The CXA81 is the most expensive product in the second generation CX Series, which was re-engineered to bring “full-fat” hi-fi into the home at an “affordable” price. In addition to the CXA81 integrated amplifier, the series includes a second amp, CD transport, and a network audio streamer cut in the range). The CXA81 is a rebuilt amplifier that offers several new features over its predecessor, the CXA80. These include an improved USB input, a digital-to-analog converter, and an integrated aptX HD Bluetooth receiver. In this review, we will discuss the overview of CXA81 and also examine the sound quality of CXA81.
History of Cambridge Audio
Cambridge Audio is a British hi-fi specialist that was founded in 1968. Their first product was the revolutionary P40, a 20W stereo amp with a slimline chassis and a donut-shaped magnetic core with wire wound around it. This shape results in lower leakage flux from the core, less electromagnetic interference, and greater efficiency.
The P50 was designed to be easier to mass produce than the P40. But Cambridge needed more cash to keep the good times rolling. In 1971, they were bought by CE Hammond & Co Ltd, a UK/North American distributor of audio products. That’s when Cambridge Audio was born, with Stan Curtis as the tech director. Curtis became a huge success and is a legend in the hi-fi industry.
Design and built quality
The CXA81 measures 16.9 inches wide, 4.5 inches high, and 13.4 inches deep. It weighs just under 20 pounds and has a steel chassis and an aluminum face. The rear of the unit is supported by two silicone rubber and ABS footers. The front of the unit is supported by a case-wide, half-inch black plastic ridge finished with a long rubber strip. This design element gives the illusion that the CXA81 is floating above the shelf.
The CXA81’s front panel is plain and simple, with most controls in the middle in an acrylic window with backlit LEDs. There are four buttons to choose the analog source, a light to show if the protection is on, a button to switch between speakers A and B, a mute indicator, three buttons to choose the digital source, a tiny button with the USB symbol, and a big volume control knob. You need good eyes to read the labels. The universal remote has the same controls as the front panel, plus a few more.
The back panel of the unit is well-designed. Each jack is labeled on both the top and bottom, making it easy to see the labels from any angle. The IEC power input, RS232C connector, control bus inputs, IR input, trigger-out jacks, and speaker binding posts are on the left side of the panel. On the right side are the digital inputs, including Bluetooth antenna, USB input, S/PDIF inputs, subwoofer out, pre-out jacks, analog inputs, and balanced inputs.
The Cambridge Audio CXA81 can drive 8-ohm speakers with 80 watts per channel and 4-ohm speakers with 120 watts per channel in class AB. It has a remote control and RCA and XLR inputs. Balanced inputs are rare at this price point. The CXA81 is “Roon tested,” which means it works with Roon, like most DACs. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection.
According to Cambridge Audio literature, the CXA81 has separate left and right channels. Tony Stott, training and development manager for Cambridge Audio, says the CXA81 has separate transformer taps for the left and right channels, twin rectifiers, and separate PSUs for the power stages.
Performance
There are audio products that sound so bad, you turn them off, and others that sound so good, you crank them up and smile. The new Cambridge CXA81 falls into the latter category. We knew this was another musical product from Cambridge from the first notes.
First, we paired the Cambridge CXA81 with some B&W 704 tower speakers. Then we used the Cambridge CXC CD transport as the source. The British sound is just so much fun to listen to. It lets all of the emotions of the music come through without adding any coloration. When you add in how well it portrays dynamics, you are drawn further into the sound.
The Cambridge CXA81 can handle tracks with a lot of deep bass and impact, and it does a great job controlling the 704s. On the other hand, it can also handle the light, articulate bass details.
The Cambridge CXA81 amp impressed us with its clarity. You can pick out every instrument in its own space, even in complex parts with multiple guitars. It was like that in “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, with all those overdubbed guitars. And the amp did great with raucous tracks like “Citizen of the Planet” by Alanis Morissette. It held together without a hint of strain.
Cambridge Audio wants its employees to feel the emotional impact of music. They do this by having free concerts for the whole company every Friday. The Cambridge CXA81 amp is a reflection of this philosophy. When you listen to music on the CXA81, it’s like hearing your favorite tracks for the first time.
Sound Quality
When you hear the opening bars of whatever music you choose, you’ll be greeted with a powerful, punchy, and dynamic presentation. The level of detail is amazing. The CXA81 can lay down some serious grooves. It’s got a staccato rhythm that it plays with conviction. It can handle alternating loud and soft beats like a champ.
The midrange is full-bodied and expressive, and the melodies soar. But it all comes together in a musical whole. The Cambridge CXA81 amp has a rich, balanced sound. The low end is powerful and has a nice weight to it. It’s also lean and agile enough to handle even the wildest bass lines. The treble is clear and detailed, with no harshness or rough edges.
The Cambridge CXA81 amp sounds rich and balanced. The bass is powerful and heavy, but it’s also lean and agile enough to handle even the craziest bass lines. The treble is clear and detailed, with no harshness or rough edges.
The Cambridge CXA81 amp sounds rich and balanced. The bass is powerful and heavy, but it’s also lean and agile enough to handle even the craziest bass lines. The treble is clear and detailed, with no harshness or rough edges. Cambridge Audio CXA81 Review
CXA81 Integrated Amplifier Features
The Cambridge CXA81 is a mid-priced amp that fits between the affordable AXA35 and the top-of-the-line Edge A. It has 80Wpc of Class AB solid-state power, which is 20Wpc more than the CXA61 but costs $300 more. The CXA81 has separate left and right channels for the analog stages, which might explain the higher price.
The CXA81 amp has one pair of XLR balanced inputs and four pairs of RCA analog line-level inputs. It also has a variety of digital inputs, including SPDIF coax, TosLink, USB, and Bluetooth (aptX HD). These inputs can be used to drive the onboard high-quality DAC. The CXA81 has an all-new digital board with the ESS Sabre ES9016 D/A chip. This chip can handle digital files up to 32bit/384kHz or DSD256.
Cambridge CXA81 amp is a mid-priced amp that fits between the affordable AXA35 and the top-of-the-line Edge A. It has 80Wpc of Class AB solid-state power, which is 20Wpc more than the CXA61 but costs $300 more. The CXA81 has separate left and right channels for the analog stages, which might explain the higher price. Cambridge Audio CXA81 Review
Listening experience
The CXA81 amp is a beast. It blew away all the other amps in its price range and sounded great with all my speakers. I could tell a big difference when I switched between my Thorens and Kuzma turntables. It was like there was nothing between the needle and the speakers. Cambridge Audio CXA81 Review
The CXA81 was forgiving of lesser recordings and made the good ones shine. Compared to my reference amplification components, the CXA81 was a little dry in the mids and highs. The bass response was solid, with plenty of bass energy. The CXA81 consistently produced a large, atmospheric soundstage with solid images. The tonality was less saturated and less sweet than my ideal, though this dryness was only apparent on some recordings. The dynamics were good.
Associated Equipment
I use a Rotel RDD 980 CD Transport with an Assemblage DAC-3 D/A processor. My amps are customized Zen/Bride of Zen pure single-ended class-A integrated amps. I like my Rogers dB101 and B&W Matrix 804 speakers. Cambridge Audio CXA81 Review
Specifications
Power output: 80W RMS into 8 Ohms, 120W RMS into 4 Ohms
DAC chipset: ESS Sabre ES9016K2M
Frequency response: <5 Hz– 60 kHz +/-1dB
Analog audio inputs: 1x balanced XLR, 4 x RCA
Digital audio inputs: 1 x S/PDIF coaxial, 2 x TOSLINK optical, 1 x USB audio, Bluetooth (integrated)
Compatibility:
- TOSLINK optical: 16/24-bit 32-96 kHz PCM
- S/PDIF coaxial: 16/24-bit 32-192 kHz PCM
- USB: 1.0/2.0, up to 24-bit 384 kHz PCM, up to DSD256 or DoP256
- Bluetooth: 4.2 A2DP/AVRCP supporting up to aptX HD (24bit 48 kHz)
Bluetooth APTX HD Receiver Built-in: Yes
Roon tested: Yes
Outputs:
- Speakers A+B
- 3.5mm headphone
- Preamp Output
- Subwoofer Output
Remote control: Yes
Max power consumption: 750W
Stand-by power consumption: <0.5W
Dimensions (H X W X D): 115 x 430 x 341mm (4.5 x 16.9 x 13.4”)
Weight: 8.7kg (19.1 lbs.)
MSRP: $1,299.00 each.
Available Finishes: Silver, Black
Conclusion
I just reviewed the Cambridge CXA81 integrated amp, and I was blown away. The Cambridge Audio CXA81 integrated amp is loaded with features and connections. It sounds awesome, and it’s built to last. If you’re looking for an affordable integrated amp, you should definitely check out the Cambridge CXA81. Cambridge Audio CXA81 Review
