Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier – Lunar Grey

Here we have a well-regarded and specified integrated amplifier from Cambridge Audio. The CXA81 is in very good condition and comes in original factory packaging with remote control, manual, mains cableplus our normal 3 month warranty.
Cambridge Audio Say….
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Features:
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/384 kHz & DSD 256 digital files from Mac/PC)
Balanced XLR inputs – for premium connection
Bluetooth aptX HD input – connect wirelessly to devices, incl. Alva TT V2
Specifications:
Power Output: 80 W RMS into 8 Ohms, 120 W RMS into 4 Ohms
DAC: ESS Sabre ES9016K2M
Frequency Response: <5 Hz– 60 kHz +/-1 dB
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: 16/24 bit 32-96 kHz PCM only, S/PDIF coaxial: 16/24 bit 32-192 kHz PCM only, USB: audio profile 1.0/2.0 (default 2.0), up to 24-bit 384 kHz PCM, up to DSD 256 or DoP 256, Bluetooth: 4.2 A2DP/AVRCP supporting up to aptX HD (24 bit 48 kHz)
Bluetooth AptX HD Receiver Built-In: Yes
Roon Tested: Yes
Outputs: Speakers A+B, 3.5 mm headphone, Preamp Output, Subwoofer Output
Remote Control: Yes
Max Power Consumption: 750 W
Standby Power Consumption: <0.5 W
Dimensions: 430 (W) x 341 (D) x 115 (H) mm
Weight: 8.7 kg

To read a review from US publication Stereophile please click HERE