The Most Important Amp? A New Standard Of Performance? Cambridge EXA100 & EXN100 Review

[@MattCoykendall1]

Share your thoughts below! It was a fun video to make, hope you enjoyed it! Check out the EXA/EXN line up here: howl.link/g6aek782m501k

[@eduardog.8586]

Hola Matt! Deberías revisar también el Advance Paris. Saludos.

[@reserva120]

No expensive is Not relative -

[@mikecampbell5856]

Another great review Matt. I almost spit out my pop when I saw your funny posted review. LOL eARC is indeed a godsend. My wife is 64 but her sister is 84 and she had to buy a new TV. She bought an LG TV and a Sennheiser sound bar. The eARC connection means she only has to use one remote and when I set everything up for her I saved her a 300 dollar set up fee. It was so easy. I hope someday my future includes a Cambridge amplifier. Your review was very compelling!

[@cobar5342]

Thanks for a very good video. I really like Cambridge Audio products and this looks like yet another

[@stevezeidman7224]

Nice job. Cambridge is doing a terrific job. I have the MXN10 streamer and the Ultra. Cambridge does sound a bit better. I agree on the dac. I wouldn’t use it either. However, I would use tone controls. My room isn’t perfect and I need EQ.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Cambridge has a pretty competitive lineup at the moment, budget to top dollar. I get it with the EQ too, each room has it's compromises.

[@carlitosgomez71]

I also have axn10 very cheap and basic streamer, which I prefer over inbuilt screens. Sounds wonderful for it's price

[@christian2123]

I want it all!!! Hoping that someday something like the CXN or EXN comes out with a CD transport built in. One can dream!!

[@thomasnielsen5704]

I am very impressed by my EXN100 🤗 It more than live up to my expectations! I use the XLR outputs (fixed level) to the analog XLR input in my SPL Director mk2 - and belive me - it sounds even better than the DAC in the SPL!

[@PhillioDoede]

This looks solid. I think Cambridge did the right thing with the feature set, they could have dropped the DAC all together and made it cheaper but then you are looking for a DAC / streamer that has HDMI ARC if you want to integrate a TV and dropping the phono pre-amp makes sense since if you are into vinyl there is a high probability you will end up using your own external pre-amp anyway.

[@mindhead1]

Nice review! Cambridge makes great gear. I had a CXA81/CXNv2 stack for many years and was very happy with the setup. IF these EX models were available when I upgraded I might have went in that directions. Making a jump to the Edge line is a bit to much for me at this point.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I feel ya, always something new though, keep enjoying the the stuff you have now and when your ready make the move.

[@micalo5221]

Waiting for the new Onkyo Amp

[@MattCoykendall1]

I read about those just the other day.

[@trog69]

I love the almost-vintage NAD 208thx power amp I got a few years ago. Big, with a very boring case, but with 250w/8, 425w/4, almost 900w/2, and 1800w/1ohm, stable. It's been suggested that this would be a wonderful sub amp. I don't know about that, but it does sound wonderful with my vintage aDs 910 loudspeakers. Once my health improves I plan on trying out the Topping A90D headphone amp as preamp, since the NAD 208 has XLR and SE inputs. Can't wait!

[@MattCoykendall1]

That’s a massive amp, I wasn’t familiar with the model but just did a quick read on it. Thanks for sharing that!

[@Robert-r4s4c]

The best Preamplifier is the one that passes the source component signal to the Power Amplifier with greater accuracy. All components pass on the source component signal with greater or lesser accuracy. None can enhance or improve it.

[@johnstump2433]

Great review Matt on the EXA! Food for thought… Just curious, do you think you’ll get any of the Advance Paris line in to do a review on ?

[@MattCoykendall1]

Good question, I should really try to dig up a contact over there. I know there is a decent amount of hype around their products and a lot of it seems deservingly so but I can't offer anything up yet.

[@mikecees2230]

Having owned Cambridge gear years ago (Azur 650,651) I'm immediately thinking "lean sound". All 9018 based DACs that I've owned/listened to leaned in that direction as well. As I get older I'm striving for a more meat on the bones sound. Heard comments that the entry level AXA35 had a rich, warm sound but something tells me an amp in that price range would fall short of my expectations. So anyhow, I plan on checking out both these models, who knows?...

[@trog69]

I would also add that I, too do not use tone controls and I agree that they're just terrible replacements for a good parametric eq, though I don't even use them, honestly. I tried using the APO eq for JRiver, but after much fooling around with it, I still came back to dead neutral as my preferred tonal balance. Probably why I love the Topping A90D with the Edition XS headphones; love the neutrality.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I enjoyed the A90 when I had it in house, solid little amp.

[@captainken452]

The DW-6 is 95db sensitive. How is that not considered sensitive to you?

[@jas.oncroft]

I love the new look.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Same, it's simple but really clean.

[@starla_7]

I have the axa35 and it's really good for the price ( schiit multibit dac + kef q5 floor stand speakers *installed soft dome tweeters to replace stock aluminium ) I'm very much considering upgrading to this amp at some point this summer .. and the wharfedalte super Denton speakers ..

[@MattCoykendall1]

I haven't personally had my hands on the axa35 but it looks like a fun pairing, even some modifications which I always enjoy.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Look at some of the Chinese clone amps, they're ridiculous value. Clones of amps that used to cost 20-30k for $500 $700

[@MichaelP-67]

Does the lack of tone controls also include the lack of bass management ? To My understanding, the EXA100 does not posess the ability to adjust the db level of a subwoofer? For me, that's an issue. Not all tracks have the same bass output. I like having the ability to adjust the subwoofer ouput when needed with the amps included remote.Aside from that it looks like it would be a fantastic integrated amplifier. I enjoy your content. Keep up the great work.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Your not wrong, no bass management here and yes it would make this even better.

[@27b-6Buttle]

I hope they are much better than the AXR100 My Denon DRA-335 puts my AXR to shame. The AXR lacks dynamics.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

And I've heard a few "reviewers" praise the axr100, I think one might have even given it integrated amp of the year

[@MattCoykendall1]

I wouldn’t be able to say there, only have experience with the cxa81mk2 and exa100.

[@joeblack-l5c]

I kinda like tone controls.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Yeah I do get it, depends so much on the room, speakers and your personal tastes.

[@michaelwright1602]

I can never get past the buttons on the front of their amps. I wish they would do something different, as the current design just looks meh.

[@MattCoykendall1]

It's a touch muted but sort of inline with their look. I wouldn't mind a little more flare either.

[@skavcic]

Overpriced crap.

[@user-zl9qb3fx8tq]

Titre de vidéo en Français, vidéo en Anglais. Sérieux, KZbin❓

[@stephannordmann5346]

Sorry but Soulnote A 3 is the one and only ❤🎉

[@MattCoykendall1]

Sweet amp, would be interesting to demo some day but its certainly in a different price bracket.

[@stephannordmann5346]

@MattCoykendall1 That's true but I love it and for the rest of my Hifi life it stays in my system ❤️ Thank you for your videos 👍

[@Audioloon]

Thank you for bringing these products to our attention. As to your request for feedback, here is my $2. I prefer stereo integrated amps that are either class A or class A/B and totally disregard all class D. The only features I need/crave on any integrated are high current with 100 wpc or more, inputs for optical, coax, rca, HDMI, and FM radio. I have NO need for turntables, 8 track, reel to reel, cassettes, streaming, EQ, zones, or Blue Tooth. Only need one set of speaker terminals, pre-out, and sub out. It need not look pretty but only perform very musically. No tone controls are necessary but a remote is nice to have indeed. Lastly, I prefer my own external DAC but I know it is now impossible to buy any integrated that does not already have it's own internal DAC. I still own a Cambridge Audio Sonata AVR and I really still enjoy the presentation from that little amp and only wish it had more power.

[@goodsound4756]

Please don't say "it has a HDMI connector" only. It's unprecise. It could be for ARC, eARC, I2S or LVDS etc. yes there was a backview so we know it's actually eARC, but still.

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

Pedantic much? 🤔

[@MattCoykendall1]

noted, likely skimmed over it as I was referencing it connecting to my TV so we know it's not I2S or LVDS.

[@PaulBlamey]

Does eARC vs ARC matter for a 2 channel setup?

[@christian2123]

​@@MattCoykendall1you had it! Didn't say it, but you zoomed in tight on the connector and it clearly shows eARC.