Cambridge Audio Azur 851N

I have had the 851N for about 18 months and it's also my DAC. I was very disappointed for a while because Cambridge told me, fairly recently, they had no plans for Tidal integration.  I have been using a HEOS Link for Tidal. Then I saw this on the Cambridge website :

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/usa/en/blog/tidal-cambridge-audio-lossless-streaming-our-cxn-851n-network-players

I have been thinking hard about getting a Bluesound  Node 2 until I saw this. The 851N should be a better solution with it's large power supply and integrated design.  Hope it comes soon and hope the app gets a major upgrade.

Today my 851N and the Cambridge app updated to Tidal ready. Won't have a chance to listen until the weekend. Looking forward to it. I have high hopes . Should sound better than streaming Tidal through my HEOS Link.

@markv,
This is what I noticed about streaming Tidal via the 851N vs the HEOS Link.  I found the 851N to be more detailed and open.  A little better imaging, but my room is challenged for imaging anyway.  It seemed a bit brighter, but that's probably just the extra detail I'm hearing.  Overall, I will be leaving the HEOS Link out of the signal path.  Since the 851N has coaxial and optical outs, I can also pipe the music upstairs to my Halo Integrated and have both systems in sync. 

Regarding the app, it's pretty basic.  Hopefully they will work more on making it look and feel a little more current and modern.  It is utilitarian though.  It's hard to compare between two streamers by switching back and forth because I had to keep starting the 851N songs over after switching to another input.

One issue I have had is dropouts.  I have hardwired the cat 6 cable so I should not get dropouts streaming redbook FLAC. I noticed once my phone was updating several apps at the time.  I have 24 mb/sec bandwidth so that should be plenty to do both. 

I also think there may be more breaking in that needs to be done.  I'm sure new circuitry is being used and it may make a subtle difference at first.  Overall, I glad to take my HEOS streamer out of the signal path.

My system page is not updated, so I'll list it here for reference:
851N streamer/DAC
LTA MicroZotl 2
Halo A21,
Tekton DI
CT GE ICs
Duelund DCA16GA speaker wire

@markv,
I don’t listen to internet radio much. I just tested it out and I see a couple presets from my local area were still present and working. However, it was a mess when I tried to browse for stations. First, there is a list of countries to browse from and the US is not one of them. If I browse by genre I get the usual suspects, classic rock, 70s hits, 60s hits, etc. Some worked and some didn’t.

Overall, I would not base your buying decision on the 851N radio streaming capability. Just install TuneIn Radio on your phone, use the 851N bluetooth (which is quite good), and be done with it. I don’t know why they bother with curating their own stations. It’s already been done much better by others.

FWIW, I did listen to streamed stations at 128 kbps and sounded very good.

@mallikh67I would contact Cambridge Audio. It might be best to find a unit in the UK.

@kren0006,
Sorry this has taken so long to post. I have just completed a comparison between the DSD Jr and 851N. I purchased the DSD Jr last spring and have been doing comparisons since. I have been reluctant to sell the 851N because, for 1/3 the price, it was pretty even with the DSD Jr.

Initially I preferred the 851N, which seemed to have a little more PRAT with a bit more detail. The DSD Jr. was a little more natural sounding to my ears. Then I upgraded the DSD Jr. to Windom and upgraded my power supply of my LTA MicroZOTL2 from the basic switching PS to the LPS+ and the DSD Jr. excelled.

Here is a summary of the qualities of each:

851N

• Excellent PRAT (pace, rhythm, and timing)
• More detail (initially)
• A little compressed on complex passages but imaged well on less complex material
• Can be bright depending on the rest of your system
• Slightly louder
• Aesthetically more pleasing (to my eyes)
• Large video display

DSD Jr.

• Increased detail without added brightness or digital glare as my equipment was upgraded
• More natural/organic sounding
• Better imaging after upgrades
• Solid build
• Octave coming
• Free software updates
• MQA

Overall, the 851N is an excellent streamer/DAC and I think it’s a steal, especially used. Remember, I am comparing the 851N to a DAC that costs three times as much. The DSD Jr. just has too much else going for it, like Octave, software updates, MQA and the ability to perform better as my system upgrades.

With all this said, I must disclose I am finally selling my 851N. I hope that doesn’t mar these opinions because I truly have enjoyed it. The 851N would make an excellent entry level or second system streamer/DAC. The 851N has the same DAC internals as the stand-alone Cambridge 851D.

Hope this helps.

Ken