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The Cambridge Audio Azur 551R V2 is a 7.1-channel home theater receiver featuring 90 watts per channel into 8 ohms (stereo) or 60 watts per channel with all seven channels driven.Key SpecificationsPower Output: 90W per channel (8 ohms, 2 channels driven); 60W per channel (8 ohms, 7 channels driven); 110W (6 ohms).Surround Sound Decoding: Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Pro Logic IIx, and DTS Neo:6.Video & HDMI: HDMI 1.4a with 3D and Audio Return Channel (ARC) support, plus analog-to-HDMI video upconversion/scaling via a Faroudja scaler.Audio Processing: Cirrus Logic 32-bit DSPs and an oversized low-flux toroidal transformer.Calibration: Cambridge Audio Mic Controlled Auto Set (CAMCAS) room calibration.ConnectionsHDMI: Multiple inputs and outputs (5 In, 2 Out)Digital Audio: 4 optical and 4 coaxial inputs.Analog/Multichannel: 6 analog stereo inputs, 7.1-channel preamp inputs, and 7.1-channel preamp outputs.Other Ports: RS-232C, USB (firmware updates only), and trigger/IR connections.
At US$379, this looks a bit high for a used Azur 551R unless it’s exceptionally clean, fully working, and comes with the remote, calibration mic, and original box. The model launched around US$1,299 new, but its current used-market level is more often in the roughly US$150–US$250 neighborhood, with nicer examples sometimes stretching higher; at US$379, this is above the sweet spot.
That said, it’s still a respected receiver if you want a muscular, music-friendly AV piece with solid build, decent power, and a slim chassis that fit Cambridge’s “serious hi-fi first, theater second” approach. If it’s an original-owner unit with known history and all accessories, the premium is easier to justify; if not, the ask leaves little room for age-related issues like HDMI quirks or tired cooling fan noise.
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.
