AmplifierCambridge Audio80% by External Reviewers

Cambridge Audio CXA81

Integrated Amplifier

Product Gallery

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Product Overview

Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier is the bigger brother of CXA61. With all the features that make CXA61 an excellent amplifier, the CXA81 adds a pair of balanced XLR input, a superior ESS Sabre ES9016K2M DAC, and 80W power output.

Ratings

What we found

Pros
  • Sleek, minimalist design
  • Excellent balance and control
  • Excellent build quality
Cons
  • Nothing in particular

What external reviewers found

External score 80%
Pros
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Excellent build quality
  • Excellent battery life
  • Impressive detail levels
Cons
  • Lack of connectivity
  • Lacklustre performance with classical music
  • No phono input

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Specifications

External Reviews

theear[1]

Reviewer score 66% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from theear have found:
The Bluetooth performance is rock solid, reliable and oh-so sweet. The hypnotic guitars from Intro by The xx are delivered with great gusto. The jaunty French Navy from Camera Obscura is sure to get you swaying. Where the amp is less successful is with classical music.
Pros
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Excellent battery life
  • Excellent build quality
Cons
  • Lacklustre performance with classical music

trustedreviews[2]

Reviewer score 88% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from trustedreviews have found:
The Cambridge CXA81 is as good as it currently gets at its £1000 price. Detail levels are as good a place as any to start, and the Cambridge reveals an absolute torrent of detail. There is formidable power and punch to the low frequencies (although it’s fearsomely controlled), wide-open spaciousness to accompany the heady detail levels in the mid-range.
Pros
  • Well-regarded phono stage
  • Impressive detail levels
  • Decent build quality
Cons
  • Lack of connectivity

whathifi[3]

Reviewer score 87% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from whathifi have found:
Cambridge Audio CXA81 sets a new baseline for thousand-pound integrated amps. Powerful and weighty in the low end, but lean and agile enough to dance around with the most excitable bass lines. Full-bodied and expressive midrange deals out melodies that are given space to soar, yet still sound definitively part of a musical whole.
Pros
  • Punchy, dynamic presentation
  • Excellent build quality
Cons
  • No phono input

Also Check

Product ComparisonProducts in AmplifierProducts by Cambridge AudioKeyword amplifierKeyword integrated-amplifier

References

  1. ^ Cambridge Audio CXA81. [theear].
  2. ^ Cambridge CXA81 Review. [trustedreviews].
  3. ^ Cambridge Audio CXA81 review. [whathifi].

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