Genius 740A User Manual

740Aazur

Integrated amplifier

User’s manual

ENGLISH

2

Thank you for purchasing this Azur 740A Integrated Amplifier. We hope
that you will enjoy many years of listening pleasu

re from it.

The 740A is based on our award-winning amplifier topology as seen in
our 540A and 640A models, further developed and enhanced for this
new higher end model as part of our on-going development programme.

The 740A features three separate transformer secondaries for the left
and right power amp channels and preamp, with separate rectifiers and
PSU's allowing dual mono operation of the left and right power
amplifiers. Two pairs of very high current output transistors per channel
allow the 740A to drive almost any speaker with ease and ensure
excellent bass response and dynamic control.

Other features include the use of a very high precision silicon gate
volume / balance control rather than the more common potentiometer.
Volume is controllable in 1 dB steps over most of the range, giving very
fine control, an accurate logarithmic law and superbly accurate channel
balance. Software control of all functions allows gain trim to be applied
to any input and other functions.

The 740A also includes support for multi-room use. By plugging in one
or two external Cambridge Audio Incognito keypads (or active speakers)
and a power supply unit your amplifier can become the hub of a simple
multi-room system. In addition, Control Bus Input/Output and IR Emitter
Input are provided to make it easy to integrate this unit into Custom
Installation systems if desired.

An Azur Navigator remote control is also provided, giving full remote
control of your amplifier in an attractive and easy to use handset.

Your amplifier can only be as good as the system it is connected to.
Please do not compromise on your source equipment, speakers or
cabling. Naturally we particularly recommend models from the
Cambridge Audio Azur range. These have been designed to the same
exacting standards as this amplifier. Your dealer can also supply
excellent quality Cambridge Audio interconnects to ensure your system
realises its full potential.

Thanks for taking the time to read this manual; we do recommend you
keep it for future reference.

Matthew Bramble
Technical Director

2

Contents Introduction

Introduction .................................................................................................2

Limited warranty..........................................................................................3

Safety precautions ......................................................................................3

Important safety instructions .....................................................................4

Rear panel connections..............................................................................5

Front panel controls ...................................................................................6

Remote control............................................................................................7

iPod compatibility........................................................................................7

Connections ................................................................................................8

Operating instructions ................................................................................9

Amplifier setup.......................................................................................9-10

Multi-Room connections...........................................................................11

Custom installation use............................................................................11

CAP5 protection system ...........................................................................12

Troubleshooting.........................................................................................13

Technical Specifications...........................................................................13

740Aazur

3

ENGLISH

Cambridge Audio warrants this product to be free from defects in
materials and workmanship (subject to the terms set forth below).
Cambridge Audio will repair or replace (at Cambridge Audio's option) this
product or any defective parts in this product. Warranty periods may vary
from country to country. If in doubt consult your dealer and ensure that
you retain proof of purchase.

To obtain warranty service, please contact the Cambridge Audio authorised
dealer from which you purchased this product. If your dealer is not
equipped to perform the repair of your Cambridge Audio product, it can be
returned by your dealer to Cambridge Audio or an authorised Cambridge
Audio service agent. You will need to ship this product in either its original
packaging or packaging affording an equal degree of protection.

Proof of purchase in the form of a bill of sale or receipted invoice, which
is evidence that this product is within the warranty period, must be
presented to obtain warranty service.

This Warranty is invalid if (a) the factory-applied serial number has been
altered or removed from this product or (b) this product was not
purchased from a Cambridge Audio authorised dealer. You may call
Cambridge Audio or your local country Cambridge Audio distributor to
confirm that you have an unaltered serial number and/or you purchased
from a Cambridge Audio authorised dealer.

This Warranty does not cover cosmetic damage or damage due to acts of
God, accident, misuse, abuse, negligence, commercial use, or modification
of, or to any part of, the product. This Warranty does not cover damage due
to improper operation, maintenance or installation, or attempted repair by
anyone other than Cambridge Audio or a Cambridge Audio dealer, or
authorised service agent which is authorised to do Cambridge Audio
warranty work. Any unauthorised repairs will void this Warranty. This
Warranty does not cover products sold AS IS or WITH ALL FAULTS.

REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY ARE
THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE CONSUMER. CAMBRIDGE AUDIO SHALL
NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR
BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY IN THIS PRODUCT.
EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY LAW, THIS WARRANTY IS EXCLUSIVE
AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES
WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PRACTICAL PURPOSE.

Some countries and US states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of
incidental or consequential damages or implied warranties so the above
exclusions may not apply to you. This Warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may have other statutory rights, which vary from state to
state or country to country.

Plug Fitting Instructions (UK Only)

The cord supplied with this appliance is factory fitted with a UK mains plug fitted
with a 5 amp fuse inside. If it is necessary to change the fuse, it is important that
a 5 amp one is used. If the plug needs to be changed because it is not suitable for
your socket, or becomes damaged, it should be cut off and an appropriate plug
fitted following the wiring instructions below. The plug must then be disposed of
safely, as insertion into a mains socket is likely to cause an electrical hazard.
Should it be necessary to fit a 3-pin BS mains plug to the power cord the wires
should be fitted as shown in this diagram. The colours of the wires in the mains
lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying
the terminals in your plug. Connect them as follows:

The wire which is coloured BLUE must be
connected to the terminal which is marked
with the letter ‘N’ or coloured BLACK.

The wire which is coloured BROWN must be
connected to the terminal which is marked
with the letter ‘L’ or coloured RED.

The wire which is coloured GREEN/YELLOW
must be connected to the terminal which is
marked with the letter ‘E’ or coloured GREEN.

If your model does not have an earth wire,
then disregard this instruction.

If a standard 13 amp (BS 1363) plug is used, a 5 amp fuse must be fitted, or if any
other type of plug is used a 5 amp fuse must be fitted, either in the plug or adaptor,
or on the distribution board.

Checking the Power Supply Rating

For your own safety please read the following instructions carefully before
attempting to connect this unit to the mains.

Check that the rear of your unit indicates the correct supply voltage. If your mains
supply voltage is different, consult your dealer.

This unit is designed to operate only on the supply voltage and type that is
indicated on the rear panel of the unit. Connecting to other power sources may
damage the unit.

This equipment must be switched off when not in use and must not be used unless
correctly earthed. To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the unit's cover
(or back). There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified
service personnel. If the power cord is fitted with a moulded mains plug the unit must
not be used if the plastic fuse carrier is not in place. Should you lose the fuse carrier
the correct part must be reordered from your Cambridge Audio dealer.

The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle
is intended to alert the user to the presence of un-insulated ‘dangerous
voltage’ within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert

the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance

instructions in the service literature relevant to this appliance.

The crossed-out wheeled bin is the European Union symbol for
indicating separate collection for electrical and electronic
equipment. This product contains electrical and electronic
equipment which should be reused, recycled or recovered and
should not be disposed of with unsorted regular waste. Please
return the unit or contact the authorised dealer from whom you
purchased this product for more information.

Approvals

This product complies with European Low Voltage (73/23/EEC)
and Electromagnetic Compatibility (89/336/EEC) Directives
when used and installed according to this instruction manual.
For continued compliance only Cambridge Audio accessories
should be used with this product and servicing must be referred
to qualified service personnel.

NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RADIO OR TV
INTERFERENCE CA

AUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS TO T

HIS
EQUIPMENT. SUCH MODIFICATIONS COULD VOIID THE USER AUTHORITY TO
OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:

- Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna.

- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the

receiver is connected.

- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Safety precautionsLimited warranty

4

Important safety instructions

Please take a moment to read these notes before installing your 740A,
as they will enable you to get the best performance and prolong the life
of the unit. We advise you follow all instructions, heed all warnings and
keep the instructions for future reference.

Ventilation

IMPORTANT - The unit will become hot when in use.

Please ensure there is ample ventilation (at least 10cm clearance all
round). Do not put any objects on top of this unit. Do not situate it on a
rug or other soft surface and do not obstruct any air inlets or outlet
grilles. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce
heat. Do not stack multiple units on top of each other. Do not place in
an enclosed area such as a bookcase or in a cabinet without sufficient
ventilation.

Ensure that small objects do not fall through any ventilation grille. If this
happens, switch off immediately, disconnect from the mains supply and
contact your dealer for advice.

Positioning

Choose the installation location carefully. Avoid placing it in direct
sunlight or close to a source of heat. Also avoid locations subject to
vibration and excessive dust, cold or moisture. Do not place the unit on
an unstable surface or shelf. The unit may fall, causing serious injury to
a child or adult as well as serious damage to the product. Do not place
a CD player or other equipment on top of the unit.

This unit must be installed on a sturdy, level surface. Do not
place in a sealed area such as a bookcase or in a cabinet. Any
space open at the back (such as a dedicated equipment rack)
is fine however. When a cart is used, use caution when moving
the cart to avoid injury from tip-over.

Due to stray magnetic fields turntables or CRT TV’s should not be
located nearby due to possible interference.

WARNING - To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this
unit to rain or moisture. This unit must not be used near water or
exposed to dripping or splashing water or other liquids. No objects filled
with liquid, such as vases, shall be placed on the unit. In the event,
switch off immediately, disconnect from the mains supply and contact
your dealer for advice.

Electronic audio components have a running in period of around a week
(if used several hours per day). This will allow the new components to
settle down, the sonic properties will improve over this time.

Grounding and polarisation

Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding type plug.
A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A
grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The
wide blade or third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided
plug does not fit your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of
the obsolete outlet.

Power sources

The unit is of Class 1 construction and must be connected to a Mains
socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.

The unit should be operated only from the type of power source
indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power­supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local Power
Company.

This unit has been designed to be left in Standby mode when not in use,
this will increase the life of the amplifier (this is true with all electronic
equipment). To turn the unit off completely switch off on the rear panel.
If you do not intend to use this unit for a long period of time, unplug it
from the mains socket.

Power cord protection

The unit must be installed in a manner that makes disconnection of the
mains plug from the mains socket outlet (or appliance connector from the
rear of the unit) possible. Where the mains plug is used as the disconnect
device, the disconnect device shall remain readily operable. Protect the
power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the unit.

Be sure to insert each power cord securely. To prevent hum and noise, do
not bundle the interconnect leads with the power cord or speaker leads.

Overloading

Do not overload wall outlets or extension cord as this can result in a risk
of fire or electric shock. Overloaded AC outlets, extension cords, frayed
power cords, damaged or cracked wire insulation, and broken plugs are
dangerous. They may result in a shock or fire hazard.

Lightning

For added protection during a thunderstorm, or when it is left
unattended and unused for long period of time, unplug the unit from the
wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system. This will prevent
damage to the unit from lightning and power-line surges.

Cleaning

To clean the unit, wipe its case with a dry, lint-free cloth. Do not use any
cleaning fluids containing alcohol, ammonia or abrasives. Do not spray
an aerosol at or near the amplifier.

Attachments

Do not use attachments not recommended by your dealer as they may
cause harm to the unit. Only use the specified attachments/accessories
with this unit.

Servicing

These units are not user serviceable, never attempt to repair,
disassemble or reconstruct the unit if there seems to be a problem. A
serious electric shock could result if this precautionary measure is
ignored. In the event of a problem or failure, please contact your dealer.

Contact the service department should any of these conditions occur:

- When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.

- If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the unit.

- If the unit has been exposed to rain or water.

- If the unit does not operate normally after following the operation

instructions, adjust only those controls that are covered by the
operation instructions.

- If the unit has been dropped or damaged in any way.

- When the unit exhibits a distinct negative change in performance.

740Aazur

5

ENGLISH

Rear panel connections

Power On/Off

Switches the unit on and off.

AC power socket

Once you have completed all connections to the amplifier, plug the AC
power cable into an appropriate mains socket then switch on. Your
amplifier is now ready for use.

Loudspeaker terminals

Two sets of loudspeaker terminals are available, A (main loudspeaker
terminals) and B (secondary loudspeaker terminals). Both sets of
speakers can be turned on and off independently. Connect the wires
from your left channel loudspeaker to the LEFT + & - terminals, and the
wires from the right channel loudspeaker to the RIGHT + & - terminals.
In each case, the red terminal is the positive output and the black
terminal is the negative output.

Care should be taken to ensure no stray strands of wire short the
speaker outputs together. Please ensure that the loudspeaker terminals
have been tightened completely to provide a good electrical connection.
It is possible for the sound quality to be affected if the screw terminals
are loose.

Note:

When using one pair of speakers, use speakers with a nominal
impedance of between 4-8 ohms. When using two pairs of speakers,
use speakers with a nominal impedance of between 6-8 ohms. Please
also note that when multiple speakers are connected across the
amplifier’s outputs, the load (as seen by the amplifier) is reduced. This
will make the amplifier work harder, and hotter!

Dip-switches

Used in conjunction with custom installation (C.I.) systems. Refer to the
‘Custom installation’ section for more information.

Front Panel IR -

Set to ‘On’ for normal operation.

Control Bus Passthru -

Turns on/off looping of Control Bus signals from

Input to Output.

Reserved -

Not used.

IR (Infrared) Emitter In

Allows modulated IR commands from multi-room systems to be received
by the amplifier. Commands received here are not looped out of the
Control Bus. Refer to the ‘Custom installation’ section for more
information.

A-BUS™ Ready / Incognito Ready™
multi-room outputs

PSU -

Connect an Incognito PS5 to supply power to the connected multi-

room keypads/speakers.

Keypad 1/2 -

Connect one or two Incognito A-BUS KP10 keypads (or
other A-BUS compatible keypads) using CAT5/5e cable. Incognito AS10
Active Ceiling Speakers can also be connected here.

IR -

Four IR outputs for remote control of source equipment.

Please refer to the ‘Multi-Room’ section of this manual for more
information on connections and set-ups.

Control Bus

In -

Allows un-modulated commands from multi-rooms systems or other

components to be received by the unit.

Out -

Loop out for control bus commands to another unit. Also allows the

740A to control some Cambridge Audio units.

Pre Out

Connect these sockets to the inputs on an external power amplifier(s) or
active subwoofers etc.

Tape/Rec In/Out

Connect to a tape deck or to the analog output sockets on a MiniDisc,
portable digital music player or CD recorder using an interconnect cable
from the recorder's Line Out sockets to the amplifier's Tape In sockets.

The Tape Input circuit of the 740A is a "monitor" type, different from the
other 7 inputs. For the 7 normal inputs, the source selected for listening
to will be sent out of the Tape Out for recording. The source currently
being listened to and (optionally) recorded is then shown on the front
panel display.

However, when the Tape Input is selected a solid circle will appear
beside TAPE MON indicating that the Tape Input is now being listened to
with a different source being sent out of the Tape Out for recording. The
recording source is also shown by a solid circle by the selected input and
can be changed by pressing the other source buttons. To switch Tape
Monitor off, simply press the Tape Mon input select button again,
toggling this function off.

This feature is most useful when using 3-head analog cassette decks
which allow the signal being recorded to be played back live off tape (via
a 3rd head) whilst it is simultaneously recorded. It is then possible by
toggling the Tape Monitor input on and off to compare directly in real
time the original and recorded signal so that adjustments to the
recording parameters of the tape machine can be made (consult the
manual of your 3-head analog cassette deck for full details).

Inputs 1-5

These inputs are suitable for any 'line level' source equipment such as
CD players, DAB or FM/AM tuners etc.

Note:

These inputs are for analog audio signals only. They should not be

connected to the digital output of a CD player or any other digital device.

IR1

IR2 IR4

IR3

Keypad 1 Keypad 2

Pre OutTape/Rec In

(Input 6)

Tape/Rec Out 2 Tape/Rec Out 1 Input 5 Input 4 Input 3 Input 2 Input 1

Pre Out

Tape/Rec In

Tape/Rec Out 2

Tape/Rec Out 1

Input 5Input 4

Input 3

Input 2

Input 1

Right

Left

Right

Left

Power AC

Off

Power

In Out

Control Bus

IR EmitterInPSU

In

On

Multi-Room

International Patent Pending LeisureTech Electronics Pty Ltd

N1863

Caution

Risk of electric shock.

Do not open.

Avis

Risque de choc electrique.

Ne pas ouvrir.

Achtung

Vorm öffnen des gerätes.

Netzstecker ziehen.

azur 740A Integrated Amplifier

Power Rating: 230V AC ~ 50Hz

Max Power Consumption: 750W

Off

On

Control Bus PassThru

Front Panel IR

Reserved

Reserved

www.cambridge-audio.com

AЯ

46

Impedance 4 - 8 ohms one pair, 6 - 8 ohms per pair if two pairs

Loudspeaker Terminals

Important

Please ensure that loudspeaker terminals are fully tightened

Veuillez s'assurer que les bornes de l'enceinte sont entièrement serrées

B

A

Designed in London, England

RightLeft

Right

Left

B

A

Manufactured in an ISO9002 approved facility

This device complies with part 15 of

the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the

following two conditions: 1) This device may

not cause harmful interference; 2) This device

must accept any interference, including

interference that may cause undesired operation.

1

1

2

3

4

65

8 10

2

3

7

5

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