CAMBRIDGE AUDIO AZUR 851N NETWORK PLAYER/DAC/PREAMP

If you love analogue sound, then you will be prepared to bear the burdens of analogue equipment, including the careful handling of discs, cleaning (possibly) of records, inspections of styli and all that. But if you’ve gone digital, some or all of the time, then you can make that wonderfully convenient simply by using a network streamer. Cambridge Audio has one as part of its CX range, but it also has a higher-level model as part of its Azur series: the Azur 851N Network Player/DAC/Preamp, here reviewed.

THE EQUIPMENT

With the Cambridge Audio series, what most matters in the model number is the very last character. ‘N’, as in Azur 851N, is for network player. ‘D’ is for DAC, ‘C’ is for CD player. A (integrated amp), E (pre-amp) and W (power amp) are all covered.

The Azur 851N is a little more than a network player. It will also work as a DAC when connected to a computer via the USB Type-B socket on the back. Or when you feed an S/ PDIF signal—up to 24 bits and 192kHz—to either of the two optical digital audio inputs, or to either of the two coaxial digital audio inputs. Or you feed an AES/EBU digital signal (to the same maximum standard) to the balanced input. It also has three USB sockets for feeding in USB music.

Or you can just use the network functionality and use a different DAC, should you wish, thanks to the optical, coaxial, and AES/ EBU outputs.

This is a heavy,