CXA81
Integrated Stereo Amplifier
$999.00
4.5
(104)
  • 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
$999.00
FREE DELIVERY
60 DAY FREE RETURNS
EXCELLENT SUPPORT
  • 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)
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  • Product Support & Downloads

  • CXA81 Reviews

    4.5

    4.5
    (104)

    67 Reviews

    CXA81 & AXC35

    Happy owner of the above models - paired with a couple of Bowers & Wilkins 607 Anniversary Edition - after 10 months of use thought a good idea to leave a review.
    The amplifier sounds amazing. Clarity, power and most important sound color you do not meet easy (I call it British sound ). Bluetooth connection working seamlessly with absolute no quality loss, not at least up to a low-mid volume level. Overall the system to perform needs a 10-15 min warm up.

    The CD player - used not at all very often - performing great as well. Big con: a couple of months after the purchase started - although on standby (not on) - receiving commands from a tv box set remote causing the cd tray to open and close every time I raise the volume. Contacted CA support, they suggested to re-program the TV set remote (something not possible). Nowadays has started to do the same this time while using the Apple TV remote.

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    Response from Cambridge Audio

    Dear Customer

    Thank you for such a positive review and more importantly thanks for your trust in choosing Cambridge Audio.We are glad to know that you find the overall performance of the CXA81 amazing.If you are unable to resolve the issue with the remote control I would suggest you to get in contact with our Customer Support again and we would try to figure out some alternate solution for your issue than previously provided.We hope you enjoy years of Musical happiness!Kind Regards

    Cambridge Audio Customer Support

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    The reviews don’t lie

    This is an outstanding amp. It has all of the inputs you will need, a great sounding DAC, great sound quality, plenty of power, good quality remote, motorized volume knob, and it looks nice. I would give 5 stars if it had built in bass management for a subwoofer. I have it paired with my Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Dynaudio Sub 3. Sounds amazing.

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    Response from Cambridge Audio

    Dear Customer

    Thank you so much for providing your kind feedback and suggestions what you shared with us will help us improve.We are always happy to know when someone is enjoying their Cambridge Audio product.

    I will definitely pass on your suggestion regarding bass management to our Engineers Team.Hope that you continue enjoying your musical voyage with the CXA81.

    Thank you!Kind Regards

    Cambridge Audio Customer Support

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    Great sound

    I bought the CXA81 to replace my 2002 Myryad MI240 which was beyond repair. I am impressed with the sound quality when connected to my Myryad CD player even though the CA amp. is cheaper than the Myryad even after 19 years. I bought on the strength of the What HiFi awards and am not disappointed.

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    Response from Cambridge Audio

    Dear Customer

    Thank you for such an amazing review.We are delighted to know that you are enjoying the quality sound produced by the CXA81.At Cambridge Audio we don‚'t go in for unnecessary complications. We focus our efforts and budget only on specs that make a real difference to the sound you hear.We hope it adds a whole new dimension to your music experience.Kind Regards

    Cambridge Audio Customer Support.

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    Problem with the volume control

    According to Milen Ivanov´s review I am sorry that I have to say, it seems to affect not only the CXA 81. My classic CXA 80 has exactly the same issue, only vice versa: in low volume levels the left speaker is louder than the right one. Either headphone or speaker output are affected and no matter which source.

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    Response from Cambridge Audio

    Dear customerI am sorry that you are experiencing issues with your CXA81 this is not how we expect our customers experience to be.I would request you to get in contact with us through our support website and we will try sorting things out for you.Kind Regards

    Cambridge Audio Customer Support

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