Rewarding Power

CXA81 Mk II builds on the success of its multi award-winning predecessors. Cambridge hasn’t looked back since making their first integrated amplifier in 1968, always looking for new ways to improve your listening experience – while recognizing that great sound never goes out of fashion. CXA81 Mk II is effortless, poised and sophisticated – only more so. 80 watts per channel give it complete authority over your music, to reveal every emotion and nuance contained within it.

Features

• Class AB Amplification
• Toroidal Transformer
• ESS ES9018K2M SABRE32 DAC
• Balanced XLR, TOSLINK, Coaxial, & USB Audio Inputs
• Bluetooth aptX HD input
• Roon Tested

Raising the Standard

How did they improve on CXA81, an amplifier regarded by many as the standard-bearer at its price point? Focusing on the all-important signal path, Cambridge re-engineered it with premium components end to end, plus an upgraded DAC and a whole load of listening and tuning; all part of a relentless drive to deliver new clarity and depth. The outcome? Audio performance that goes way beyond expectations.

Your World’s a Stage

What hits you first when you hear familiar music through CXA81 Mk II, 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.

Effortlessly Musical

At the center of CXA81 Mk II lies a custom-designed Class AB power amplifier stage with highly optimized components. It takes the musicality of Class A and blends it with the efficiency of Class B. The amp’s short signal path is super-efficient, leaving little opportunity for coloration. The result is a detailed sound that connects you to the emotional power of your music.

Power!

Thanks to a chunky toroidal transformer, CXA81 Mk II delivers a generous 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 soundstage.

Digital Love

Designed to bring your digital music to life, CXA81 Mk II features the upgraded ESS ES9018K2M DAC (digital analogue converter) in its dedicated circuitry. This means that digital audio files, up to a heady 24-bit/384kHz or DSD256, are unpacked – with every subtle detail delivered in full. CXA81 Mk II combines unparalleled accuracy with vivid musicality, doing so beautifully.

Get Connected

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

Total Control

Designed to work with carefully matched kit of a comparable quality, CXA81 Mk II isn’t festooned with switches and dials – to keep the signal path clear. Its minimal aluminum fascia has a power button, input selectors and a beautifully smooth volume control. It’s also supplied with a CX Series remote control, which you can use with other products in the series.

Designed for Life

With elegant, minimalistic lines, crafted from aluminum and steel, CXA81 Mk II will endure physically and aesthetically. There should be no reason to change an amplifier for many years, if at all.