Cambridge Audio is an audiophile electronics manufacturer with a lineage that dates back to the late 1960s. Cambridge Audio’s products today are as relevant as ever, including some really slick designs such as their sexy-as-hell, DeLorean-themed integrated amplifier. The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier features 80 watts per channel of Class-A/B power into eight ohms, and 120 watts into four ohms. Additionally, Cambridge Audio used an ESS ES9018K2M SABRE32 DAC chip set. The preamplifier section of the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier has one coaxial (digital) input, two Toslink inputs, four unbalanced analog inputs, one balanced analog input, a dedicated subwoofer output, a Bluetooth APTX HD receiver, and a USB-B audio input. That’s a lot of connectivity options, my audiophile friends.
What Makes the Cambridge CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier So Special?
- 80 watts of Class-A/B power is right around the sweet spot for some of the better but more affordable integrated amps in the market today. These days, you don’t find as many integrated amplifiers that use Class-A/B power, as most have gone to smaller Class-D amplifiers. So, if you’re someone who prefers Class-A/B amplifier section, this is a great choice.
- A balanced input at this price point is a nice audiophile perk. Most audiophiles who are shopping in this price range, likely won’t “need” a balanced input, but it is a great option to have when you’re looking at upgrade paths as you get more into the hobby. That could keep this integrated amplifier in your system for a longer period of time.
- The combination of the amplifier and DAC produce really respectable sound from the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amp. I was taken aback by the warmth in my first few listens to this DAC and amplifier combination. The folks at Cambridge audio nailed the most important part of the integrated amplifier – the sound quality.
- The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier has a pre-out if you decide you want to use it as a preamplifier with a dedicated amplifier. It is always great to have upgrade paths without having to sell your gear to upgrade. Even if you’re looking to move from an integrated amplifier to a separate preamplifier and amplifier, this will allow you to take those steps slowly by adding the amplifier you want, and then worrying about the preamplifier later.
Why Should You Care About the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier?
This product is aimed at the part of the audiophile market looking for Class-A/B power, a modern audiophile DAC with many of the more sought-after digital inputs. I can see the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier being a great starter piece for an audiophile who is looking to elevate their system from entry-level, as this component has enough power to handle just about any modern speaker on the market today (within reason). The only thing that is really missing from the overall value proposition is a phono section, but if you want to get into vinyl or you’re replacing an existing integrated amplifier, quality standalone phono preamplifiers can be purchased for just a few hundred dollars – and they are pretty darn good, as I am testing a few of these affordable, standalone phono stages now, and they are notably good-sounding.
Some Things You Might Not Like About the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier
- The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier only comes in grey. Many people are looking to color-match their gear to other pieces and/or to the room, which is why we see more and more color options presented. However, Cambridge Audio decided to only go with what they call “Luna Grey.”
- There is no phono section built into the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier. The vast majority of the integrated amplifiers at this price point include a phono stage but, for whatever reason, Cambridge Audio chose to leave it out of the CXA81 MKII. That’s not the end of the world, but it’s worthy of comment for comparison’s sake.
- You will likely need to check the manual if you want to use the balanced input. I was initially perplexed when I was trying to use the balanced input, as there isn’t one visible anywhere on the face of the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII or on its included remote control. After a bit of digging around, I found that you just need to press the analog one input twice, so that it turns orange, which signifies that it is using the balanced input. Now you know …
Listening to the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier …
My testing with the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier was with the Bluesound Node (2024) and Paradigm Founder 80F floorstanding speakers. I A/B tested the DAC by using a digital coax cable to go from the Bluesound Node to the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier and then using unbalanced RCA cables to use the Node’s DAC to compare. In my testing, I found the DAC of the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier to have a slightly warmer sound than the one inside of the new BlueSound Node (2024).
One of the first tracks I listened to was “Elevation” (QoBuz 96kHz) from U2’s 2000 album All That You Can’t Leave Behind. This track earned U2 the Grammy for Best Rock Performance in 2002 and became their sixteenth Number One hit in their native Ireland. The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII allowed me to hear all of the small details in the percussion that were occurring in the background, instead of just Bono’s vocals, and The Edge’s guitar, which was very much brought to the front. On this track in particular, you could hear the added warmth that was seemingly coming from the DAC.
Another track that I was impressed with in my testing was “My Queen is Ada Eastman” (Qobuz 96 kHz) from Sons of Kemet’s 2018 album My Queen is a Reptile. This is a modern jazz track that mixes avant-garde jazz with Afro influences. Each track on this album references a Black woman of influence throughout history. This track celebrates Ada Eastman, the grandmother of the band’s leader and saxophone player, Shabaka Hutchings. This track shows off the Cambridge Audio MXA81 MKII’s ability image the sound. I was able to close my eyes and picture the band playing in front of me. The integrated amplifier also provided the finer details of the track, especially as the drum beat starts to change around the two-minute mark, when you hear the subtle changes. The placement of the saxophone felt like it was placed in front, as you would expect, while the rest of the band was layered behind it.
The last track I used to test the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier was “Zero Sum” (QoBuz 44.1 kHz) from The Smile’s 2024 album Cutouts. It would be hard to blame you if you listened to this track and thought it was Radiohead. The Smile features both Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood. The record was also produced by Sam Petts-Davies, who has worked on Radiohead records dating back to their late 1990s album, OK Computer. The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII integrated amplifier had no issues playing back this musically dense track. It opens with the drums and heavy distortion coming from Greenwood’s guitar before the track moves. The opening guitar, which is being played at a higher octave, didn’t sound harsh at all, it remained neutral. At higher volumes, the integrated amplifier was able to hold everything that was going on in this track together without any noticeable distortion.
Will the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier Hold Its Value?
With Cambridge Audio having such wide distribution, I would expect that this integrated amplifier will hold its value relatively well over time. It has enough power, and plenty of inputs, which should allow this piece of audiophile gear to age gracefully. At the time of writing, I was able to see a few of these that sold in the used market for upwards of 75 percent of the retail price.
What is the Competition for the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier?
The NAD C 3050 ($1,399) is almost always in the conversation when I am thinking about integrated amplifiers that are less than $2,000. With 100 watts of Class-D power, HDMI input, a solid DAC, and a retro look that features voltage meters, it is a great option. It also includes upgrade paths if you want to add room correction and streaming down the road. This integrated amplifier was the Future Audiophile Component of the Year in 2023, and for good reason.
The Rotel A12 MKII ($1,249 – buy at Crutchfield) is the closest apples-to-apples comparison to the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII. It features 60 watts per channel of Class-A/B power, a Bluetooth receiver, digital and analog input options (no balanced option, though), and a built-in phono stage. If you have to have Class-A/B power, then I would also be looking to compare the Rotel to the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII.
The SVS Prime Wireless Pro Soundbase ($699 – buy at Crutchfield) is an option you should consider at this price point. With 150 watts per channel of Class-D power, HDMI ARC/eARC included, and digital and analog inputs, this is a great value at its price. It doesn’t have some of the refinements that the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII has, or the upgrade paths, but it is still a strong option at almost half the price. We reviewed the SVS Prime Wireless Pro Soundbase, and our reviewer “liked it enough that he would have kept it if he had room.”
Final Thoughts on the Cambridge CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier …
One of the challenges that comes with looking at integrated amplifiers in this price range is there is a lot of competition. However, this also means that you can pick out the features that are important to you, and skip the ones that aren’t. In the case of the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier (buy at Crutchfield), I believe they have put together a compelling package of features and hardware that provides great value at its price. It will be the right choice for you if you’re looking for Class-AB amplification and you don’t have the need for a phono section, which I think many audiophiles will be okay going without. Some will make the case that they would like something smaller, a Class-D amplifier, or a more all-in-one solution with a phono section and a streamer. Those are all reasonable asks, and there are products that provide those features, but these don’t detract from what the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII provides. There is great value in the upgrade paths that Cambridge Audio has provided in this package as well, which makes this a package that I would be happy to recommend to anyone who is looking for a place to start or accelerate their audiophile journey.
