STEREO AMPLIFIERS
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Cambridge Audio CXA81 £999
Cambridge can’t have been unhappy with its CXA80; it was a more-than-respectable amplifier. Nevertheless, last year the company launched this replacement model, which promptly earned itself a Product of the Year status – an accolade it retains this year.
Although Cambridge’s engineers kept this integrated amp’s basic analogue circuit layout unchanged, they upgraded its signal path and the capacitors in both the pre and power sections. They also slotted in a superior ESS Sabre ES9016K2M DAC and an improved USB input that supports audio of up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 quality. An aptX HD Bluetooth receiver allows direct streaming at up to 24-bit/384kHz.
On the analogue side there are four RCA ins and a balanced XLR, while the coaxial input will handle files up to 24-bit/192kHz. Its pair of Toslink optical connections take that up to 96kHz.
The CXA81 also has outputs for a pre-amplifier and subwoofer, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack and space for two pairs of speakers.
There are many Cambridge Audio hallmarks here that make this amp broadly comparable with its predecessor, the CXA80 – only this time there has been progress in
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