Cambridge Audio Azur 851From real comments

Verdict distilled from 28 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment48%
PROS 48%
CONS 52%

Rank based on 28 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a bargain-priced amp that can rival much pricier gear on sound quality
  • You're buying used and prioritize value over long-term warranty support
  • You prefer a detailed, revealing sound signature over outright warmth

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need rock-solid long-term reliability without repair hassles
  • You want a warm, tube-like sound signature straight out of the box
  • You're wary of hard-to-source repairs or unclear country-of-origin manufacturing

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Roland Blues Cube Artist
Lightweight and gig-friendlyTube-like tone and feelExcellent clean channelExpensive, hard-to-find Tone CapsulesInconsistent or harsh crunch channelNo included footswitch
Roland Blues Cube Artist
Lightweight and gig-friendly
Tube-like tone and feel
Excellent clean channel
Expensive, hard-to-find Tone Capsules
Inconsistent or harsh crunch channel
No included footswitch
2Premium
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatilityGreat cleanup via guitar volumeBig, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattageDark, bass-heavy voicing for somePrice relative to alternativesRequires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatility
Great cleanup via guitar volume
Big, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattage
Dark, bass-heavy voicing for some
Price relative to alternatives
Requires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Best value
3Mid
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatilityGreat with pedals / clean platformLong-term keeper ampCleans not its strongest suitFizzy or excessive gain out of the boxStock preamp tubes considered weak
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatility
Great with pedals / clean platform
Long-term keeper amp
Cleans not its strongest suit
Fizzy or excessive gain out of the box
Stock preamp tubes considered weak
4Mid
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound qualityGood speaker pairing versatilityHEOS streaming and internet radio convenienceAirPlay over Ethernet reliability issueDAC only active via optical/coaxial inputsLacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound quality
Good speaker pairing versatility
HEOS streaming and internet radio convenience
AirPlay over Ethernet reliability issue
DAC only active via optical/coaxial inputs
Lacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
5Budget
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its sizeTonePrint effects built inClean, full, realistic toneAlways-lit tuner displayInsufficient power for loud full bandsSingle effect slot limitation
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its size
TonePrint effects built in
Clean, full, realistic tone
Always-lit tuner display
Insufficient power for loud full bands
Single effect slot limitation
6Premium
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain toneBuilt-in CabClone IR / direct outBuild quality and versatility praised by ownersHigh priceMissing third channel and solo boostNo EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain tone
Built-in CabClone IR / direct out
Build quality and versatility praised by owners
High price
Missing third channel and solo boost
No EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
7Mid
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphonesCompact, high-quality buildEnjoyable Bluetooth sound qualityEarly sound-mode switching bugLimited single-ended power for some planarsNot fully wireless
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphones
Compact, high-quality build
Enjoyable Bluetooth sound quality
Early sound-mode switching bug
Limited single-ended power for some planars
Not fully wireless
8Premium
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatilityOwner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentimentSmooth, musical high-gain distortionHigh priceOverwhelming number of optionsSome find it too polished or lacking rawness
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatility
Owner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentiment
Smooth, musical high-gain distortion
High price
Overwhelming number of options
Some find it too polished or lacking rawness
9Mid
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
10Mid
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platformLush onboard chorusExceptional clean toneBackground hiss/humWeak onboard distortionSome pedals don't pair well
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platform
Lush onboard chorus
Exceptional clean tone
Background hiss/hum
Weak onboard distortion
Some pedals don't pair well
You are here
31Mid
Cambridge Audio Azur 851
Pairs well with a variety of speakersExcellent sound quality for the priceDetailed, revealing bass and imagingBuild quality and reliability faultsVolume rotary encoder problemsLean, analytical sound lacking warmth
Cambridge Audio Azur 851
Pairs well with a variety of speakers
Excellent sound quality for the price
Detailed, revealing bass and imaging
Build quality and reliability faults
Volume rotary encoder problems
Lean, analytical sound lacking warmth

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sound quality impresses many long-term owners, often beating far more expensive alternatives. Multiple owners describe the 851 series as an outright bargain, delivering goosebump-inducing vocal reproduction and detailed, biting bass when paired with quality speakers. One listener directly compared it to gear costing 5-10x more and called the 851 unbeatable. Long-term owners in 2024 still praise their units years later, saying they'd choose a used 851 over an equivalently priced new amp.

Reliability and build quality are a recurring source of owner frustration. Several commenters report flimsy circuit boards that flex and crack solder joints, causing faults, plus units going into standby mid-album or turning on at max volume unexpectedly. Repairs are described as expensive and difficult because Cambridge reportedly withholds service manuals and prefers whole-board replacement over fixing individual components, frustrating owners seeking economical fixes.

The volume control knob is a specific, widely mentioned weak point. Multiple separate comments flag the rotary volume encoder as having noticeable mechanical slop or a design flaw that fails after a few years, sometimes described as a 'grease covered decoder wheel.' Some owners also report needing to turn volume unusually high for adequate output, which one commenter found odd compared to a lower-powered amp they previously owned.

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