The Azur 640R is the latest addition to the Cambridge Audio line-up and marks the brand's first entry into the 7.1-channel surround sound arena.

Sold exclusively through Richer Sounds, the Azur 640R sports a sleek brushed-metal front panel, easy to read display, perfectly tooled function buttons and a substantial volume knob to crank.

In fact, it's one of the best looking 7.1 home cinema receivers around, and furthermore the tidy unit is capable of driving each channel at 100W power output. Stereo mode is rated at an even more potent 120W power output, and the high-grade components and considered amplifier design ensures that the Azur 640R is equally geared towards hi-fienthusiasts as home cinema aficionados.

Rear window

The rear panel has one of the neatest layouts we have seen, with all the audio and video connectivity you could wish for. The three HDMI inputs are top of the connection list, carrying digital video signals from HD and compatible DVD sources and routing them to a compatible LCD or plasma TV screen via a single HDMI cable.

Digital audio connections must Cambridge Audio Azur 640R This 7.1-channel surround sound amplifier packs a punch with movies and music, and it's multi-room compatible too. Analogue video switching is also onboard and can up-convert composite and S-video analogue signal connections to component video.

The Azur 640R is fully compatible with Cambridge Audio's Incognito multi-room system, which will appeal to custom installers, allowing sources to be independently accessed and controlled from two additional zones around the home.

Facilities are impressive, but there's no auto calibration set-up mode to tune the Azur 640R to your speaker system and room acoustic. Nevertheless, it's easy to get to grips with via the basic onscreen menus and manually tune it to your ears. Playing King Kong on DVD demonstrates the flawless HDMI video socketry. There's no degradation to digital video signals routed through, and movie images remain startlingly vibrant and solid.

Audio-wise, movie soundtracks are incredibly energetic, and it copes with the movie's relentless surround effects with incredible poise. It's remarkably surefooted, even at multiplex volume levels, and there are no weaknesses when it comes to gargantuan movie effects during big set island sequences.

Grim reaper

Attention to the audio circuitry reaps sonic dividends with stereo music material too, and Craig Armstrong's As if to Nothing album sounds impressively atmospheric.

With its 7.1 capabilities and custom install possibilities, the Cambridge Audio Azur 640R is undoubtedly designed to appeal to home entertainment enthusiasts. It's competitively priced when you consider the remarkably potent performance and HDMI connectivity, but more feature-laden home cinema receivers can be found for considerably less.