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Cambridge Audio CXA81 Stereo Two-Channel Amplifier with Bluetooth and Built-in DAC - 80 Watts Per Channel (Lunar Grey)

  • Based on 149 reviews
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Availability: Only 4 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by WORLD WIDE STEREO

Arrives Tuesday, Nov 26
Order within 11 hours and 53 minutes
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Features

  • FOR TRUE HI-FI STEREO EXPERIENCE CXA81 is designed to be unmatched in sonic ability, on-board features, and build-quality. Its audio is a true and emotional delivery across thumping basslines, syncopated jazz rhythms, or distinctive vocals.
  • DESIGNED TO BE AN EXPERIENCE CXA81 has been engineered, refined and finessed with only one objective in mind: to deliver the most thrillingly authentic sound youve ever encountered. It brings you closer to the music you love.
  • PROFESSIONAL-GRADE POWER - Oversized toroidal transformer gives an even, low-noise current without distortion or stress. CXA81 handles 8-ohm and 4-ohm speakers, delivering all the musical peaks and nuances you expect to hear.
  • CONNECT WIRED OR WIRELESSLY - Bluetooth wireless capability lets you stream from smartphones, tablets, and computers. Improved aptX HD encoding helps enhance audio quality of music streaming from devices.
  • DIGITAL SOURCE FLEXIBILITY - High Quality ESS Sabre SE9010K2M DAC chip is compatible with 32-bit/384kHz PCM files and up to DSD 256 data streams. Connect digital sources directly via TOSLINK and Coaxial.

Product Dimensions: 13.43 x 16.93 x 4.53 inches


Item Weight: 19.14 pounds


Item model number: CXA81


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No


Date First Available: January 1, 2020


Manufacturer: Cambridge Audio


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Tuesday, Nov 26

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Great sound in great value - almost perfect
After weeks of research, I pulled the trigger and purchase the CXA81 to pair with my Focal Chora 816 speakers. I was initially not impressed the first two weeks as the mids and highs were on the bright side. However, after 6 to 8 weeks running, it started to sound really smooth and pleasing. By no means my setup is "hi-fi" so I don't expect the return would be so, but I have to say that the CXA81 is a very good value, full feature and great looking amp. The remote can be better as it bears too many buttons that are not for the amp but for other Cambridge product family, and turning the volumn up/down is a big laggy, meaning that it's easy to "overshoot" and adjust the motorized knob on the amp just the way I want it. Yet, this slight shortcoming is not enough for me to take away a point from this review. After all, the CXA81 is definitely on my recommendation list. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2023 by jcgoobee jcgoobee

  • Bluetooth Broken
This is in fact, a perfectly fine amplifier. However, the first one I received had a non-functional Bluetooth receiver. It took a few experiments to establish this, but the 2nd amp (I reordered, but from a different seller) worked fine out of the box. I have no idea how common this particular fault might be. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2023 by RK

  • Very Nice, but...
This is a very nice integrated amp, but it has a few issue which make it unsuitable for my setup. 1) The treble is too bright with my speakers (GR AV-1). I listen to a lot of music that has a wide dynamic range (mostly classical and jazz). With the volume set at a reasonable level for quieter sections of music, I frequently had to grab the remote when a crescendo comes along to keep from being blown out of the room with shill highs. And since there are no bass/treble controls, I couldn't compensate for that issue. I don't know if there is actually a "V" shaped frequency response with the amp, but if seems like it with my setup. 2) The remote is large, and at least 75% of the buttons on the remote have nothing to do with this amp. They control functions on other Cambridge products which I will never own. For this amp, the remote functions are on/off, input, mute. That's it. The remote for this amp should be very small. if someone purchases another Cambridge product that needed the other functions, the remote that comes with it should provide what is needed. It seems that Cambridge is including the same remote with all products, regardless of the functions needed for each product. 3) Using the remote to adjust the volume was annoying because it would always overshoot. I couldn't turn the volume up or down just a touch. I believe this is because the volume control is physically rotated by a motor (which is probably a good thing). My speakers are fairly sensitive, and this amp is definitely more powerful that what is required to blow you out of the room with those speakers. So a little overshoot on the volume control was always too much. There is no visual indication on the amp for what the volume is set at under normal lighting. The only indication is a small tick mark on the volume knob, which has too little contrast to the knob itself. So you cannot easily see it. Other than those issues, I like the amp a lot. Reluctantly, I decided to return it. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2023 by GScott

  • Excellent
I tried multiple amplifiers to pair with my Denton Wharfedale 80 anniversary speakers and this by far was the cleanest, most expressive amplifier I came across. For reference, I also tried the Marantz PM6006, CXA35, and CXA61. The sound clarity and musicality from this amplifier is unmatched in my opinion. Crystal clear with no "hiss" or distortion even when the amplifier is turned almost all the way up. Has great input/output options. My only complaint would be the bass expression. There is clearly some limitation of lowest frequencies going through the amplifier, whether this is intentional or just a function of the internal electronics design is not clear. It is apparent when hooking up an external subwoofer to both the "sub out" and "pre out" connections. When I connected my sub through the amp there was a clear decrease in the full range bass, my guess is significant loss of frequencies below ~40-50Hz. When I circumvented the amplifier and fed my source signal directly to the subwoofer the lowest frequencies returned and had a much higher impact. Personally getting the very lowest frequencies matters a lot to me so this was a bit disappointing, however, easily fixed by simply using an optical splitter to send my source signal to the amplifier and subwoofer independently. Overall the quality of the sound from my speakers far outweighs this minor issue. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2020 by del

  • Clean amp
The media could not be loaded. I like the looks it’s beautiful, sleek and sexy. No dislike not unless it dies on me in short period of time. I have other amp but this one has character. with my setup, this amp is so powerful for 2 q acoustic 3020i, but it match the character of my speakers.
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2023 by BaisTresManos BaisTresManos

  • I’m digging The British Sound
Last month, I replaced a Yamaha R-S500 receiver with a CXA81 amp and a Musical Fidelity V90 LPS phono stage. Though the Yamaha sounds great (only $350), it can’t compare with the new British combo. The soundstage is wider, deeper, and taller with a rock-solid center image, and I haven’t even upgraded my speakers yet (got my eyes on a new pair of Tannoys or KEFs). Currently, the CXA81 is driving a pair of JBL Studio 590s. The CXA81 does everything well, but there’s something intangible, I can’t quite put my finger on. The music has life and power I hadn’t noticed before. This amp makes me move. Foot tapping, dancing, singing. The amp brings the music to life. The DAC, Bluetooth, and multiple digital inputs sound great as well and are much improved over my prior equipment. The CXA81 does benefit from a run-in period. It sounds better everyday 👍. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2022 by J. Riggins J. Riggins

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