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The 851C is an older, discontinued Azur-generation component, but its timing matters only in the buyer’s favor here: US$5 is an exceptional bargain, sitting well below the comparable-listing 25th percentile of US$14 and far under the US$23 median. Even allowing for age, that is liquidation-level money for a serious CD player/DAC.
It remains worthwhile because it combines a substantial transport with dual differential DACs, selectable digital filters, USB and multiple digital inputs, plus both balanced XLR and RCA outputs. Its variable output can even feed a power amplifier directly, making it more than a disc spinner. At US$5, the sensible approach is simply to confirm that it powers up, reads discs, and includes the remote if possible; even a missing accessory is unlikely to erase the value.
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.
