Cambridge CXA81mkii Review - Part 1

[@TheIoMeroMero]

Don't hesitate when sharing your own thoughts because that's what most of us experience: there's not such a big difference, if any, between certain hifi gear. Most of all, a lot of studies confirm this. So you not noticing anything different is actually a huge input into the hifi debate. Kudos!

[@0102studio]

For me, as much fun as getting new in gear in is, its also a learning process and I’d much rather be honest than not. Also thanks so much for watching and for the kind words!

[@ramaachalla6316]

I’ve recently bought the Cambridge audio CXA81 after a price drop since the new model is released after seeing your video I’m very pleased that there is not much difference between both.

[@0102studio]

Its still a great amp!

[@Chimpsfingers]

I’m thinking the same , £300 difference is a fair chunk

[@kashiramahirwar7338]

How does the tv sound performance in cxa81?

[@ACantu-bl4sw]

I did the same thing when the CX81 was introduced and the CX80 price was dropped. Given the chance, I don't think I would be able to hear the difference between the 3 models, however, I appreciate that I have access to tone controls in the CX80.

[@rehn1kri]

Excellent video. I don’t know how your channel isn’t much bigger yet!

[@0102studio]

Thank you! Slowly and surely!

[@nippahut]

love your channel , i was blessed to be able to buy the cxa81 original . the Sonus Faber Lumina 2 original , and the Rel Acoustic TX5 subwoofer , for me this combo has been pure audio fun !!!

[@0102studio]

Thanks! That’s an amazing setup!

[@BO-kh1iz]

I wonder if one could even hear a differernce to the older CXA80?

[@Setright]

Got this recently, as you know Taps. Just realised a major difference over outgoing Denon and previous Harmon Kardon: The CX81 mkII is dead quiet. ZERO noise when there's nothing playing. White noise, you can only hear with your head right in front of the speaker doesn't really matter...but it's nice to have none of it.

[@0102studio]

That’s a great addition to the benefit section!

[@JoelOman1980]

Amazingly beautiful setup. Wish I had the money...and space...and no close neighbours... 😅

[@slappythemonkey4035]

I been waiting for a comparison video of those two for a while & just what I thought splitting hairs or are we? Maybe they fixed the grounding issue they had with the usb input on the cxa81? Did they give us a real ground switch this time around & not one that’s linked to a resistor?

[@0102studio]

I’ll have to look into that for part 2!!

[@slappythemonkey4035]

On side note love your vids, keep em coming. 🤙🏼

[@0102studio]

@@slappythemonkey4035 thank you, its nuch appreciated!

[@StukaUK]

An honest reviewer. Most on KZbin and print media just embellish the tiny differences.

[@ramin3080]

In my opinion, both CXN and CXA are popular and acceptable products and they needed this upgrade to remain in the competition, and of course, new buyers are the target, not people like me who have the previous version of these two products. I am looking to upgrade my system and waiting for a product between the CX and Edge series.

[@0102studio]

Well said!

[@24kHERTZ]

That's the Azur series?

[@24kHERTZ]

But the Azur series is getting a little long in the tooth although the amps are superb

[@ramin3080]

@@24kHERTZ it's true. Azur series was once in this position, but its production has been stopped for some time.

[@yanssmekal829]

Good day. I wonder if the analog path remained the same or was improved via XLR. Is it possible to include this in your test? Thank you and your good work.

[@0102studio]

For this test I didn’t use analog, as I was comparing the inbuilt dac. Though, usually I use the xlr from the cxn to the amp. Admittedly, I don’t notice much of a difference, psychologically though it makes me feel better. 😂

[@tessie4204]

A nice battle Audiolab 7000A vs Cambridge CXA81 MKII :)

[@0102studio]

That would be fun!

[@FabS0ag]

I paired cxa81 with Dali Oberon 5 and sounds great. Can you recommend a DAC?. Thanks in advance!

[@0102studio]

I typically either use the internal one, or the cxn v2.

[@FabS0ag]

@@0102studio i also have the CXN100 , will Cambridge 200M make any noticeable difference? Thank you for replying! 🙏🏻

[@0102studio]

@@FabS0ag i really don’t think so.

[@alanstonelake2673]

Ah that's good to know. I have the same speakers and got a really good deal on the cxa81 plus a cxc transport. Picking them up tomorrow. Can't wait to hear them

[@MichaelShawPhoto]

Just subscribed (though I have flown under the radar for a bit). Great series of reviews on the CXA81 MK II. I see the Q Acoustics and Totem speakers behind you and you mentioned the Sonus faber and B&W; what speaker cables and interconnects did you find worked well with the CXA81 MK II?

[@0102studio]

Lol, shockingly I haven’t dove into that realm just yet. I use thickish (I forget the gauge) speaker wire, and amazon brand connects. I won’t dispute the validity of great connects, its just a rabbit hole I want to venture down just yet. Thanks for subscribing!

[@HAL-vu8ef]

Really like your video review style, it’s helping me to decide what to buy. One question, what’s the sexy looking wooden bookshelf speaker behind you in the video and is it any good?

[@0102studio]

Thank you! Oh, and that speaker is the Totem Loon. That review is coming soon!

[@francescodesantis9746]

Nice video. I own CXA81 with Lumina V original (not amator) and it is a quite good setup. Did you had the chance to compare Lumina V original with the new amator model? Is the price increase justified ?

[@0102studio]

Alas, this is my first go around with the Lumina series. So I haven’t had a chance to compare them.

[@mobilekaos]

Ok i thumbed you up cuz of the chill way you asked but i think i also thumbed you up cuz the content and style was unique but really quite good as well. Maybe ill even subscribe in the future. Ah wth. I subscribed too

[@0102studio]

Amazing! Thanks so much!

[@rw80]

Making a successor is most of the time just driven by component availability. Parts become obsolete or unavailable and you do some redesign. And then the marketing guys enter and do their thing.

[@Wayne-pb5zx]

Does it have a phono stage?

[@0102studio]

It does not. Its made to be paired with the Alva TT which has an inbuilt phono stage.

[@D1N02]

Apparently it is also the successor to the CXA61.

[@darpanbhuyan1909]

Just get an inexpensive speaker switch and you're golden - it'll be useful for both amps & speakers. A comparo which requires more than 3 seconds between switching is not reliable.

[@GANDALF-ml7ck]

Io sono Italiano. Sono d'accordo, non c'è grande differenza direi quasi nessuna. e 300 euro di differenza sono troppi. A mio parere dovevano ritirare l'MK1 e vendere l'MK2 allo stesso prezzo. Credo che 1000 euro dovrebbe essere il massimo, considerando la concorrenza. Se volessi alcune mancanze di connessione comprerei l?Arcam A25, Siccome ritengo che certe connessioni sono importanti al 99% comprerò il Rotel A14 MK2. Purtroppo in alcuni canali ( non so tu come la pensi perchè ti seguo da pochissimo ) si tendono sempre a parlare a favore di marchi inglesi e Americani anche dove palesamente sono superiori altri modelli di marchi Giapponesi, Italiani e/o Tedeschi. Tu cosa ne pensi di questo e del Rotel A14 MK2 rispetto alla concorrenza??

[@0102studio]

Well, personally I thiught the A14 sounded great. I don’t subscribe to the notion that brands from one country sound better than others. Maybe this was true decades ago, but in this current day and age I think there is amazing sounding products from all over the globe.

[@navoo9009]

*Advance Paris PlayStream A5* & A7, Advance Paris A10 Classic 👈👍👌💪

[@0102studio]

What about them?

[@navoo9009]

@@0102studio cambridge ??? *I don't want it for free* 👎

[@juanbautistapuerto9617]

Your intro is wayyyyy to long

[@0102studio]

Skip it then.