Cambridge Audio 840C player still a good buy ?

I owned an 840C for several years. An incredible player for the money. I had to spend a lot more to better it

I had one for awhile after wanting one for a long, long time. Let me preface this by saying that I am a huge Cambridge Audio fan. I have the 840A amp and it is one of the best sounding solid state integrated amps I've ever owned. It absolutely smashed my McIntosh MA-6900. But the 840C was one of the biggest let downs in many years of audio purchases. Clinical is a good description. Unmusical would also be apt.

(sigh) I have the 840C; unmusical it is not. A few years ago, it beat the pants off my original Meridian 508.24 that I purchased new in 1997 and that was the reason that I bought it. Or perhaps, the 508.24 was also unmusical?

I have one and I've run it through both solid state and - currently - through tubes. I can see why some folks might think it sounds lean, especially with SS. I ran mine through a Musical Fidelity NuVista for a while and the highs were really bright and the sound, while detailed, was definitely a little dry. On the other hand, through tubes the thing sounds amazing. Great detail and dimensionality and terrific bass. Of course, this is just my experience - yours may vary - but I've been pretty happy with the player.

Also - I don't use the DAC often, but I have a Musical Fidelity V-Link that I use with it on occasion. There is a bit of high end loss, but I couldn't tell you if that's the DAC's fault, the V-Link or iTunes. I have friends who use the DAC with higher resolution formats and they seem happy.

Just listened to one at a friends house last week and though it sounded good (nad and b&w supporting cast). When he told me what he picked it up for used.......I thought it sounded fantastic !

I'd call it an outstanding value on a good player