Cambridge Audio Unveils a New High-End 4K UHD Blu-ray Player (CXUHD)

Cambridge Audio Unveils a New High-End 4K UHD Blu-ray Player (CXUHD)​

(Cambridge Audio)(August 17, 2017) Cambridge Audio has released its first 4K UHD Blu-ray player (CXHUD), adding to a growing number of high-end disc-based 4K media options. The player will initially be released in Europe next month, priced at £700 / €800 (approximately $900 USD).

The pending release of the CXHUD has been churning in the rumor mill for quite some time, but the inclusion of premium features such as Dolby Vision make this release surprisingly interesting. The player also launches with full support of 4K resolution and HDR10 High Dynamic Range, and can decode HEVC, H.265, H.264, VP9 4K, and Hi10P video codecs. Its disc compatibility runs the gamut from UHD Blu-ray to DVD-Video, and DVD-Audio to SACD, CD, and CD-R/RW.

Internally, the CXUHD is powered by the same MediaTek MTK8591 SoC utilized by OPPO’s new UDP-203/205 universal disc players. However, it’s devoid of digital-to-analog converters, a move Cambridge says was made for “noise reduction and improved picture quality.” But it can decode a wide range of audio formats, including AAC, WMA, MP3, FLAC, WAV, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio. In terms of immersive audio, users can bitstream pass-through both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Externally, the player is equipped with a single HDMI input and two outputs (one for audio/video and one dedicated for audio). It also offers users dual USB 3.0 inputs.

A U.S. release date has not been issued.



Cambridge CXUHD specifications
Disc Compatibility: UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, SACD, CD, Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD±R DL, BD-R/RE
HDR: (HDR10 & Dolby Vision)
Chipset: Mediatek MTK8591 SoC
HDMI Connectivity: HMDI 1 (INPUT & OUTPUT), HDMI 2 (AUDIO OUTPUT ONLY)
Video Output: UHD/1080p 24/1080p/1080i/720p/576p/576i/4 80p/480i, 3D frame-packing 720p/1080p24 Audio: up to 7.1ch/192kHz PCM, up to 5.1ch DSD, Bitstream
Audio Output: up to 7.1ch/192kHz PCM, up to 5.1ch DSD, Bitstream
Video decoding: HEVC H.265, H.264, VP9 4K and Hi10P video decoding
Video formats: MPEG2, MPEG 2 HD, MPEG4, MPEG4 HD, AVC, VC-1, XVID, AVI, AVC, MKV (4.1), DAT, VOB, WMV, MOV, MP4, MPEG-PS, FLV, MTS, M2TS, M2T, M4V, QuickTime
Audio formats: AAC, WMA, MP3, APE, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, WAV, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and bitstream pass-through for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Dimensions: 82mm x 430mm x 312mm (3.2” x 16.9” x 12.3”)
USB: 2x USB 3.0
Wi-Fi: 802.11B, G, N (2.4GHz), 802.11A, N, AC (5GHz)
Ethernet: 1000 BASE-T

 

[tripplej]

Thanks for the details. Always good to have more brands available for the end consumer to select which one is right for them.

 

[Asere]

I've always heard Cambridge makes solid equipment.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Have to say: this looks eerily similar to the OPPO UDP-203. I have compared specs (side by side), but it has to be close!

 

[tripplej]

The Oppo is hard to beat.. Guess the saying, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery can be applied here??

 

[Tonto]

I remember not too long ago there was a big ruckus when another company rebranded the OPPO as their own. People got pretty upset when they found out, Seeing how they paid almost double!
Can you post some pics of the internals?

 

[bkeeler10]

^^ Wasn't that Cambridge that did this rebranding you speak of? Pretty sure it was, probably three or four years ago.

It's hard enough for me to justify the cost of the Oppo players (although I think I will likely get the 203 when the time comes to get a UHD player). I don't think I could justify this. Beautiful looking piece of kit though.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

^^ Wasn't that Cambridge that did this rebranding you speak of?

No, it was Lexicon.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Yes, it was Lexicon.

Pretty sure this unit is not related to OPPO... I'm checking, tho.

Unfortunately, no pics of internals.

 

[LCSeminole]

Cambridge has had Oppo make their blu-ray players in the past, this would be no different now. They were a bit more expensive than their sister Oppo model, but nothing like the Lexicon model BD-30 being marked up at $3500 compared to its sister Oppo BDP-80 @ $500.

 

[LCSeminole]

So the Cambridge doesn't have a 7.1 analog output, and it cost $699 compared to $549 for the Oppo UDP-203

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/cx/cxuhd

 

[Todd Anderson]

I have confirmation that OPPO is involved with helping Cambridge. Outside of that, there's no information that can be shared.

Interesting nonetheless. LCSeminole, you make a good point with those images... it's a similar but slightly handicapped model!