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At £496, this sits well below the recent used median of £650 and even under the £573 25th percentile, so it reads as a strong deal rather than merely fair. For a well-regarded network streamer/DAC from Cambridge’s higher-end Azur line, that’s a sensible buy if the unit is genuinely working as it should and the seller can show it powers up, streams, and outputs cleanly.
The 851N is popular because it combines solid digital performance with flexible streaming and preamp duties, so it still makes a lot of sense in a modern system. At this price, I’d be looking for the remote, power lead, and evidence of stable network/app operation, plus confirmation that all inputs and outputs are functioning. If those boxes are ticked, this looks like an easy shortlist item.
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.
