Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII - 80 Watt Separate Integrated Stereo Amplifier HiFi System Featuring Bluetooth aptX HD and ESS Sabre DAC - Lunar Grey

Very powerful-sounding amp that drives my Monitor Audio Silver 500 floor-standing speakers and my KEF LS50 Metas with authority. It's on the warm side of neutral yet provides a very satisfying level of clarity and detail. This amplifier is much better, IMHO, than my Audiolab 6000A because it provides a fatter, richer tone with more presence. The Audiolab is too lean and laid-back for my tastes. I use the CXA81 with the Cambridge Audio Alva Duo phono preamp and not surprisingly the system synergy is perfect. I also recently acquired the Marantz Model 50 integrated amp and they sound so much alike it's difficult to tell them apart. The Marantz is a little more analog sounding while the CXA81 is a little more hi-fi sounding. The CXA81 sounds just a bit more powerful than the Marantz but the Marantz is smoother and slightly less fatiguing after long listening sessions due to being slightly less bright -- but it's close. Very close.

After watching many reviews on YouTube reading about cambridge Audio products and its history. I decided to purchase the CXA-81 MK2. This Integrated Amp is well worth every penny spent as it produces excellent representation of musical instruments and separation.

Coming from a 1980s NAD amp and Mordaunt Short speakers, this amp with a pair of cambridge audio speakers was a quantum leap. Closing my eyes you could easily imagine a piano was being played right in the room. Amazing sound. My issues with the amp were mostly minor - there's a very large remote control that comes with it including a segment with play, pause etc controls, but it doesn't operate the Cambridge Audio CD player; perhaps slightly more notably, the amp can connect to a computer using bluetooth which should be a really useful HQ audio source. However the hardware implementation of bluetooth in the amp is the 2014 version 4.2, not the latest 2021 version 5.3. This means reduced bandwidth but more notably a less solid connection in environments with a lot of 2.4GHz traffic. My M2 Mac Mini (not renound for its bluetooth reliability) frequently loses connection with the amp. Unfortunately switching to v. 5 bluetooth would be a HW upgrade so no upgrade from v. 4 through firmware seems likely.

I’ve got this amp paired with Goldenear BRX stand mount speakers and it sounds wonderful. Detailed but not harsh, very smooth and relaxed but plenty of oomph for the low end. It actually took about 2 days before it broke in and now it is wonderful. Not cheap, but worth the investment.

This is an excellent amplifier. The performance is excellent.

La primera impresión fue la escena sonora la separación de instrumentos y potencia, lo conecte a unas monitor audio silver 100 7g, perooo carece de claridad y eso hace una experiencia algo extraña, creo que no lo tendré mucho tiempo y optare por un amplificador con regulador de tono. ( Nota si en el vídeo se escucha claro fue por equalizador del Streamer.)

I use this amp with my CXN100. The two share the same remote and cell app. The power and clarity is the best I have ever owned. Pair it with high quality CD player and streamer, like the CXN100, and use proper digital cables, the sound quality will astound you. Like most Cambridge Audio gear, this amp lacks EQ control. That takes some getting used to. Also makes your speaker choice very important. The audio quality top notch . I/O includes XLR. But I use digital for everything. The remote controls entire system if Cambridge. You may find alternatives for less money. But nothing else I tested matched the sound.

No complaints but basic and looks like a grandpa’s amplifier. It’s kinda bulky.