CES 2015: Cambridge Audio 851N is flagship network music player

By Joe Cox
published

The 851N network music player now sits at the top of the Cambridge Audio Azur 851 range and offers a "no compromise" machine for digital music.

It features a new design, high-res audio support, upsampling of all sources to 24-bit/384kHz, AirPlay, UPnP streaming and more.

The new, all-metal chassis incorporates a 4.3in colour screen and can be controlled by new Cambridge Connect apps for Android and iOS devices.

Connect to your home network for UPnP streaming or wirelessly stream using AirPlay from Apple smartphones and tablets, and iTunes. Bluetooth is an optional extra via a dongle.

MORE: Read all our Cambridge Audio reviews and news

Three USB inputs can connect to HDDs or USB sticks, while two optical, two coaxial and an asynchronous USB input make this a well-connected machine. Analogue and digital output offerings are thorough.

Popular codecs are supported right up to 24-bit/192kHz (and can be streamed over wi-fi), while Spotify Connect, iPlayer Radio and internet radio are all built-in to the 851N.

Twin Analog Devices AD1955 DACs run in 'dual differential' mode processing left and right channels separately, while high-grade components and digital signal processing ensure the purest signal path.

The Cambridge Audio Azur 851N flagship network music player is due to hit the shelves in Q1 2015.

MORE: CES 2015 live - all the latest news

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is Content Director for T3 and What Hi-Fi?, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for more than 15 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).