CXA81

Integrated Stereo Amplifier

Colour
$999.00
  • 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
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

  • CXA81 Reviews

    4.5

    65 Reviews

    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.

    Response from

    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.

    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.

    Response from

    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

    Exemplary! Outstanding quality sound!

    After a few months' use of the AXR85 Receiver, I was teased by What HiFi's Product of the Year Award to the CXA81. Not that I have any complaints with the AXR85, as this was already a really fine amplifier unit for me, the idea of upgrading with the same brand struck me as very challenging. So in barely a month after getting my hands on this upgrade, I couldn't be happier to have gone ahead with the purchase. The CXA81 sounded great right out of the box, but in about more than 20 hours of listening, the sound simply became much clearer, detailed, and sound stage seemed to have expanded.The inclusion of the XLR balanced inputs connected to a DAC may also have influenced the great sound quality. Overall, it has been a great experience, and the CXA81 is truly worth recommending.

    Response from

    Dear Customer

    Thank you for such an amazing review we are thrilled to know that the CXA81 has lived up to your expectations.We hope that it continues to bring you many hours of listening happiness.Kind Regards

    Cambridge Audio Customer Support

    Ease of use and great sound.

    The CX81 replaces a class-A integrated amplifier and external DAC to simplify my setup for streaming music. After 2 months, I am more than happy with the change. The soundstage is wide, immersive and there is something in the dynamic and timing that makes this amplifier extremely enjoyable whatever the style of music. It is a tad less analytical than my former equipment but the reward is a much more pleasant experience and more hours of listening without fatigue. The BT connectivity and onboard DAC are very good and allow me to simplify my setup to a strict minimum. I can even trigger on/off my speakers bass amplifier section (Avantgarde) and the remote can pilot my AppleTV which streams Spotify to the CX BT. A very nicely featured amp and with a very solid and lively sound at this price point. Congratulations for the well deserved awards.

    Response from

    Dear Customer

    Thank you for the valuable and positive review.

    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 in your music experience.Kind Regards

    Cambridge Audio Customer Support.

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  • The details

    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)
    BLUETOOTH APTX HD RECEIVER BUILT-IN Yes
    ROON TESTED Yes
    OUTPUTS Speakers A+B, 3.5mm headphone, Preamp Output, Subwoofer Output
    REMOTE CONTROL Yes
    MAX POWER CONSUMPTION 750W
    STANDBY POWER CONSUMPTION <0.5W
    DIMENSIONS (H X W X D) 115 x 430 x 341mm (4.5 x 16.9 x 13.4”)
    WEIGHT 8.7kg (19.1lbs)
    BOX CONTENTS CXA81 Integrated Amplifier, Power Cable, 3 x AAA Batteries, Remote Control, Control Bus Cable, Bluetooth antenna, Quick Start Guide, Safety Guide