Cambridge Audio CXA81 Mk II Integrated Stereo Amplifier

How do we improve on CXA81, an amplifier regarded by many as the standard-bearer at its price point?

Focusing on the all-important signal path, we re-engineered it with premium components end to end, plus an upgraded DAC and a whole load of listening and tuning; all part of a relentless drive to deliver new clarity and depth.

The outcome? Audio performance that goes way beyond expectations.

What hits you first when you hear familiar music through CXA81 Mk II, is just how detailed everything sounds. You’ll pick up instruments, subtle shifts in tone, and harmonies you’ve previously missed. Close your eyes, and you’ll be able to place every musician in the soundstage.

Once you’ve heard CXA81 Mk II, there’s no turning back.

At the centre of CXA81 Mk II lies a custom-designed Class AB power amplifier stage with highly optimised components. It takes the musicality of Class A and blends it with the efficiency of Class B. The amp’s short signal path is super-efficient, leaving little opportunity for colouration.

The result is a detailed sound that connects you to the emotional power of your music.

Thanks to a chunky toroidal transformer, CXA81 Mk II delivers a generous 80 watts of power per channel. Dual taps into the left and right of the amplification board mean that, in effect, each channel has its own power supply – resulting in a vivid soundstage.

Dynamic shifts in music – like loud then quiet passages – are handled with ease.

Designed to bring your digital music to life, CXA81 Mk II features the upgraded ESS ES9018K2M DAC (digital analogue converter) in its dedicated circuitry. This means that digital audio files, up to a heady 24-bit/384kHz or DSD256, are unpacked – with every subtle detail delivered in full.

CXA81 Mk II combines unparalleled accuracy with vivid musicality, doing so beautifully.

CXA81 Mk II has connectivity covered. As well as digital optical, coaxial and USB Audio (from computers), it features stereo RCA inputs, balanced XLR sockets plus wireless hi-res connectivity via Bluetooth aptX HD – perfect for our Alva turntables.

You can even connect a second set of speakers, to hear your music in another room.

Designed to work with carefully matched kit of a comparable quality, CXA81 Mk II isn’t festooned with switches and dials – to keep the signal path clear. Its minimal aluminium fascia has a power button, input selectors and a beautifully smooth volume control.

It’s also supplied with a CX Series remote control, which you can use with other products in the series.

With elegant, minimalistic lines, crafted from aluminium and steel, CXA81 Mk II will endure physically and aesthetically. There should be no reason to change an amplifier for many years, if at all.

Making products that last is just one of the ways that we can minimise our impact on the planet and maximise your listening pleasure.