and Marantz SA11S1, I would say that the Cambridge is very slightly lacking in the 3 following areas:
1. Blackness between notes and a completely black background.
2.Imaging sometimes slightly vague, or images not as precise around the edges as the above mentioned players.
3. Very slight lift in the upper mids/lower treble.
Break-in was not an issue. My 840c has atleast 400 hours on it.
These differences were very small, but were audible to my ears. The 840c is still VERY competitive with any of them, especially at its price.
Compared to the Rega Saturn, Esoteric DV-50, and Marantz SA11S1, I would say that the Cambridge is very slightly lacking in the 3 following areas:
1. Blackness between notes and a completely black background.
2.Imaging sometimes slightly vague, or images not as precise around the edges as the above mentioned players.
3. Very slight lift in the upper mids/lower treble.
Break-in was not an issue. My 840c has atleast 400 hours on it.
These differences were very small, but were audible to my ears. The 840c is still VERY competitive with any of them, especially at its price.