Cambridge CXA81 MKII Integrated Amplifier
Proper hi-fi power and a genuinely good DAC in one box. This is the amplifier a lot of serious systems are built around, without the cost or clutter of separates.
The Heart of a Two-Channel System
Building a good stereo system usually runs into the same wall. Go cheap on the amplifier and the music thins out and loses its grip. Go the separates route, with a preamp, a power amp, and a standalone DAC, and the cost and the box count climb fast before you've even bought speakers.
Most people just want one well-built amplifier that drives their speakers properly, handles their digital sources, and does not need replacing in a year.
Why We Chose the CXA81 MKII
We chose the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MKII because it sits right in that sweet spot. It's 80 watts per channel of Class A/B amplification into 8 ohms (120 into 4), with an ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC built in, the same DAC family Cambridge uses in its CXN100 streamer.
That means it works as both a traditional integrated amp and the digital hub of the system. Connect a TV, a CD transport, a laptop, or a network streamer over optical, coaxial, or USB, and it handles hi-res files up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256. There's a balanced XLR input as well, which is unusual at this price and useful if you upgrade sources later.
What the Specs Won't Tell You
One Box Runs the Whole System
The CXA81 MKII is the only amplifier most systems at this level need. Speakers, TV, CD, computer, and a streamer all connect to the same unit, and pre-out and subwoofer outputs mean you can add a power amp or a sub down the road without starting over.
Class A/B Power That Stays in Control
The Class A/B amplifier section has the headroom to drive bookshelf and floorstanding speakers without strain. Bass stays tight, the sound opens up wide, and it holds composure when you turn it up. Reviewers consistently describe it as sounding bigger and more authoritative than its price suggests.
A DAC Good Enough to Skip the Upgrade
The built-in ESS Sabre DAC is the real story of this generation. It's a genuine step up from the original and does work you would otherwise pay extra for in a separate box: clean, detailed, slightly warm digital sound straight from the amplifier, with no outboard DAC required.
What the Reviewers Found
What Hi-Fi? praised its big, spacious, authoritative sound, a decent DAC, and a generous feature set, moved on considerably from the original in nearly every aspect.
Sound Advice awarded it their Exceptional Award, calling out how the improved digital section and re-tuned analogue circuitry give it a compelling sound.
The Audio Two Verdict
The CXA81 MKII is one of the easiest amplifiers we recommend to someone building their first proper hi-fi system. It has the Class A/B power to take good speakers seriously, a DAC that does the job of a separate box, and a balanced input that leaves room to grow.
Two honest notes. There's no built-in phono stage, so a turntable needs an external phono preamp like the Cambridge Solo or Duo, and there's no HDMI ARC, so it connects to a TV by optical rather than a single remote. Neither is a dealbreaker for a music-first system. They're just worth knowing before you buy, and we'll steer you right if vinyl or TV is central to how you'll use it.
"An improved digital section and re-tuned analogue circuitry give it a compelling sound." Sound Advice
Tech You Can Hear
| What You Hear | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Speakers stay in control as you turn it up | 80W per channel Class A/B into 8 ohms, 120W into 4 |
| Digital sources sound clean, detailed, slightly warm | ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC, up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 |
| One amp handles TV, CD, computer, and streamer | Optical, coaxial, USB-B, RCA, and balanced XLR inputs |
| Room to grow without replacing the amp | Pre-out and subwoofer output for a power amp or sub |
| Wireless playback that still sounds good | Bluetooth with aptX HD |
| Drive two sets of speakers or two rooms | Selectable A and B speaker outputs |
Technical Highlights
- 80W per channel into 8 ohms, 120W into 4 ohms, Class A/B amplification
- ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC; USB-B up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256
- Inputs: 4x RCA line, 1x balanced XLR, 1x coaxial, 2x optical, USB-B, Bluetooth aptX HD
- Outputs: pre-out, subwoofer out, 3.5mm headphone, two pairs of speaker terminals (A/B)
- No built-in phono stage (external phono preamp required for turntables); no HDMI ARC
- Frequency response <5Hz to 60kHz; dual toroidal transformers, symmetrical PCB layout
- Luna Grey finish; 114 x 430 x 341mm
Why Choose Audio Two
Audio Two ships across Canada. If you can't get to a specialist dealer near you, this is a great way in to proper hi-fi, and we're here to help you match it to the right speakers and sources so the whole system sings. Reach out anytime and we'll point you the right way.