Cambridge AXA 35 Integrated Amplifier Review

Рет қаралды 5,443

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 47

@abbeyg.45 Ай бұрын

I have the AXA35 and think it’s a great amp. After owning the 35 I decided to purchase the AXA25 for another setup. The 25 also sounds good but the power supply transformer makes an audible hum if you are next to the unit. I requested another unit from Cambridge and the same problem. You are getting more for your money with the 35 for an additional $100, phono preamp, remote, more power, and headphone amp so I feel the 35 is the better option. Great review. i

@muzammelhaquemukul7089 Ай бұрын

I bought the AXA25 and had the same humming issue. I exchanged it for AXA35 and it's really great. Only shortcoming for this one is no sub out. Other than that it is really a great amp if you don't need a lot of power.

@starla_7 4 күн бұрын

I have owned the axa 35 since September 24, replaced a 20 year old 50watt sherwood that is just needing a little repair. I decided to buy a modern amp. Paired with a schiit multibit dac and kef q5 floor standing speakers ( 8 ohms 91 watts) + acoustic treatment all round the room ( 3.5 x 4.5metres ) The amp is for sure loud enough for a room this size, i general keep it around the 55db volume setting, 50 for moderately loud and 45db is the max i'v taken it so far. The amp can dig low for sure with these floor standing speakers that are 91 watts incredibly efficient. My speakers are 150cm apart and 58cm (nearly 2ft) from the back wall which is a bay window area (with acoustic treatment) . I don't think the speakers have a particularly wide imaging but critical placement bouncing the 1st point of contact off the acoustic treatment creates way more space and immersiveness. Listening to Radiohead Kid A & their 2016 album it was extremely satisfying . I listen to Kpop for an upbeat mood which is engineered really well but I also listen to Jazz and alternative indie rock. The amp handles all genres really well, particularly jazz and artists such as Norah jones I find the amps tuning to be really pleasing. I keep the tone settings to 0 on bass & treble no need to touch them for me they are tuned nicely. I sshould mention I replaced the speakers tweeter material from aluminium to a soft dome material (by an engineer) so the highs are a bit smoother than the original aluminium tweeter and with this amp I find the highs are smooth and nice. Smoother than my sherwood amp. My advice to anyone considering this amp I'd say if you can find speakers that are easy to drive - 8 ohms and 89+ watts the amp works really well . The more watts the speaker the less work the amp needs to do and it makes driving the speakers seem like your amp is more powerful than it is. ( I tried the amp on 6 ohm 86 watts speakers and it was not as good but those speakers are also much cheaper speakers ) My old Kef q5 floor standers dig down to 37hertz so if you can find speakers that go to this level you will get nice bass too. The power is certainly enough for small - medium size bedrooms/living rooms 3x3 - 4x4 metres . I'd also say the amp compared to my sherwood is a bit warmer (vintage) sounding and it's very pleasing while still keeping nice detail . Saying all that, since I have a little more money these days I'm curious to what the exa100 sounds like, I read a positive review from someone that had a cxamkii so I might save up for that and treat myself. However the axa35 think is fantastic value for money and pairs really well with my schiit dac & kef floor standers. I hope this helps anyone : )

@0102studio 4 күн бұрын

That is awesome, thank you so much for sharing!!

@andrewgorenc9160 Ай бұрын

I’ve watched quite a few of your videos and finally subscribed. Really good review of the AXA35, a perfect entry into hifi. Just add a price appropriate DAC and off you go. Good luck with your channel!

@0102studio Ай бұрын

Thanks, and thank you for subscribing!

@paulupton7698 Ай бұрын

Another winner 🏆. I always enjoy your videos. Top job.

@0102studio Ай бұрын

Thanks again, Paul!

@nino_dm Ай бұрын

Subscribed! Good luck with your channel - liking it so far.

@0102studio Ай бұрын

Thank you!

@LDN_BOX Ай бұрын

Great review, you did a great job with the matching options. I looked at both the AXA35 and CX81 and really thought about the Rotel Anniversary amp+cd but did worry a little about the power, which you explained about very well here. I think if an alien was to land, you'd give them a pair of 606s without knowing what amp technology they have as it works with everything in the universe! Keep up the great work! Btw, if you are up for a new album to test with, I recommend Here Comes The Sunburst Band by Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band it's from 1998 but I have recently discovered it, on a funk disco tip but with layers of elements and a great feel good listen too!

@0102studio Ай бұрын

Thanks! And thanks for the LP reco, if I have heard it… its brand new to me!

@LDN_BOX Ай бұрын

@ I tested my old NAD/B&W601 vs AudioLab/707s3. I totally get why I love the 606 style and also get why I bought the 707s. The 6s are effortless to drive and are like Mike Tyson, everything presented with power and compact. The 7s much harder to drive, but low you get the full palette of separation and it’s a joy, it’s then a little harder to drive to get to the power the 6s start with, like Tyson entering the ring but push the 7s you get the power and separation, the tweeter is on another planet and it’s a clear difference. The nad with my 601s are soo accessible and joy to listen to but I have definitely made a significant upgrade. I played both systems each side of my loft both connected to the AudioLab 8300CDQ at the same time via XMR and RCA. Finally, got closure! The 6s will always have a special place and are a joy!

@dodpr Ай бұрын

Nice review. Thank you for those speakers recommendations. I love my AXA35. I use it with a Bluesound node which let me connect a sub easily. Those 2 are a perfect match. I like the QA 3030i paring but prefer the Klipsch 600M MK I. I might try those B&Ws.

@dougall1687 Күн бұрын

Just to add a note on the bluetooth. Whilst this amp doesn't have bluetooth, the bluetooth included in the CXA81mkII is nothing to write home about either - it's version 4.2 (ie the version of bluetooth released in 2014) rather than a more recent 5.x version such as v. 5.4 released in 2023. This makes it shorter range and more prone to wireless noise than more recent versions. Also because its 4.x rather than 5.x, the bluetooth weakness can't be patched in firmware as the generations utilize different backward but not forward compatible hardware ... [gripe over]

@0102studio Күн бұрын

And a cheap Bluetooth device can be added after. Its ok to have gripes, this is a safe space 😂

@angelOcrisu Ай бұрын

I had it a few years ago for a short time and it's quite powerful. I regret even now for not keeping it. Now I have a Marantz 6007 2x45 and at 12o'clock is very loud for a 5/4sm room

@0102studio Ай бұрын

That Marantz amp is pretty great though!

@angelOcrisu Ай бұрын

@0102studio Yes ,underrated but pretty capable. I haven't got anything pricier so I can't compare.

@tameem9848 Күн бұрын

you can still connect a sub with high level speaker inputs like the svs sb-1000

@0102studio Күн бұрын

Yes for sure.

@Iainmaclennan70 Ай бұрын

Hi-Fi news magazine measured this amp at actually 41 watts into 8ohms at 1watt/1metre so conservative rating from Cambridge.

@0102studio Ай бұрын

Hidden benefits!

@scrunts666 23 сағат бұрын

The insides of this amp are almost the same as the A-4 from the 1990's. The only real change is the built in phono stage and screen. It would be nice to hear them go up against each other.

@0102studio 23 сағат бұрын

That would be fun! I wonder if they have them set up together at their head office?

@scrunts666 22 сағат бұрын

@@0102studio It sure would be :D I own one so I think I will have a play with it later and see how it compares to my other amps.

@SandsOfArrakis Ай бұрын

I have a full set of Cambridge equipment in my apartments small living room. CXA81, CXC V2 and a CXN V2. I have the CXN V2 running into a DacMagic 200M. Speakerwise I have a pair of JBL L52 Classic's with an additional JVC subwoofer. Bookshelves without a subwoofer would be a no go for me. So the AXA 35 wouldn't be a fit for me. But the price can't be beaten for sure.

@keithsnowdon8672 27 күн бұрын

Thanks for the review. Thinking about getting a Cambridge amp cd set up. Now waiting to try the new Fell Audio system. Fell is made in UK. I think Cambridge is Chinese.

@0102studio 27 күн бұрын

Oh, I’ll google them!

@kenjifox4264 23 күн бұрын

Cambridge Audio is an English company. They started in England, they're still in England. If you look at Cambridge's website all their job openings are for London: electronics engineers, audio engineers, etc, etc. BUT, the manufacturing happens in China as how many other companies have done. By contrast, Rotel is a Chinese company (now owned by Grand Green Ltd.) that likes to pass itself as Japanese. Granted, they _used_ to be a Japanese company, sort of, but not any more. Long ago a Taiwanese man moved to Japan and started Rotel there, where they became established. Around the 1990s Rotel decided to sell themselves out to China, as they themselves said, they _"moved everything except the physical building."_ So of the two, I'd choose to support Cambridge.

@keithsnowdon8672 21 күн бұрын

Like i said Chinese.

@keithsnowdon8672 21 күн бұрын

@@0102studioI spoke to Richer Sounds the owners here in the UK. They confirmed Chinese manufacture. Going for the Fell Audio as designed sourced and put together in the UK. Thanks for your review.

@0102studio 21 күн бұрын

@@keithsnowdon8672 you do know, that being built in China doesn’t equate to poor quality right?

@DominikV235 14 күн бұрын

Denon pma-600ne is offered with a Dali Spector 2 as a combo in a shop and has nice discount. I got Polk HTS 10 already so I am planing to buy it. I am Audiophile noobie so I think this is a nice start. What do you think?

@0102studio 14 күн бұрын

Sounds like a great system. Go for it! And remember not to second guess yourself, just enjoy the music!

@DominikV235 14 күн бұрын

@0102studio you are right. Its like gambling. Enjoy what you have;)