So, I currently own the Cambridge Stream Magic 6 a nice power amp a Cambridge Audio 840e pre with a pair of decent speakers. Thinking of etting the 851N to take the place of the Stream Magic 6. Mailnly listen to files in FLAC from an external HD. A good move?? Probaby need to hear from someone overseas, as no one here in the US has one yet?? Any thoughts??
Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 ??(V1) Vs: The new 851N Network player? Anyone
- Thread starter drummerinohio
- Start date
am waiting for an 851N to replace my magic 6 as well.. mostly for the Display and the Beauty of the unit,Hopefully the app will be improved,if anyone knows where/when to purchase Please let me know,supposed to be released already...Thx
shabbyshaman said:
Display is nice, beauty?? Okay, it looks good too. For over a grand more of real time dollars, the thing needs to be a big improvement in the sound department, As far as inventory, I am being told 2nd week in April?? Maybe ya should get with a dealer now??
iQ Speakers said:
The first thread was saying hi and stating I'm looking for a place to start a thread, but ok. Is there a problem??
Only you will have answers all over the place!.
Shabberman have you seen the CXN ? Its wider in real life!
Shabberman have you seen the CXN ? Its wider in real life!
If I only brought this up in my introduction, and then found a place to be more specific, that's not really all over the place, And unless looking at a unit excites one (it doesn't me) the DAC's are the same in the SM6 as they are in the CXN, so doubt there will be any improvement with sound there! The 851N has different DAC's . are they better?? Not sure, but for a $1000.00 US dollar jump, (that's a lotta money) they should be leaps and bounds ahead in sound quality??. I'm guessing Cambridge is playing on the hobbist that is after features other than sound quality in this move?? Anxious to find out because my SM6 is rocking!!!
then keep it! The CXN is the replacement with colour screen, I would very much doubt there is a massive inprovment in sound for the 851N unless they have worked miracles with the anologue stage, And yes the SM6 does sound brilliant.
iQ Speakers said:
Then why on earth would someone want to pay the difference from the CXN to the 851N???
iQ Speakers said:
As the tech support can't justify the sound quality between the CXN and the 851N, Hmmmm
Dont forget they are probally stupid! and not heard both! In the UK Cambridge Audio is not realy seen as a HiFi brand. Its sold through Richer Sounds a semi HIFi cheap end multilple store great for certain items. Luckily we do have independent cleaver speacialist Hi Fi dealers hear too, even though we are a small nation. Personally I would stick to the SM 6 unless colour screen and asthetics really matter £699 to you, its a very good streamer as it is.
My SM6 v2 broke and the retailer offered me a replacement CXN instead as they don't have the SM6v2 anymore.
I actually see the CXN as a downgrade (screen aside)
The CXN doesn't have the same audio circuit as the SM6, it no longer has the steep, linear and phase filters. The flagship 851N does have these filters however. So if we are forgetting about the screen, because let's face it, it's the audio that's important here, is the Cambridge CXN really an upgrade from the SM6 v2?
I'd love an answer here as I'm not very happy about being offered a CXN instead of a replacement SM6v2
I actually see the CXN as a downgrade (screen aside)
The CXN doesn't have the same audio circuit as the SM6, it no longer has the steep, linear and phase filters. The flagship 851N does have these filters however. So if we are forgetting about the screen, because let's face it, it's the audio that's important here, is the Cambridge CXN really an upgrade from the SM6 v2?
I'd love an answer here as I'm not very happy about being offered a CXN instead of a replacement SM6v2
Replied on other thread!, Same sound, take the CXN sell it buy the cheaper SM6 job done. Richer Sound are selling last ones for £499 or get one on Ebay.
Thank you. I read in a comment you made earlier that you said the SM6 sound better than the CXN. You don't feel this is the case now?
Hi,
Whilst the additional digital filters were removed from the CXN, we did this to streamline the signal path, and tuned the product to be as close as possible to the Stream Magic 6 V2. We also added an Airplay module to allow streaming direct from iTunes on a PC or Mac, or iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. The platform remains the same in terms of the DAC, and we would encourange users to arrange an audition where possible, to hear it for themselves.
Whilst the additional digital filters were removed from the CXN, we did this to streamline the signal path, and tuned the product to be as close as possible to the Stream Magic 6 V2. We also added an Airplay module to allow streaming direct from iTunes on a PC or Mac, or iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. The platform remains the same in terms of the DAC, and we would encourange users to arrange an audition where possible, to hear it for themselves.
Sorry replied on the other thread the chap started. Yes it as good! and so much easier to set up. Nice display. CA and Richer have been brilliant sorting my little issue out, which turns out has nothing to do with the CXN, I still dont no where it lies for certain.
I have had the 851N for about a week now, as a replacement for the SM6 v2. I love it!
The build quality is very good, very solid and well made.
The colour screen is beautiful.
The menu is a bit laggy and it's hard to see what you are selecting from across the room as the bar is almost the same colour as the background, maybe this will be rectified on future firmware updates?
The sound is impressive! More detail than the SM6 v2 and bass frequencies seem cleaner and tighter to me.
Overall I'm very happy with the 851N and would certainly recommend it.
It's not leaps and bounds ahead of the SM6, as this is a great streamer too! so upgrade probably isn't worth it.
But if you're new to the streamer market and want a good value, great sounding box then get the 851N.
The build quality is very good, very solid and well made.
The colour screen is beautiful.
The menu is a bit laggy and it's hard to see what you are selecting from across the room as the bar is almost the same colour as the background, maybe this will be rectified on future firmware updates?
The sound is impressive! More detail than the SM6 v2 and bass frequencies seem cleaner and tighter to me.
Overall I'm very happy with the 851N and would certainly recommend it.
It's not leaps and bounds ahead of the SM6, as this is a great streamer too! so upgrade probably isn't worth it.
But if you're new to the streamer market and want a good value, great sounding box then get the 851N.
Glad you like the 851n, I think the best feature of the 851n and the CXN has to be AirPlay you seem to be able to play most things inc Tidal and Qobuz.
Just in case anyone else finds this thread like I did when I was researching this earlier this week..
I listened to the 851n and CXN back to back yesterday and both sound really good. However when I listened to some hi res classical there was a pretty big difference.
The CXN sounded good but the 851n just took things to another level in terms of the clarity and separation of instruments and the emotion that came through.
I ended up buying the 851n (with 851a and Tannoy Precision 6.2) I liked it all that much!
I listened to the 851n and CXN back to back yesterday and both sound really good. However when I listened to some hi res classical there was a pretty big difference.
The CXN sounded good but the 851n just took things to another level in terms of the clarity and separation of instruments and the emotion that came through.
I ended up buying the 851n (with 851a and Tannoy Precision 6.2) I liked it all that much!
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