CXA81
Integrated Stereo Amplifier
4.5
(105)
  • Award-Winning Sound - 4x winner of What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year
  • 80 watts per channel –  power to drive the most demanding speakers
  • Class AB Amplification – for balanced & efficient performance
  • Toroidal Transformer – for incredible sound-staging
  • High Quality ESS Sabre ES9016 DAC – to realise digital music at its best
  • Digital inputs – TOSLINK, Coaxial & USB Audio Input (up to 24-bit/384kHz & DSD256 digital files from Mac/PC)
  • Balanced XLR inputs – for premium connection 
  • Bluetooth aptX HD input – connect wirelessly to devices, incl. Alva TT V2
Colour
Archive
  • CXA81 What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year 2022

    Rewarding Performance 

    Our CXA81 integrated amplifier builds on the foundations laid by the first CX Series, and over 50 years’ experience of building amps. It offers a progressive perspective – effortless, poised and sophisticated. 80 watts per channel give CXA81 complete authority over music, to reveal every emotion and nuance from your whole music collection – be that streamed or on disc. 

    CXA81 Black Edition

    CX Black Edition

    We present a 1000-piece limited edition of each CX Series 2 model in a minimalist matt black finish, with discreet gloss black branding. The same award-winning sound as CX, only in black. Why? Because we thought they’d look dead cool. If you want some, please don’t delay – CX Black Edition won’t be here for long. 

    CX Series Hi-Fi stack in living room

    Your World’s a Stage

    The thing that hits you when you hear CXA81 for the first time, 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 experienced CXA81, there’s no turning back.

    Engineer working on Cambridge Audio product

    Return on Investment

    Our engineering team in London invested hours researching, developing, experimenting and, above all, listening to ensure that CXA81 was right. Their goal: to make the most accomplished and absorbing integrated amp in its class. Every component selected, and decision made, based on the desire to deliver the most complete musical picture possible.
     

    CXA81 in use in a living room

    Effortlessly Musical

    At the heart of CXA81 beats a Class AB power amplifier stage with optimised capacitor values. It takes the musicality of Class A and blends it with the efficiency of Class B. The amp’s short signal path is efficient, leaving little opportunity for interference. The resulting sound is pristine while delivering the emotional impact the artist intended.

    Close up of CXA81 detail

    Power with Control

    Thanks to a generous toroidal transformer, CXA81 delivers a prodigious 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 sound stage. Dynamic shifts in music – like those loud then quiet moments – are handled with ease. 

    Man in chair using StreamMagic to control a CX series Hi-Fi stack

    Get the Message 

    Designed to bring your music to life, CXA81’s state-of-the-art digital circuit board includes the cutting-edge ESS Sabre ES9016 digital-to-analogue convertor (DAC). This means digital audio files, up to a heady 32-bit/384kHz or DSD256, are energised – with every subtle detail delivered in full. CXA81 combines unparalleled accuracy with vivid musicality, doing so beautifully.

    Connectivity options at rear of CXA81

    Get Connected

    CXA81 has connectivity covered. As well as digital optical, coaxial and USB Audio, it features stereo RCA inputs, balanced XLR sockets plus wireless hi-res connectivity via Bluetooth aptX HD – perfect for Alva TT V2. You can even connect a second set of speakers, to hear your music in another room.

    Button being pressed on the CXA81

    Designed for Life

    Thanks to the relentless dedication of our team in London, CXA81 is a complete solution. Its combination of versatility, power and audio excellence means it can form the centre of your musical experience for many years to come. Its elegant, minimalistic lines, crafted from aluminium and steel, will endure both physically and aesthetically. 

    • Superb Amp. I Can’t Stop Smiling

      "I bought this amp a week or so ago and cannot recommend it enough. The clarity, soundstage and depth are a giant stride better than my old amp. Everything is so tight and crisp. Digital or vinyl it’s like I’m listening to my music collection for the first time.”

      CXA81 Listener – West Midlands, England

  • Technical Specifications

    POWER OUTPUT 80W RMS into 8 Ohms, 120W RMS into 4 Ohms
    DAC ESS Sabre ES9016K2M
    FREQUENCY RESPONSE <5Hz– 60kHz +/-1dB
    ANALOGUE AUDIO INPUTS 1x balanced XLR, 4 x RCA
    DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS 1 x S/PDIF coaxial, 2 x TOSLINK optical, 1 x USB audio, Bluetooth (integrated)
    COMPATIBILITY TOSLINK optical: 16/24bit 32-96kHz PCM only, S/PDIF coaxial: 16/24bit 32-192kHz PCM only, USB: audio profile 1.0/2.0 (default 2.0), up to 24-bit 384kHz PCM, up to DSD256 or DoP256, Bluetooth: 4.2 A2DP/AVRCP supporting up to aptX HD (24bit 48kHz)
    See all tech specs See less tech specs
  • Product Support & Downloads

  • CXA81 Reviews

    4.5

    4.5
    (105)

    68 Reviews

    Superb amp

    Purchased this a year ago, sound quality and design is near perfect. Have just added the cxn v2 streamer this week and couldn’t be happier, although the airplay sometimes drops out.

    Read more Read less

    Beautiful Amp Horrific Remote

    Love the sound of the amplifier, looks great.

    Not very clear from the instructions that the XLR input shares A1 input, pretty annoying to be honest it took me ages to figure out what was going on here.

    The remote control is absolute appalling. The size is ridiculous and I only have the amplifier so basically need to use the volume and source buttons only.

    Pretty tight getting the banana plugs inside but then again now they are inside they will stay inside.

    Relatively minor annoyances considering the audio quality for the price. If there was an option for a smaller alternative remote that was a bit more stylish and only had the relevant buttons on it I’d bite your hand off.

    Read more Read less

    Recommended

    Excellent product!

    Read more Read less

    Great amplifier

    Great amplifier. A friend recommended this amp as he has the same one. Works perfectly with the cambridge audio music streamer .

    Read more Read less

Write a Review

Areas marked with * are mandatory
Overall Rating
Quality of product
Ease of use
Value of product
On a scale from 1-10, how likely are you to recommend this product to a friend?
You may receive emails regarding this submission. Any emails will include the ability to opt-out of future communications.