Cambridge Audio Azur 851A Class XD Integrated Amp - Display unit

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO AZUR 851A CLASS XD INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER - Pristine Display Unit

Cambridge Audio proudly admits: "the Azur 851A integrated amplifier the best one they've ever made." They've taken all the things you admire about Cambridge Audio products — things like solid build quality, muscular power components for clean sound, and convenient connectivity options — and they've elevated them up to meet their own continuous improvement objectives. Power, finesse, flexibility, and astonishingly low distortion: Cambridge Audio's Azur 851A offers what audiophiles want in a two-channel separate preamp and amplifier and combined both into a single platform - the 851A integrated amplifier. It is astonishingly superb. In fact, we use the 851A to test and review some of the cartridges and styli that we are considering for our line card.

Engineered for excellence
Yes two toroidal transformers, one dedicated purely to the preamp processes, supply the Class XD circuitry with pristine, supercharged power. But let's break this statement down to its nuts and bolts. The toroidal transformers are nearly impervious to hum, buzz, and interference problems experienced by lesser transformer designs. And Cambridge Audio's patented Class XD amplification technology combines the best aspects of two different design approaches: you get the sonic refinements of a Class A amplifier (without the high heat and inefficient power profile), plus the cool-running efficiency of a Class AB amp (with much less of the distortion that sometimes dogs that amp design). So all that clean power can be dedicated to one thing: providing the best quality sound for your speakers.

Music instrument for the modern soul
To cater to different usage profiles, the Azur 851A offers two main types of connectivity: the more commonly found RCA/Phono inputs, plus two pairs of fully balanced XLR connections. For the modern techies, you can even control your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using the 851 Series remote control when they're docked in Cambridge Audio's matching iD100 digital dock. And that's just the beginning of this award-winning component's options. A second XLR input, customizable display, separate transformer taps for the left and right channels, twin rectifiers and separate PSUs for dual-mono operation of the left and right power amplifiers, and separate toroidal transformer supplies in the preamp—making 851A a pre/power amp combination in one box—make this standout musical instrument capable of answering practically any demand with resounding success.

Masterpiece
Cambridge Audio also instilled the Azur 851A with its CAP5 protection technology for trouble-free operation and to prevent clipping and DC overcurrents. The integrated amp will simply turn itself down before any damage occurs. An acoustically damped full-metal chassis with a thick, brushed-aluminum front panel rounds out what is a legitimate audiophile masterwork.