People have different tastes in sound, so what one person considers "suck" might be another person's favorite. Some people prefer the sound of tone-coloring amplifiers, while others prefer a more neutral sound. The challenge with no tone-control amplifiers is finding the right speakers to pair with them. If using a tone-control amplifier, it can be adjusted to produce a warmer, bassier, or brighter sound, but it's important to choose speakers that will complement the amplifier's output.
And this is the reason why I kept my Cambridge Audio CX A80, because it has tone controls and I like that laid back sound this amp produces. It also has a lot of muscle for its power rating, it sounds way more powerful due to its High Current design!
I have the CXA61 powering KLH Model 3s. Just an outstanding amp. Great pairing with the KLHs. Would strongly recommend the Cambridge, it's an incredible listening experience for the money.
I recently purchased the cxa 81 refurbished from Cambridge audio I like it much better than the Kinki studio EX-M1 ,the Cambridge midrange is so musical ,warm and suitable to my taste 🎸I like to listen to music 🎶 not to an audiophile gears!
I like your review on the CA CXA81 amplifier & i agree with you this amp needs tone controls. I use my Bluesound node 2I tone controls to degrade my signal path 😂 i hope this helps keep up the great reviews.
Speaker pairing with this unit seems to be of the utmost importance. The ‚laid back‘ ‚vintage‘ Cambridge sound. They describe it as musicality. It goes well with more dynamic and clear sounding speakers. Not flat and overly analytical but more on the slightly brighter side of highs and more dynamic in the midrange. Find a good pairing with these thoughts in mind and you will never spend another thought on tone control.
Excelent review. I have a rotel 991 amp only and now im using a vintage yamaha ca410. Much sweeter sounding for my ears. Maybe the cxa61 81 could be an endgame. I ha a pair of Dali Oberon 7 and your review help me a lot! Thank you so much!
Dude, I enjoyed your review! It was articulate when it needed to be and entertaining; especially when you discussed your variety of bookshelf/stand speakers. Coincidentally, I am in the market for a higher-quality integrated amp and this is going to the top of my list of considerations however, (caveat), I own a pair of Magnepan LRS+ and, must consider high-current, powerful amp to connect to the line-outs as well.....or not?
I agree with you. I also like the Cambridge sound. I have the AXA-35 and I prefer it over my audiolab. Hope to one day be able to upgrade to the CXA-81 and CXN-V2. Their sound and style cant be matched.
That would be great! I assume it has a similar sound but with only 35 watts. It pairs very well with the Klipsch RP-600Ms using a bluesound node 2i as Dac/streamer. Honestly, it's all I need but I do like the looks of the CXN and CXA-81. Btw, great job with these reviews. They are presented in a way I can follow without having to listen about all the micro details I really don't care about. Thank you.
Hi, I'm now looking at upgrading from an older Denon UPA stack. I was wondering whether I should spend more on a CXN V2 and keep the old amp or get a cheaper streamer to run via the CXA81 (that I'd buy refurbished)'s DAC. Do you have any recommendations on which to do? Also looking at an integrated option like the Marantz Stereo 70s but the Internet has mixed opinions on that. PS: how is the headphone output on it?
It is a curious question. I guess the first would be if you already love the sound of what you have. And the second is how do you usually stream music? The Marantz Stereo 70 looks like a great product, and would be more flexible in use vs a traditional integrated. And it has tone controls! The CXA81 sounds great in its own right but you would have to like its sound as is. As for a streamer the CXN V2 is lovely and it visually matches the amp, but if you would rather buy an inexpensive streamer and rely on the DAC inside the CXA, you easily can. And you’ll be set.
@@0102studio Thanks, it's just that I heard the DAC in the CXN V2 sounds a lot better. Since I can only afford one purchase I'd like the one that makes the most improvement. If I get the CXN it's to pair with a Denon UPA-F07, nice little amp that's adequate for my current setup. Right now anything is better than my laptop via 3.5mm jack.
I also tried the AudioLab, ended up getting the CXA 81. Then, tried a vintage sx-3700 pioneer for $150 used. The pioneer is so much better, it blew my mind. Sold the 81. I do not need a sub anymore with my RF-7s and Cornwalls and I did with the Cambridge. The Audiolab was even worse! I now use a Sansui 9001and pioneer depending on my mood. The absence of tone controls is a cost saving measure and nothing more. Tone controls are essential when dialing in sound. The pioneer 939 has incredible bass and dynamics. The Sansui is in a league of it's own.
I agree. I bought a Harman Kardon for my Cornwalls and no longer need a sub. The vintage amps have more weight to the bass. Maybe because of Lower damping but it works for me.
@@wvjon75у вас просто маленький опыт прослушивания. Вы из тех, кому надо выкручивать тембры до упора😂. Это лечится, временем. Через пару лет поймёте. Не обижайтесь.
@@0102studio I set the volume on full on the 81. Calibrate the 70s with Audyssey. Then manually set the volume level's for each speaker. The only small ussue is i have to put a beer mat on the 81 front display. The volume and power on both remotes controls both.
@@0102studio Yeah. It drove me nuts when the nephew came here once. He was turning the music up on the 81 with the 70s remote. i was turning it back down with the 81 remote Lol. I still use the 81 as a stand alone amp for 2 channel music.
I have both AXR 100 and CXA 81, paired with B&W 685 s2 and PSB Imagine XB. sounds is amazing, favorite album was "This Left Feels Right" by: Bon Jovi, this album was perfect for Audiophile.
Great Video - will you do a separate review of the Wharfedale Evo 4.2? I have seen reviews and they all say amazing BUT you need to be sitting directly in front of them if you walk around they sound different and they are fussy with positioning? would love to see you do a full review of these?
I would also like to know what the Edge A integrated amp sounds like as the upgrade to the CXA 81, i think Cambridge audio should let you review it as myself i am at stale mate as to where to go for my next amplifier upgrade. I would like to stick with the CA brand as i am very happy with my setup. Please can you Harras CA to see if they will loan you an edge amp fingers crossed.
The Edges are a completely different game - think that same British sound and then add that same Cambridge sound then ahem - amplify it - then stretch it wider, then taller, then push it back and bring it forwards at the same time whilst separating each and every instrument and vocal - my first amp back in 1987 was a Cambridge - tiny little thing - but I loved the way it just fizzed along to vinyl with no drama so when the Edges came out I had to have them. Instead I didn't buy one. I bought three - 1 NQ and 2 Monos - hooked them up to my monstrously tall Monitor Audio Platinum 500II's (Google those as they are rare beasts) and reached my own personal music nirvana. However I also know that things have moved on a bit from then and I reckon the streaming angle on the NQ might be a bit dated - but so long as I don't care I won't change.
@@0102studio It is - I was very lucky in that during the late 80's I was given the pleasure of selling hi-end hi-fi - I had three interests at that time cars, cameras and collecting 2nd hand speakers - Hi-Fi as a job was brilliant but then it becomes boring after a while - like any industry I suppose - you are over immersed - so when I left I became a photographer and 40 years later no longer care for cameras - but recently I rediscovered myself with music and went on a mission to 'do it once and do it properly' so that's what I did - I didn't want to become 'that guy' who tweaks, fiddles and seeks for betterment when you already have something amazing - or someone who becomes bored after ten minutes of listening to their system - as for cars - well they have been a money pit and I have now given them up too; instead choosing to shoot them for magazines - but music is my first true love and so whilst I am an average citizen of average means and the children have now left home I indulged quite heavily - however not as heavily as some might think - all the stuff I own was bought second hand - and it all just works exactly as it should and exactly as it was intended and more importantly than anything; exactly as I like it- I do say to other people "you can put your system first, so long as you are putting the music first!" Good stuff
@@0102studio They are all good - all of them - and I don't want to hear anything else - however I suspect there might be better streaming options out there - the nice thing about the Edge amps is that they are daisy chainable - got a set of speakers with two sets of binding posts - why not get four monos and go active!!!!!! -You can certainly Bi-Amp the Edges- I may not do that as I have a lady in the house and I already am on thin ice with speakers that are a bit - shall we say - dominating - word of note - Edges get hot - so hiding them in cabinets is a no-no. I am thinking of getting two Monitor Audio subs though....... There is no end is there - I though there was but there just isn't. Lastly being a very lucky boy at the tender age of 18 I got to hear a very high end system a pair of Infinity IRSV's - look those up - pumped by 4 MarK Levinson Mono's piped into an Audio Research SP9 Pre-amp Krell this and Michell Deck that. That was when a relatively unknown artist at the time by the name of Tracy Chapman punched me in stomach, smashed me over the head with her guitar and completely won me over with 'For My Lover' forever and a sound I will never own. But I think I got close - and as an aside I noticed that Paul from PS Audio has left the company to work with Genesis who have just re-invented the very same IRSV' with the original designer proving if nothing else there is no hope for me, or any of us, at all especially when I consider that if I had saved all the money I wasted on stupid old cars that were too worn out to work i might actually have been able to own a pair - if not a house which would fit them!!! You do need a very big house, very big!!
I own the cxa60, and still love it. Its in silver and matches my cxnv2, so I’m not changing them out anytime soon. Stick with the 60 if you like it, and if you need more power use the preouts.
It’s not the power rating, look at the size of the transformer. This amp delivers a lot of current and sounds very muscular, more like 160 watts per channel with 8 ohm speakers.
