[BLIND TEST] How Strongly Do You Trust Your EARS? Cambridge AXR85 vs AXR100 -Wharfedale Diamond 12.2

[@DougMen1]

They're so close as to be nearly indistinguishable from one another. At times I thought I heard some very small and nearly indetectable differences, but they were so slight that it may have been my imagination, and were barely detectable even if I wasn't imagining it. So, if you have a good DAC already, or don't need digital inputs, then save yourself $200. And, these sound as good with the 12.2s as they did with the R200s, really bringing out the best from both speakers.

[@34332]

Amp B opens up the midrange/top-end ever so slightly, noticable in tracks 'bedroom' and 'Higher love'. Bass, track 'Pull me closer' is more substantial for amp B. I wonder if this is a minor volume mismatch between the amps. It's sometimes hard to listen for A/B differences, as part of the tracks vary and the next song comes up.

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Quite a big difference here actually. The AXR100 has deeper and tighter bass that the AXR85 can only manage to muster. Even the mids, especially male vocals, the 85 sounded thin and unconvincing, the 100 had grunt and sounded more life like. The top end is where the 85 excels, it has a smoother roll off, the 100 just seem to be lacking air and sound blunt in the upper frequencies. I would like an AXR92.5, with the bass and mids of the AXR100 and the top end resolution of the AXR85.

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! I kid I kid... both are indistinguishable, worse when you have your eyes closed. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mark17840]

@@AbsoluteFidelity to me the power is actually the same

[@williammiebach1798]

Once again I hear no significant difference in the sound of these two amps, with these speakers or the Polk R200's, at least under these conditions and volume levels. The wattage difference between them is pretty small, but there are some feature differences that require you to asses if the AXR1OO is worth the extra $200 or not. It does remind me once again that the 12.2 has a bit more midrange presence and a drop more detail there. They also have less deep bass, but none of the subtle mid bass thump I hear in the R200's. That is why I asked if you run these speakers in at all before doing the demos, because that is something that sometimes improves with playing time.

[@garyroberts1205]

B has a more full sound, would of been nice to see the DB’s

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

E Project, I would love to see the 12.2 vs the R200 with the most powerful rated amp you have at 4 ohms. That would be interesting. I would like to see if power alone could reconcile the differences even at lower volumes.

[@eprojectEllie]

thanks for your comments! NAD C 388 - 150 watts 8 or 4 ohms SVS Prime Wireless Soundbase - 150 watts 4 ohms Denon DRA 800H - 120 watts 8 or 6 ohms which connection do you want?

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

@@eprojectEllie definitely the NAD C388 among all those amps you mentioned!

[@eprojectEllie]

@@AbsoluteFidelity:) No problem~

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

@@eprojectEllie Thanks E!

[@Funkbutterfly]

Idk for this pairing I actually like the 85s better and that is confusing to me. Sound a bit more open. Maybe 100 watts is too much for these to open up at lower volumes