Cambridge Audio EDGE W Power Amplifier

Here we have a top of the range power amplifier from British based company Cambridge Audio. Normally these days a company more associated with budget equipment, they decided to go all out for their 50th anniversary and build the best units they could. The full Edge series consists of an integrated, pre, and two power amplifiers, with the pre amp also having a built in Streamer. Our unit is the Edge W stereo power amplifier and comes in excellent condition. It will be supplied in original factory packaging along with manual, mains cable, link cable and our standard three month warranty.
Cambridge Audio Say….
Edge W is made to be played loud. When you do turn it up, expect nothing but a dynamic and punchy sound that captures all the musicality of your songs. With just 14 hand-picked components, Edge W has one of the cleanest signal paths available. It delivers our breath-taking, unadulterated British sound – nothing added, nothing taken away.
For all its power, Edge W is remarkably detailed. The sound is finely balanced, with a musical depth and clarity that comes through with every note. It’s all down to how we chose the componentry inside – nothing was picked on price, specs or measured performance. We listened carefully and created our system with components that simply sounded the best. The end result is a power amplifier that truly brings an original recording to life like no other.
Although minimal in its exterior design, Edge W has some complex audio engineering inside. To remove the barriers between you and your music, we have worked hard to minimise the number of components in the signal path. As a result, Edge W delivers a more faithful reproduction of the original recording; an impressively detailed three-dimensional sound, with striking staging and focus.
We pioneered the use of toroidal transformers in amplifiers, which led to improved performance. In Edge we take this one step further, using opposing symmetry twin toroidal transformers. This cancels out electromagnetic interference whilst offering outstanding power and maintaining consistent tonality, no matter how loud it’s played.
Using standard Class A amplifier technology wasn’t going to be efficient enough for Edge W. Instead we added a bias voltage to a traditional Class AB design, reducing distortion to inaudible levels. This unique configuration also produces less heat and makes the whole system much more effective.
Edge systems are designed to work in perfect synchronisation. Match the Edge W with our most versatile Preamplifier Network player, Edge NQ, to create a hi-fi system with a sound, and a look, unlike anything else.
Continuous Power Output: 100 W RMS into 8 Ohms; 200 W RMS into 4 Ohms
THD (Unweighted): < 0.002% 1 kHz at rated power (8 Ohms); < 0.02% 20 Hz – 20 kHz at rated power (8 Ohms)
Frequency Response: < 3 Hz – >80 kHz +/-1 dB
S/N Ratio (REF 1 W Into 8 Ohm): > 93 dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz: < -100dB
S/N Ratio (Ref full power): > 113 dB
Input Sensitivity : Input A1-A2 (unbalanced) 1.09 V RMS
Input Impedances: Input A3 (balanced) 47 kOhm; Input A1-A2 (unbalanced) 47 kOhm
Inputs: Balanced, Unbalanced
Outputs: Speakers, Loop out
Max Power Consumption: 1000W
Standby Power Consumption: < 0.5W
Dimensions: 460 (W) x 405 (D) x 150 (H) mm
Weight: 23.6 kg

To read a review from Hi-Fi Choice magazine please click here