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Against the usual used market for this amp, £496 looks like a genuine bargain: it sits below the £501 25th percentile and well under the £538 median, so this is priced to move rather than priced for haggling. For a buyer comparing it to what the 851A cost new at launch, that gap is even more attractive, making it one of the stronger-value asks in this bracket.
The 851A is well liked for its muscular 120W drive, clean Class XD presentation, and the kind of grip and openness that suits demanding speakers without sounding clinical. At this price, a tidy, fully working example is a solid enthusiast buy; just make sure the controls are quiet, all inputs behave, and it’s been sensibly looked after, because age and heavy use matter more than cosmetics here.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Cambridge Audio emerged from the innovative spirit of 1960s Britain, founded in Cambridge, United Kingdom, by a group of young engineers who spun off from Cambridge Consulting Group. Established in 1968, the brand launched with the groundbreaking P40 integrated amplifier—the first to employ a toroidal transformer, setting a new standard for dynamic power delivery in hi-fi design that endures in high-end gear today. This heritage of British engineering excellence propelled decades of award-winning products, navigating ownership changes including a revival under entrepreneur Vince Adams and acquisition in 1994 by Julian Richer and James Johnson-Flint of Richer Sounds.
The brand excels across core hi-fi categories, renowned for integrated amplifiers like the iconic A1 and P-series, alongside streaming DACs, network players, turntables, and all-in-one systems that prioritize pure analogue warmth and digital precision. Speakers, headphones, and cables round out a cohesive ecosystem, emphasizing accessible high performance without excess frills.
Positioned firmly in the mid-tier market, Cambridge Audio delivers premium British sound—detailed, rhythmic, and uncolored—at prices that democratize quality for discerning buyers. Free from corporate bloat, it holds a reputation for reliability and value, appealing to enthusiasts seeking sophisticated hi-fi that punches above its weight rather than chasing ultra-high-end esoterica.
See all Cambridge Audio listings on RADAR.
