@@abritishaudiophile7314 hahaha, yes it definitely could be worse! Though saying that, I would like to add a sub and some supertweeters some day, so that'll shift the equation a bit
Thanks Tarun! If there's a better place to sit down and enjoy a croissant and a coffee, then I have yet to find it. I almost bought a Rega Brio, especially tempting with the £200 price cut, but I decided to send my 1992 Audiolab 8000a off to get new RCAs, new caps, new power button etc. What a great experience - talking to an old Audiolab engineer, chatting about UK Audio history, electronics, music ...cricket!? But then later getting to open the box and plug it in - it sounds better than ever! Runs cooler. Bliss! I love buying new stuff, but there's plenty of nostalgia, satisfaction and value in extending the life expectancy of machines we already own. Still ...if only I could saw it in half!?
Am listening to a CXA-81 right now vs. CXA-61 I've just boxed up and, well am now sat here considering undoing all this work as I MUCH preferred the sound of the CXA-61. To the extent I've checked all speaker connections again to much sure hadn't missed something. All the punch, bass, warmth (and not clear on the lingo) I enjoyed in all my favourite tunes seems to have disappeared. The speakers haven't changed - the singular isolated item is the amp.
@@robertireland2888 good to hear from you. In keeping with the price point Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2's. Experimented with the native dac, an entry level topping D10 or even just 3.5 to RCA; same results. Will plug the CXA-61 in again tomorrow and make sure am not just imagining things
Your comment about the Venus II vs the internal DAC is one of the most useful bits of Hi-Fi insight I’ve heard in the last few years. I see so many reviews hyping DACs without any context of appropriate system matching. You are for me the best at that of any channel I follow, as well as any of the more well known review websites. I bought the Mojo 2 primarily for desktop (using an old Audiolab 8000a) and headphone use connected to a Wiim Mini in my office. I compared it against the DAC in my CXA60 and couldn’t hear a difference. I thought it was my hearing, so I’m glad to know that probably isn’t the case.
If I was filthy rich and already had a $200,000 system in my listening room, I'd still anticipate and watch your reviews. Informative and entertaining. I hope you can someday review an LFD integrated.
You are 100% correct Eric! I have Wilson Alexx V speakers and the full Dan D’Agostino M400 Amps and Momentum HD Pre-Amp n my primary listening room (well above $200K), but I watch all of Toruń’s videos. I often wish he would review even higher-end gear because his knowledge and overall review approach is exceptional!
Hi Tarun - I was a bit amazed to hear you say that there wasn't much difference between the Denafrips Venus DAC and the CXA61 internal DAC. It would seem Cambridge have quite the value on offer here. I agree with you about the placement of those input controls. Thanks for another excellent review.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I appreciate your reviews more than anyone else's here on RUclips, I would like to know when and if you are going to do a review on the latest CXA81 Mk2 version of these CX family of amps, the Mk2 has an improved internal DAC, so would much appreciate your take on this new version, thank you.
This is the review I've been waiting for. I bought mine in a hurry when my old Technics packed up. I chose if for two reasons. It had a product of the year award from What HiFi and Richer Sounds were knocking £250 off last easter. This thing has rekindled my interest in HiFi. I can't believe how good my old Wharfdale Pacific Evo 30s now sound. Its left me wanting even more but I get the feeling I'm going to have to spend heftily to exceedn what I've already got. So pleased you gave it an 'outstanding'
I was so excited to try the Cambridge cxa81. Got a good deal for it. It sounded like an absolute toy compared to my rogue audio sphinx v2. I sent it back after one day kinda wish I had them back to give it more of a fair shake, but I just couldn’t even wrap my head around the difference in sound.
I have a CXA80 (the predecessor to the 81) and it is fantastic. I have a CXN v2 and MXN10 and boy do they sound exceptional and engaging. I also have the CXC35 CD Player and all in all...Cambridge Audio can happily take my money. Love them!!!
Tried the cd player. Love the ax35. CD player was junk compared to marantz cd6006. But LOVE THE AXA35. THANKYOU AGAIN MR BRITISH AUDIOFILE. THE 35 AS PER YOUR EVAL: SMOOTH POWERFUL DETAILED. SO REALISTIC ARE THE VOICE S AND INSTRUMENTS.
Ironically the CXA80 did not receive favourable reviews when compared to the CXA60, whereas the CXA81 was found to be a noticeable improvement over the CXA61.
I have a lot of respect for Cambridge Audio. The build is very nice considering the price. I also own a phone preamp from them. Very nice and underrated.
Audio lab 700a, For the money I think it’s one of the best amps available. Solid metal construction with no cheap plastic parts, the added hdmi arc is also a nice feature to have. This would be my first choice if I was looking for an amplifier around this price.
Thanks for all you do for the audio community. Just picked up the CXA61 two months ago to go all British with my Wharfedale Diamond 225 speakers. Next is the Cambridge AXN10 streamer. Thanks again. I trust your reviews and thoughts. 👍🏼🎶😎
Great review, Sir! From the under 1000 euros category, I'd like to see reviews for the Yamaha A S-801 or the Audiolab 8300a. Keep up the stellar work. 👌
I have the Yamaha and am enjoying it. Works very well hooked up to my TV through the optical. I run I turntable through a schitt mani photo preamp though the internal is fine. It has a lot more power than the Cambridge, 100 watts into 8 ohms, 200 into four. A couple of reviewers have said it is overly bright though a third party website measured its performance as flat and it's power rating as well deserved. It has tone controls so this can be adjusted to taste. It is limited in terms of pre-outs. It can drive only one subwoofer and has no pre-outs for external amps. I don't need more power but if I want to use two subwoofers I will need to upgrade. Would be good to hear Tarun's take on it.
Enjoyed this review. I have the CXA81 and while I’m not sure there enough of a difference to the 61, it would help those who are trying to decide if which one to choose. I have the 81 and I really enjoy it and not surprised the 61 did well with you. Be cool for you to check the new AudioLabs out as those came out this year. I’m hoping Cambridge comes out with some updates amps later this year. Nice job as always. 👍🏻
You're obviously going to have to do a review on it's bigger brother the CXA81. Many others have noted that it has a different sound signature? I bought the limited black version of the CXA61 the day before this review dropped. I have to say at first I thought it sounded a little harsh in the upper reaches on my (under-rated imo) Monitor Audio Bronze spks, but after a few days, without any sense of listening fatigue, it is obvious that what I am hearing is the added clarity & detail in the mid and upper registers. It's a very pleasing amp to live with this one I think. A little concerned that you note that it struggles with those ProAcs as I am thinking of getting in some Sonus Faber Lumina's which as a 4ohm spkr apparently take a bit of current to get the best from them. I'm wondering if I should have gone for the bigger brother?
Hey Tarun, nice one. As prejudices go, I learnt about Marantz amps not from listening back in the day but from recapping and repairing the likes of the PM40SE and a couple of others recently. I’m curious to know what the latest budget models such as the PM6007 would be like against the AXA-35 as it’s about the same price. Top tip, by the way. If a screw is tight, try tightening it a bit more. The forward pressure on the screwdriver is acting in the direction of the thread and is more likely to crack it into motion, then you can simply back it off. You’re welcome. 😄
In UK Richer Sounds are the distributor for Cambridge Audio The Marantz PM6007 has been around for a good few years now so built in DAC chip not as up to date. However it's still a great buy amplifier currently £369 Inc vat/tax. I've owned the predessor, PM6006 for a decade 👍
Tarun! You give me warmth to my heart. I bought a year ago CXA61, CXC cd transport and CXN v2 streamer. I’m satisfied and wifey appreciate the looks, so I can have it in my IKEA Bestå cabinet in the living room. So happy with my choice. The streamer did set the direction. I would go for a Schiit Mani 2 as phono amp below a 1000. The rest I got.
Hi Tarun, Nice review. I notice that here in the US Cambridge has discontinued CXA61. However, Amazon has a few at $599, which sounds like a steal to me.
You sold me. Today I ordered my CXA61 along with another pick of yours - the Acoustic Energy AE100² Bookshelf Speakers. Have you a suggestion for a reasonably priced subwoofer for this set-up?
Totally agree with the outcome. I bought one late last year along with a Cambridge audio phono stage. I had an aging Rotel RB960 pre-power set up with 2 power amps running as monoblocs. There was plenty of pot but it was unrefined and the Rotels were becoming troublesome. Auditioned a few amps but kept on coming back to the 61. Recently replaced my speakers with Buchardt P300’s.. not 💯 sure they are totally right however the whole system now sounds very musical and I am enjoying going through my record collection again. I also added the Cambridge cd transport! Another upgrade for my aging Rotel cd player 👌
Another fine review Tarun. As you are currently impressed with the two reviewed Cambridge Audio amplifiers, maybe the CXA81, which is on my radar and as the bigger brother of the CXA61, qualifies at one pound under £1000 ?
Boss. Thats my amp. One thing that amazes me is how different sound engines conect with the dac. I use 3 engines , streamers, via pc and 3 via Samsung Android all by USB. On Android I have the full fat onkyo player and the cxa61 absolutley takes off with this engine streamer. Ty for your re assuring review. My speakers are the kef R3. Tea in the Sahara, police for a sound stage test. 😊
Thanks Tarun for your informative review. For your viewers' information, this specific model is at the moment almost half price in Canada. Might be a sign that Cambridge wants to lower inventory for a soon to be announced a newer model. Edit: at 850$ CAD, you cannot miss this deal. Bought it. Paired with Triangle Borea Br09, just sublime. Thanks Tarun. Edit 2: My intuition was good. This product is no longer available in Canada. Crutchfield labels it as discontinued. April 2023.
Considering it started at CA $1599, at $850 it's a great deal. Mine's paired with Monitor Audio Bronze 2 speakers and a Rega P6. Soundin' gooooood! Very happy, indeed.
@@crazyprayingmantis5596 to my ears it has more headroom (90W@6ohm) and I hear more detail, a wider soundstage and tighter bass. I also get more out of the music when listening at low volume. It's not a night and day difference, I'd still be pretty happy with the AXA35 but I couldn't resist a deal of €869 for a brand new Elex-R back in 2021.
Thanks for the review . I think the next logical step would be to review the Cambridge cxa 81 . It was exactly a 1000 pound but don't know if it still is .
Tarun! One thing more. Did you try the pre-amp on the CXA61? Sound quality stayed the same? Connected to your Exposure mono blocks. This would be a nice test for a change. Has anyone done this? Love your style, attitude and skills.
I would love to see a review on the PM6007 Marantz Amplifier. It seems to win best in class and always rated very highly for each new model that appears. I would love your review on if
Great review once again . Life is busy but I always look forward to your Friday video releases . For me , I would be very interested if you did a pre amp shoot out !
Great review. I think a lot of British audiophiles have a particularly soft spot for Cambridge Audio equipment, given the excellent package deals offered by a certain hifi store chain using CA amps, therefore being many people’s first step on the journey. It’d be great to see a review of the Audiolab 7000A in the not too distant future
Thank you for your honest and informative reviews. I also apreciate the effort in comunicating the findings with the clarity we see in the videos. I would like to see reviews of Vincent SV-500 AND SV-200. Both seem well regarded in general but there aren't many serious or detailed reviews. Someone mentioned Exposure 1010 and I'm curious too.
Thanks so much for the excellent review Tarun. I purchased one after listening to your review and looking at it. After some years of listening through a Panasonic SAXr70 this is a welcome change. Quite a nice upgrade for my system. I have a pair of Fried A/6 floor standers (2 way transmission line) and a Rythmik F12G subwoofer. I still spin CD's with my Pioneer DV-353. After trying the internal dac I prefer the Schiit Modi 3E by a bit. Very nice amp with good features. Sound stage is very nice with layering and separation of instruments that is a nice improvement. Thanks again so much for your recommendation. I appreciate it.
Hope you would do a review/comparison between CXA61 and CXA81. I owned the CXA81 and wanted to upgrade to external dac. Been eyeing Guustard R26, as I think it will make a good synergy with CXA81. Hope you could give some opinion when the time comes 🤞🏼
R26 is excellent but the A26 is punchier. It depends what you want but from what I hear about Cambridge amps (warmer sounding) the A26 may make the better partner. Enjoy either way!
I recently had a old NAD amp that started to fail. I came accross the CXA-61 on sale, $599.00 and glad I did. I teamed it up with the CXC v2 CD player, Bluesound Node and finished off with my older pair of Definitive Technolgy SM65s. I will say this amp has everything I need at this price and pairs very well with the equipment noted. One thing that I have heard in other reviews is the CXA-61 will make your bad recordings sound really really bad...but you good recordings and sources sound really really good. This is absolutly true as IMO this amp is very centered neutral which is what my ears prefer. I have a friend who has spent three times of what I spent on my system. When he listened to mine he just shook his head...but applauded as to the quality of sound.
Thanks for another great review. A friend has the CX35 and we just compared It to SMSL A300...Very intersting results. I would be delighted to hear your opinion about these new budget chinese class d amps, like smsl da9, ao200, a300, topping pa5, etc...
I personally wouldn’t go for any Chinese Class D over either the AXA35 or the CXA range but for the convenience of their digital inputs they are a little bargain. I have years of experience with all of the Chinese brands since the T amp days many moons ago and while they can give you seemingly greater clarity and apparent detail in my experience they fail dramatically in overall sonic balance and command little control over low end frequencies, even today with the latest German and American chipsets they don’t match the later class A/B amps from many of the major manufacturers. Although Aiyima A07 is about the most balanced small class d amp I have heard and I was not as fatigued after an hour or so listening time. They are great for second amps though or garage set ups due to their size and overall the class d amp has improved a great deal over the last few years but they still cannot really match the fuller more balanced sound of a well implemented class A/B amp. Just my view which many would agree and even disagree with but it can be easy to slip into an constant curiosity where these little amps are concerned.
I think you’re an absolute legend in reviewing gear. Something I’d like you to do is compare gear against other gear a bit more - especially used gear. Say this amp and a used 6000A or Naim 5i…well, you’d know best about comparing…I’m just a poor man and I only buy used gear these days.
Would be nice to hear what you think of the Arcam 20. That is obviously in a price class above the Cambridge. Would be good to know if it's worth it over the 10.
Thanks for this Tarun, this was on my original list when I bought my Brio. I can’t remember why I ruled it out, possibly a combination of the 3.5mm headphone socket and the Brio sounding better to my ears.
The presence of balanced xlr inputs and the slight increase in wattage are the hardware changes. Sound, am not quite sure. My CXA 81 has been routed through to my Wharfedale Evo 4.2 from a Bluesound Node 2021, through a Denafrips Ares II. Had added a Rel T5X subwoofer as my last component a few months back. And now it sounds divine. For a sub 3000 pound budget of course.
Good to see this. I recently auditioned the Hegel H590 integrated and it wowed me. Sadly my choice in life limits me to a good all round A/V in my home.
I heard the H120 the 1st time ive heard that brand at the recent Bristol Hi Fi Show.I've seen 1 auth UK dealer advertising a display model H95 for £1100.Much less powerful. Hegal cannot be usually be purchased online
You make me feel like I need one of these, but I have more amps than I can use. I'm using my Marantz 2220b receiver as a tuner just so I can look at it all lit up. And my offer still stands, if you need a kidney I will trade you for that beautiful antique table! You should do a video about that.
Great review! I love my axa35 and eventually wouldn't mind jumping up to the 61 or even 81 so this really helped me out! I would interested in a review of their power amplifiers as well!
@@jamesschneider3828 Its a good buy... I'm tempted but have not need. I have a rega and just got the sugden A21. Thats in a whole different level. Take care
Ive just bought a pair of Dali Spektor 2s would this be a good match for them? And is there a version of this amp with bluetooth thanks i love your channel.
Appreciate the review of this amp, I bought a 61 on a whim seeing it on sale for 599. It's doing a great job powering some AE300s for my office system. I'd like to see a review of the Peachtree Nova 150, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the AE500s.
Here's one for you Tarun, that I have not seen anything on. The Totem Acoustic Kin Amp. It has been flying under the radar so far. Looks to be very good value. Excellent review as usual. Thank you.
Great review Tarun, as usual. I wonder if the CXA61 might be the bottleneck in limiting the difference between a low end internal DAC and a high end Denafrips? Also, how would you compare the CXA61 against the Audiolab 6000A in sound quality? One last comment, would love to hear your thoughts on the new Audiolab 7000A when it arrives. Thx for your insight.
Thank you GV. Much appreciated. The 6000A went back some time ago. Both very good. My impression is the 6000A is more analytical and detailed whilst the CXA61 is fuller and warmer sounding 👍
Thank you, much appreciated. Unfortunately, I would need to get the A11 Mk2 home to find out. From what I understand it has a cooler tonality than the CXA61 😊👍
Hi from Canada.At the end of your video you asked a question. So I have a pair of Quad 22L speakers and have to buy a new amplifier. Since my 909 has given up.What amplifier would you suggest. Very informative videos so I subscribed.
I've been running it's big brother CXA81 for 2 years. I was running a Yamaha AS501 with the same 80 Pac but the Cambridge seems to have a higher current and drives the music much smoother. I am running a Node2i streamer and have both the analog and digital outs going to the CXA81 so I can easily switch from one dac to the other. They both have nice sounding dad's with different attributes. These are powering my Martin Logan Motion 60xt towers which are very efficient and I sometimes use the b speaker output to listen to a pair of B&W 606s2's and an older B&W 12 inch sub. Overall I love the system but am experiencing a lot of drop outs from the Node2i. They blame my internet service and the internet providers say it is the Nodes fault. I believe the internet provider as i never has issues streaming television.
For 899.00us, but can be had for as much as $230 less on the open box market…(where I found mine, unopened) the Yamaha AS801 sounded much more neutral and engaging than either Cambridge offerings. At 100+ high current amps into 8ohms, it has a THD measured at 0.019. It drives a pair of speakers, the KLH Kendalls, that for no other reason than they sound stupidly good for 1499.00 a pair, you need to listen to. I’m a minimalist when it comes to audio gear having owned Luxman tubes to Pro Bose Amplifiers in the 80’s. The Yamaha allows for after market power cables which, again….if for no other reason, I’ve added the amazing Viborg MTR1501 power cable, which in tandem makes for one of the best sounding amplifiers this side of $3000 bucks! Its internal DAC uses an ESS Technology 32-bit ES9010K2M chip to play PCM files up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD files up to DSD128. A BluSound Node2i handles all streaming. With only very small amber led’s for input settings, it and the Kendall’s literally disappear for nighttime listening. And the Yamaha is so rich and non fatiguing in its presentation of the music in tandem with The Kendalls which at 96, yes, 96db sensitivity reaching down to a full range 25hz make for a 1-2 combination that I have found hard to beat! Oh and that Viborg cable…..120 bucks! And it’s more of a component than a cable….talk about jaw dropping! I hope you can get your hands on any of the gear I’ve mentioned here, but the Yamaha is overlooked in the realm of neutral, low noise, high amp sub $1000 Integrated Amplifiers. But on tighter budgets the Cambridge is a no brained! Cheers!!
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I hope it’s the 801, cause it’s the Jewel in the line. There larger units are over priced, and offer no digital inputs…and while some just love the VU meters, for the money having auditioned the 2200 and 3200, I just don’t see the asking price. They sound great, but again, with the Viborg power cable, the 801 is every bit as musical and I’d say less colored as well. I’ll be watching, as always!!
Great review! Tip, when you raise the volume with the remote the knob moves, which is, in my opinion, a really really nice touch to the amplifier. It took me a few weeks owning my CXA81 to notice it as I left the remote on the side for a while. 🔥
I bought one secondhand to hear the house sound, I believe your review is on target. The 35 is a delightful little amplifier for a small or second system. I think it's a great buy for the price.
Thank you for all your reviews. I'm just getting into all of this, and your videos have been so inspiring and informative. I just ordered Q 3020i speakers. I want something that will make my vinyls sound amazing and something I can connect my bluetooth to. Would this amplifier pair well with those speakers? There are so many opinions out there but I see you really know what you're talking about. So I just wanted to know what you think.
Woah! Outstanding from Tarun! Must be kick-ass. Great to hear about excellent affordable hi-fi. I missed a comparison to the Audiolab 6000A. A mix of the affordable and the pricey makes this channel even more attractive. Keep up the good stuff, Tarun. (The Menuet SEs are in their 20th hour of burn-in and beginning to sound very good)
Great review as per usual. Not many available reviews of hybrid pre- and amplifier combos. For instance, yours is almost the only review on IOTAVX PA3, which I am thinking of pairing with the Schiit Freya S pre-amplifier, but too many questions arise regarding compatibility and synergy between the components, only their own separate contributions. That'd fill a great gap, imho. thanks for your work!
Hi Tarun! Thanks for a wonderful reviews. Will kindly ask for an advice: I have a Cambridge Audio CXA61 and recently upgraded my old speakers to KEF LS50 (non-meta). At the moment I'm thinking about an upgrade ( want to try some streaming services and DLNA), so have two "ways" - either find a decent streamer or upgrade a whole amp to Hegel H95. Speaking of amplification performance, do you think that Hegel H95 will clearly outperform CXA61, or the difference from the "electrical" standpoint is not so huge and I should just add a nicer DAC/Streamer? P.S. have no possibility to listen and compare, so have to make blind decisions P.P.S. Thanks in advance!!
I'm finding yours the most useful and relatable reviews on RUclips. Great stuff. Out of interest have you tried an Exposure 1010 amp? I got one as a stand in and actually preferred it to the 2010S2D. Not better, just better suited to my set up with a more delicate, subtle balance and delivery.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Don't think they sell them new any more but they stand out as mile to me as a 2nd hand bargain. I swap between it and a Class A amp (depending how long it's going to be left on) - similar vibe of delivery.
not heard the cxa61 but used my cxa 60 for years that has given great service and is excellent for the money , now have a Denon PMA-A110 paired with Bowers and Wilkins 705 s2 signatures , would be interested in your take on either of these , eccellent reviews keep it up😁
Another articulate, well-balanced review. Thank you. If Emotiva equipment has penetrated the UK market, I would be interested to hear your remarks regarding any of their BasX amplifiers.
Another really interesting review. A couple of years ago I mentioned about a pair of Celestion 100 speakers after your review of some older 300s you still owned. I auditioned the CX61 (my Dad has the older CX60) and we loved the sound, although eventually went for an end of line CX80 which, we felt, drove my 100 speakers a little better. The overall sound is definitely more biased towards clarity and imagery rather than weight, but I think this is that particular combo. Not sure whether my Dad's CX60-based system is better, but the CX80, although older, just edged it for me over the 61 with my existing speakers.
Awesome video - thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on this! Perhaps a naïve question (i'm new into this area!) but would you see this amp paired with B&W 606's be well suited?
Thank you for this excellent presentation. I would love to watch a review of the Yamaha A-S801 amplifier. Also the Cambridge Audio AXr100 receiver. Thanks again for all your hard work.
Hi T. Would this amp pair well with the acoustic energy ae109s? Or do you think it would be too warm? I know you said the axa 35 was too warm .. all the best
@@abritishaudiophile7314yes, the only problem is that it is too powerful for my triangle comete 40th anniversary with 90db sensitivity :/ probably gonna have to swap it for a tube amp. I never go past 10 o clock on it…
Thanks for the reviews. I get alot from them. 😊 I added the Aeres 2 and the Ifi AC Ipurifier to my system and I am extremely pleased and thank you! You mentioned the Argon One would be a good pairing. I have the CXA81 and was wondering what speakers you would pair with it?
I always look forward to your videos. Thank you for all the work that you put into them. The amplifier that I'd be particularly interested in you reviewing is the Roksan attessa (streaming). It seems like a great price point for an A/B with such wonderful connectivity. In addition, I note that you've started to review smaller tower speakers and, as they are owned by the same parent company, I wondered whether the monitor audio silver 200 might be an intriguing proposition. And they both look the part too. Thanks again
CXA81 next! :) My CXA60 pairs very well indeed with my original LS50s. Great width of soundstage, even a sense of 3D depth. Lovely bass frequencies too, surprisingly, espectially when I upgraded the power cable, not to mention the improved micro-dynamics. Although, when paired with my main speakers Tannoy XT6f, the amp couldn't give the low end juice the Tannoys was craving, so I opted for the Lyngorf TDAI-1120. An upgrade in all senses except for the slightly narrower staging and flatter depth, but everything else makes up for it. The Lyngdorf has a terrible time with the LS50s, by the way.
Thank you for the nice video and great channel, i own a pair of Monitor audio GR10 and i am trying to find a good match for them, this amplifier seems to be a good match, but i am wondering if the Rega brio will be a better choice here.
Hi there, just watched your reviews of the CXA61 and AXA35 and enjoyed both and am seriously thinking about both. I currently have an older Rotel RA-01...would I see a big uptick in quality with both Cambridge Audios? Thanks in advance, Stuart
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for that, I have a decision to make then, also just as an additional option what is your opinion on the AudioLab 6000A Amp... I've heard good things about this also
Hi again, I think I am about to pull the trigger on the CXA61, but I have one more question. My speakers are the Q Acoustics Concept 20...Would the CXA61 drive/power/work with these oki in your opinion? Thanks again Stuart
As much as this is fun to learn about, how about reviewing any Onkyo integrated amps. They make the best AV receiver for home theatre. They did make some really nice mid priced gear back in the late 70s. I’m not sure if they have any offerings, but it would be worth trying just to see what they have now. The T9 tuner back in the 70s was a real performer. I had one. Lovely piece with a tuning dial that had a great feel as well as an ability to bring in stations far away with a great antenna and rotator. Fun review Tarun! Didn’t think it would have the internals to drive your 1SCs. I was right. ProAcs can be notoriously hard to drive without a gutsy power supply. Takes real juice to make them sing. I know. My EBTs ate a 60W per channel pair of monoblocks for breakfast. It took a 100W per channel Roger Majeski RM 9 to wake them up.
Onkyo's are not the best AV receivers. And how would you know that if you're not even sure what they offer if anything? They are generally solid mid range performers but every model is different.
Outstanding review as well, just like yours evaluation for this amp.. Beautiful presentation from the start to the very end. Best regards Tarun! P.S. Creek Audio ... some below 1k£ amp ... maybe ?
Hi Tarun, I would like to you review the Rotel A11 tribute one day. I rate this amplifier very highly, as does your Canadian friend and cohort Ian White (when is the next chat happening?) another question! How does this Cambridge amp compare to the Audiolab 6000a, because that amp is incredible for the money. I managed to grab a brand new old stock factory sealed example from a dealer I trust for under £500, and to say I am happy with it would be an understatement!
Really appreciate how you always back up your enthusiasms for a piece of hifi equipment with very clearly stated and understandable reasons re sound, build, etc., and how you always include comparisons and recommended partnering equipment. Very helpful! Thanks. I assume you're asking about integrated amps, but I'll throw in that I would be interested in a review of the Schiit Vidar 2 power amp, which sells for $800 USD. Maybe not quite enough left over for a good preamp to keep it under 1,000 GBP, but perhaps it's feasible. My reason is that I'm looking to upgrade from an IOTAVX SA3 that I like very much, though find a bit lacking in bass definition. Also, my speakers (Triangle Borea BR08) are known for sounding better with more wattage, even though they're quite sensitive. So the question in my mind is whether to upgrade to a somewhat more powerful and higher quality integrated amp or whether to go the route of the Vidar 2 or other power-pre combination. Thanks again for your great reviews!
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you, Tarun. I've actually thought seriously about the Exposure 2510 based on your high praise for that integrated amp. Getting access at a decent price is a little challenge. But the other thing is that I don't know in advance how the synergy would be with the speakers I have. I've also thought about the Heaven 11 Billie amp, which some people find to be very good. Again, it's a big step to put down 2k or more if you're not sure how it's going to sound. So, will keep looking, and...I suppose that's part of the fun of this hobby, is making an estimation based on what others hear, and then trying things out. And keeping it all in perspective with what's most important in life. Hobbies have a way of taking on a life of their own. Thank you again!
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun, you are very good about responding to those who comment, but I want to be thoughtful of your time and say I mostly just want to follow up, and there's no need for you to respond to the semi-question embedded in my comment. Your response to my question about how to upgrade, "there is no one route for your next step" proved to be helpful and perceptive in a way I didn't expect. For both my classroom and home use, I had already wanted to buy a pair of REL T7x's, and I got a chance for a very good price on them here in Thailand. So I did. Their addition to my system -- Schiit Bifrost 2/64 to IOTAVX SA3 to Triangle Borea BR08 + REL T7x -- has given me a much greater enjoyment of the sound of my two-channel system as it reaches now into the deeper base octaves. I feel for my personal home use, I'm happy with this system as it is and will likely be for a long time. For my classroom, though, I am still interested long-term in exploring either a higher level integrated amp or mid-fi to hifi separates like those I can get from Schiit Audio (or elsewhere). The reason is that the very large classroom with 20 or more people listening (to recorded lectures, music, and films) puts much higher demands on the system, especially in terms of getting volume that is completely clean and undistorted at high levels. So I do look forward to whatever videos you might produce in the area of higher power (75 - 150 wpc into 8 ohms) integrated amps and affordable separates in the future. In the back of my mind I'm also wondering whether including the REL T7x in the system gives the IOTAVX SA3 greater room to perform well in the classroom, given that the very lowest base is now handled by the subwoofer. Or does that deeper base region ultimately put only a very minor load on the integrated amplifier to begin with? Thanks again for your helpful reviews!
Hi, I am keen on pairing up a pair of Triangle Borea 003 to Cambridge Amplifiers, model to consider including CXA 35, CXA 61 and AXA100. Could you kindly give me some expert advice on which of the pairing will yield better musical enjoyment, or maybe alternative speakers. Many thanks and best regards.
Hi Tarun, great to bump into you again at Cranage. I've had my eye on this amp since your review and found a great deal on one. How well do you think they'd pair with the Neat Petite Classics? (also v high on my wishlist!) Thanks and all the best!
Thank you. I hope you enjoyed the show. The Neat Petite Classics are too revealing of the shortcomings of the AXA35. Try the Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2 😊
Wahey, you reviewed my amplifier! Very much looking forward to listening to it again, once electricity is more affordable
Cool 😎 be grateful it is class AB 😂
@@abritishaudiophile7314 hahaha, yes it definitely could be worse! Though saying that, I would like to add a sub and some supertweeters some day, so that'll shift the equation a bit
Thanks Tarun! If there's a better place to sit down and enjoy a croissant and a coffee, then I have yet to find it. I almost bought a Rega Brio, especially tempting with the
£200 price cut, but I decided to send my 1992 Audiolab 8000a off to get new RCAs, new caps, new power button etc. What a great experience - talking to an old Audiolab
engineer, chatting about UK Audio history, electronics, music ...cricket!? But then later getting to open the box and plug it in - it sounds better than ever! Runs cooler. Bliss!
I love buying new stuff, but there's plenty of nostalgia, satisfaction and value in extending the life expectancy of machines we already own. Still ...if only I could saw it in half!?
Well said. Thank you CP 👍
I think the CXA-81 would be a great candidate for under a £1000 and I'd love to hear your take on it!
Thank you 😊
Yes cxa 81 would be very interesting
Am listening to a CXA-81 right now vs. CXA-61 I've just boxed up and, well am now sat here considering undoing all this work as I MUCH preferred the sound of the CXA-61.
To the extent I've checked all speaker connections again to much sure hadn't missed something.
All the punch, bass, warmth (and not clear on the lingo) I enjoyed in all my favourite tunes seems to have disappeared.
The speakers haven't changed - the singular isolated item is the amp.
@@sjay7292 interesting. What speakers do you have?
@@robertireland2888 good to hear from you.
In keeping with the price point Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2's.
Experimented with the native dac, an entry level topping D10 or even just 3.5 to RCA; same results.
Will plug the CXA-61 in again tomorrow and make sure am not just imagining things
Your comment about the Venus II vs the internal DAC is one of the most useful bits of Hi-Fi insight I’ve heard in the last few years. I see so many reviews hyping DACs without any context of appropriate system matching. You are for me the best at that of any channel I follow, as well as any of the more well known review websites. I bought the Mojo 2 primarily for desktop (using an old Audiolab 8000a) and headphone use connected to a Wiim Mini in my office. I compared it against the DAC in my CXA60 and couldn’t hear a difference. I thought it was my hearing, so I’m glad to know that probably isn’t the case.
Thank you my friend. Much appreciated 😊👍
If I was filthy rich and already had a $200,000 system in my listening room, I'd still anticipate and watch your reviews. Informative and entertaining. I hope you can someday review an LFD integrated.
Thank you Eric. That is very kind. I hope I can too 😊👍
You are 100% correct Eric! I have Wilson Alexx V speakers and the full Dan D’Agostino M400 Amps and Momentum HD Pre-Amp n my primary listening room (well above $200K), but I watch all of Toruń’s videos. I often wish he would review even higher-end gear because his knowledge and overall review approach is exceptional!
Hi Tarun - I was a bit amazed to hear you say that there wasn't much difference between the Denafrips Venus DAC and the CXA61 internal DAC. It would seem Cambridge have quite the value on offer here. I agree with you about the placement of those input controls. Thanks for another excellent review.
Thank you Gary. It is a great amp for £700 but doesn’t allow the Venus to shine 😊
Your reviews are always very informative and to the point. I would love to see a review of the new Mission 778x.
Plus 1
Plus 2
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Plus 3
Plus 4
I've got the CXA81 & it's flipping awesome 👌
Cool 😎
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I appreciate your reviews more than anyone else's here on RUclips, I would like to know when and if you are going to do a review on the latest CXA81 Mk2 version of these CX family of amps, the Mk2 has an improved internal DAC, so would much appreciate your take on this new version, thank you.
LOVE that Cambridge prints the lables both directions for I/O when looking from above! =)
Me too! 😊
This is the review I've been waiting for. I bought mine in a hurry when my old Technics packed up. I chose if for two reasons. It had a product of the year award from What HiFi and Richer Sounds were knocking £250 off last easter. This thing has rekindled my interest in HiFi. I can't believe how good my old Wharfdale Pacific Evo 30s now sound. Its left me wanting even more but I get the feeling I'm going to have to spend heftily to exceedn what I've already got. So pleased you gave it an 'outstanding'
I was so excited to try the Cambridge cxa81. Got a good deal for it. It sounded like an absolute toy compared to my rogue audio sphinx v2. I sent it back after one day kinda wish I had them back to give it more of a fair shake, but I just couldn’t even wrap my head around the difference in sound.
Thank you for sharing your 😊
I have a CXA80 (the predecessor to the 81) and it is fantastic. I have a CXN v2 and MXN10 and boy do they sound exceptional and engaging. I also have the CXC35 CD Player and all in all...Cambridge Audio can happily take my money. Love them!!!
Thanks for sharing! 😊
I have the CXA80 as well, I love it!
Tried the cd player. Love the ax35. CD player was junk compared to marantz cd6006. But LOVE THE AXA35. THANKYOU AGAIN MR BRITISH AUDIOFILE. THE 35 AS PER YOUR EVAL: SMOOTH POWERFUL DETAILED. SO REALISTIC ARE THE VOICE S AND INSTRUMENTS.
Ironically the CXA80 did not receive favourable reviews when compared to the CXA60, whereas the CXA81 was found to be a noticeable improvement over the CXA61.
@@seekstruth5968 thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
I have a lot of respect for Cambridge Audio. The build is very nice considering the price. I also own a phone preamp from them. Very nice and underrated.
Thank you 😊
Audio lab 700a,
For the money I think it’s one of the best amps available.
Solid metal construction with no cheap plastic parts, the added hdmi arc is also a nice feature to have.
This would be my first choice if I was looking for an amplifier around this price.
Thank you 😊
Thanks for all you do for the audio community. Just picked up the CXA61 two months ago to go all British with my Wharfedale Diamond 225 speakers. Next is the Cambridge AXN10 streamer. Thanks again. I trust your reviews and thoughts. 👍🏼🎶😎
Thank you Norman. That is much appreciated 😊👍
Great review, Sir! From the under 1000 euros category, I'd like to see reviews for the Yamaha A S-801 or the Audiolab 8300a. Keep up the stellar work. 👌
I have the Yamaha and am enjoying it. Works very well hooked up to my TV through the optical. I run I turntable through a schitt mani photo preamp though the internal is fine. It has a lot more power than the Cambridge, 100 watts into 8 ohms, 200 into four. A couple of reviewers have said it is overly bright though a third party website measured its performance as flat and it's power rating as well deserved. It has tone controls so this can be adjusted to taste. It is limited in terms of pre-outs. It can drive only one subwoofer and has no pre-outs for external amps. I don't need more power but if I want to use two subwoofers I will need to upgrade. Would be good to hear Tarun's take on it.
Thank you kindly 😊👍
@@lsaideOK I think you can use two subs with a Y RCA connector.
Enjoyed this review. I have the CXA81 and while I’m not sure there enough of a difference to the 61, it would help those who are trying to decide if which one to choose. I have the 81 and I really enjoy it and not surprised the 61 did well with you.
Be cool for you to check the new AudioLabs out as those came out this year.
I’m hoping Cambridge comes out with some updates amps later this year. Nice job as always. 👍🏻
Thank you 👍
@@r423sdex lol
You're obviously going to have to do a review on it's bigger brother the CXA81. Many others have noted that it has a different sound signature?
I bought the limited black version of the CXA61 the day before this review dropped. I have to say at first I thought it sounded a little harsh in the upper reaches on my (under-rated imo) Monitor Audio Bronze spks, but after a few days, without any sense of listening fatigue, it is obvious that what I am hearing is the added clarity & detail in the mid and upper registers. It's a very pleasing amp to live with this one I think.
A little concerned that you note that it struggles with those ProAcs as I am thinking of getting in some Sonus Faber Lumina's which as a 4ohm spkr apparently take a bit of current to get the best from them. I'm wondering if I should have gone for the bigger brother?
Thank you for sharing. The only noticeable downside of the CXA61 is that is struggles to drive tricky speakers 😊
Hey Tarun, nice one. As prejudices go, I learnt about Marantz amps not from listening back in the day but from recapping and repairing the likes of the PM40SE and a couple of others recently. I’m curious to know what the latest budget models such as the PM6007 would be like against the AXA-35 as it’s about the same price.
Top tip, by the way. If a screw is tight, try tightening it a bit more. The forward pressure on the screwdriver is acting in the direction of the thread and is more likely to crack it into motion, then you can simply back it off. You’re welcome. 😄
👍
In UK Richer Sounds are the distributor for Cambridge Audio
The Marantz PM6007 has been around for a good few years now so built in DAC chip not as up to date. However it's still a great buy amplifier currently £369 Inc vat/tax.
I've owned the predessor, PM6006 for a decade 👍
Thanks Mark. I’ll try that next time 👍
Tarun! You give me warmth to my heart. I bought a year ago CXA61, CXC cd transport and CXN v2 streamer. I’m satisfied and wifey appreciate the looks, so I can have it in my IKEA Bestå cabinet in the living room. So happy with my choice. The streamer did set the direction. I would go for a Schiit Mani 2 as phono amp below a 1000. The rest I got.
That is great 😊
Hi Tarun, Nice review. I notice that here in the US Cambridge has discontinued CXA61. However, Amazon has a few at $599, which sounds like a steal to me.
That is a great deal 😊
You sold me. Today I ordered my CXA61 along with another pick of yours - the Acoustic Energy AE100² Bookshelf Speakers. Have you a suggestion for a reasonably priced subwoofer for this set-up?
Totally agree with the outcome. I bought one late last year along with a Cambridge audio phono stage. I had an aging Rotel RB960 pre-power set up with 2 power amps running as monoblocs. There was plenty of pot but it was unrefined and the Rotels were becoming troublesome.
Auditioned a few amps but kept on coming back to the 61.
Recently replaced my speakers with Buchardt P300’s.. not 💯 sure they are totally right however the whole system now sounds very musical and I am enjoying going through my record collection again. I also added the Cambridge cd transport! Another upgrade for my aging Rotel cd player 👌
Thx fr sharing your experiences 😊
Another fine review Tarun. As you are currently impressed with the two reviewed Cambridge Audio amplifiers, maybe the CXA81, which is on my radar and as the bigger brother of the CXA61, qualifies at one pound under £1000 ?
Thank you 😊
Boss. Thats my amp. One thing that amazes me is how different sound engines conect with the dac. I use 3 engines , streamers, via pc and 3 via Samsung Android all by USB. On Android I have the full fat onkyo player and the cxa61 absolutley takes off with this engine streamer. Ty for your re assuring review. My speakers are the kef R3.
Tea in the Sahara, police for a sound stage test. 😊
That is great 👍
Great review, and to see you again. Thank you as always for your time and effort to share this with us all. Take care, Sir.
Thank you Simon. Much appreciated 😊👍
Thanks Tarun for your informative review. For your viewers' information, this specific model is at the moment almost half price in Canada. Might be a sign that Cambridge wants to lower inventory for a soon to be announced a newer model.
Edit: at 850$ CAD, you cannot miss this deal. Bought it. Paired with Triangle Borea Br09, just sublime. Thanks Tarun.
Edit 2: My intuition was good. This product is no longer available in Canada. Crutchfield labels it as discontinued. April 2023.
Thank you. I suspect you may be right 😊
Considering it started at CA $1599, at $850 it's a great deal. Mine's paired with Monitor Audio Bronze 2 speakers and a Rega P6. Soundin' gooooood! Very happy, indeed.
@@jlewis7356 looking at it on clearance, now down to $697 in Canada
I had an AXA35 and loved it to bits until I upgraded to a Rega Elex-R. I really would love to hear your take on the Rega.
I would also like to see a rega review. I have the axa 35, and considered the rega before buying it, but info was sparse.
Thank you. I hope to do that 😊
@@crazyprayingmantis5596 to my ears it has more headroom (90W@6ohm) and I hear more detail, a wider soundstage and tighter bass. I also get more out of the music when listening at low volume. It's not a night and day difference, I'd still be pretty happy with the AXA35 but I couldn't resist a deal of €869 for a brand new Elex-R back in 2021.
Rega amps sound fantastic!
Thanks for the review . I think the next logical step would be to review the Cambridge cxa 81 . It was exactly a 1000 pound but don't know if it still is .
Thank you 😊
Tarun! One thing more. Did you try the pre-amp on the CXA61? Sound quality stayed the same? Connected to your Exposure mono blocks. This would be a nice test for a change. Has anyone done this?
Love your style, attitude and skills.
Thank you. Unfortunately, I didn’t test it as a preamp 😊
That’s a nice amp period. You should do a poll to see who’s new to the hobby. Would be curious to see. Anyway, great review
Thank you 😊
I would love to see a review on the PM6007 Marantz Amplifier. It seems to win best in class and always rated very highly for each new model that appears. I would love your review on if
Thank you 😊
Thanks for your review, Tarun. As inteteresting as usual!
One more guy here waiting to hear about cxa81, my target at the moment. 😉
Thank you Roberto 👍
Great review once again . Life is busy but I always look forward to your Friday video releases . For me , I would be very interested if you did a pre amp shoot out !
Thank you Mr S. I appreciate the suggestion 😊👍
Great review. I think a lot of British audiophiles have a particularly soft spot for Cambridge Audio equipment, given the excellent package deals offered by a certain hifi store chain using CA amps, therefore being many people’s first step on the journey. It’d be great to see a review of the Audiolab 7000A in the not too distant future
Thank you Tim 👍
Thank you for your honest and informative reviews. I also apreciate the effort in comunicating the findings with the clarity we see in the videos.
I would like to see reviews of Vincent SV-500 AND SV-200. Both seem well regarded in general but there aren't many serious or detailed reviews. Someone mentioned Exposure 1010 and I'm curious too.
Thank you 😊
Thanks Tarun. The Cambridge is exactly the kind of component that's a slight stretch of my budget that I'd willingly make.
Cool 😎 I hope to review more at this price 😊
Thanks so much for the excellent review Tarun. I purchased one after listening to your review and looking at it. After some years of listening through a Panasonic SAXr70 this is a welcome change. Quite a nice upgrade for my system. I have a pair of Fried A/6 floor standers (2 way transmission line) and a Rythmik F12G subwoofer. I still spin CD's with my Pioneer DV-353. After trying the internal dac I prefer the Schiit Modi 3E by a bit. Very nice amp with good features. Sound stage is very nice with layering and separation of instruments that is a nice improvement. Thanks again so much for your recommendation. I appreciate it.
Thank you kindly Ed. Nice to learn about your experiences 😊👍
I’m truly grateful for the x35 review. Got it. Love it 🙏
Thank you 😊
Hope you would do a review/comparison between CXA61 and CXA81. I owned the CXA81 and wanted to upgrade to external dac. Been eyeing Guustard R26, as I think it will make a good synergy with CXA81.
Hope you could give some opinion when the time comes 🤞🏼
Thank you 😊
R26 is excellent but the A26 is punchier. It depends what you want but from what I hear about Cambridge amps (warmer sounding) the A26 may make the better partner. Enjoy either way!
I use Cambridge Audio equipment for my installs and also sounds good and reliable and great value for money , great review again thanks
Thank you kindly 👍
I recently had a old NAD amp that started to fail. I came accross the CXA-61 on sale, $599.00 and glad I did. I teamed it up with the CXC v2 CD player, Bluesound Node and finished off with my older pair of Definitive Technolgy SM65s. I will say this amp has everything I need at this price and pairs very well with the equipment noted. One thing that I have heard in other reviews is the CXA-61 will make your bad recordings sound really really bad...but you good recordings and sources sound really really good. This is absolutly true as IMO this amp is very centered neutral which is what my ears prefer. I have a friend who has spent three times of what I spent on my system. When he listened to mine he just shook his head...but applauded as to the quality of sound.
Cool 😎 thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
Thanks for another great review.
A friend has the CX35 and we just compared It to SMSL A300...Very intersting results. I would be delighted to hear your opinion about these new budget chinese class d amps, like smsl da9, ao200, a300, topping pa5, etc...
I personally wouldn’t go for any Chinese Class D over either the AXA35 or the CXA range but for the convenience of their digital inputs they are a little bargain. I have years of experience with all of the Chinese brands since the T amp days many moons ago and while they can give you seemingly greater clarity and apparent detail in my experience they fail dramatically in overall sonic balance and command little control over low end frequencies, even today with the latest German and American chipsets they don’t match the later class A/B amps from many of the major manufacturers. Although Aiyima A07 is about the most balanced small class d amp I have heard and I was not as fatigued after an hour or so listening time. They are great for second amps though or garage set ups due to their size and overall the class d amp has improved a great deal over the last few years but they still cannot really match the fuller more balanced sound of a well implemented class A/B amp. Just my view which many would agree and even disagree with but it can be easy to slip into an constant curiosity where these little amps are concerned.
Thank you 😊
Nice review! I own the CXA 81 and pair with JBL 4312Gs and I love the sound. Luv the channel too !
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Curious what you'd think of the SA20, it's a lot better than the SA10 you previously reviewed.
Continue to love your channel so many thanks.
Thank you kindly. I would like to review more Arcam products 😊
I think you’re an absolute legend in reviewing gear. Something I’d like you to do is compare gear against other gear a bit more - especially used gear. Say this amp and a used 6000A or Naim 5i…well, you’d know best about comparing…I’m just a poor man and I only buy used gear these days.
Thank you. That is very much appreciated 😊👍
Wow, amazing. Maybe an Arcam SA20 review is coming? :)
Maybe 😉
Another great review. Which would you prefer the Rega Brio or the CX61?
Thank you. I would need to get the Brio home to find out 😊
Hi. Great video! Will the Cambridge cxa61 be a good match for a monitor audio silver 50?
Thank you. I wouldn’t like to guess 😊
Would be nice to hear what you think of the Arcam 20. That is obviously in a price class above the Cambridge. Would be good to know if it's worth it over the 10.
Thank you 😊
Thanks for this Tarun, this was on my original list when I bought my Brio. I can’t remember why I ruled it out, possibly a combination of the 3.5mm headphone socket and the Brio sounding better to my ears.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
I would love to see a comparison with the CXA81. What’s the major difference between the 61 and 81? What justifies the cost difference?
That may be interesting 🤔👍
The presence of balanced xlr inputs and the slight increase in wattage are the hardware changes. Sound, am not quite sure. My CXA 81 has been routed through to my Wharfedale Evo 4.2 from a Bluesound Node 2021, through a Denafrips Ares II. Had added a Rel T5X subwoofer as my last component a few months back. And now it sounds divine. For a sub 3000 pound budget of course.
And your reviews on Denafrips Ares II and the Rel T7X, were instrumental in upgrading my system. Thanks a ton Tarun.
@@drgeorgejmalayil thank you kindly 😊👍
Good to see this. I recently auditioned the Hegel H590 integrated and it wowed me. Sadly my choice in life limits me to a good all round A/V in my home.
Thank you 😊
I heard the H120 the 1st time ive heard that brand at the recent Bristol Hi Fi Show.I've seen 1 auth UK dealer advertising a display model H95 for £1100.Much less powerful. Hegal cannot be usually be purchased online
You make me feel like I need one of these, but I have more amps than I can use. I'm using my Marantz 2220b receiver as a tuner just so I can look at it all lit up. And my offer still stands, if you need a kidney I will trade you for that beautiful antique table! You should do a video about that.
Thank you Mike. I suspect tgat sidetable will out last me 🙂
Great review! I love my axa35 and eventually wouldn't mind jumping up to the 61 or even 81 so this really helped me out! I would interested in a review of their power amplifiers as well!
the 61 is now 599 being phased out.
Thank you 😊
I think they are changing lines and will phase out both the cxa61 and 81 for something newer.
@@jamesschneider3828 Its a good buy... I'm tempted but have not need. I have a rega and just got the sugden A21. Thats in a whole different level.
Take care
@@jasonme3557 sounds like I might have a good deal coming my way!
Ive just bought a pair of Dali Spektor 2s would this be a good match for them? And is there a version of this amp with bluetooth thanks i love your channel.
Thank you. It may have Bluetooth. I would check the spec sheet 😊👍
Fantastic review Tarun , Thanks 🙏 once again .
Thank you Atri. Much appreciated 😊👍
Appreciate the review of this amp, I bought a 61 on a whim seeing it on sale for 599. It's doing a great job powering some AE300s for my office system.
I'd like to see a review of the Peachtree Nova 150, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the AE500s.
Thank you. I appreciate the suggestions 👍
Very useful and professional review! Many thanks.
Thank you 👍
Here's one for you Tarun, that I have not seen anything on. The Totem Acoustic Kin Amp. It has been flying under the radar so far. Looks to be very good value. Excellent review as usual. Thank you.
Thank you. I appreciate the suggestion 😊👍
Great review Tarun, as usual. I wonder if the CXA61 might be the bottleneck in limiting the difference between a low end internal DAC and a high end Denafrips? Also, how would you compare the CXA61 against the Audiolab 6000A in sound quality? One last comment, would love to hear your thoughts on the new Audiolab 7000A when it arrives. Thx for your insight.
Thank you GV. Much appreciated. The 6000A went back some time ago. Both very good. My impression is the 6000A is more analytical and detailed whilst the CXA61 is fuller and warmer sounding 👍
Great genuine review, as always, Tarun. How would you compare CXA61 with Rotel A11 MK ii...that would be great!
Thank you, much appreciated. Unfortunately, I would need to get the A11 Mk2 home to find out. From what I understand it has a cooler tonality than the CXA61 😊👍
Hi from Canada.At the end of your video you asked a question. So I have a pair of Quad 22L speakers and have to buy a new amplifier. Since my 909 has given up.What amplifier would you suggest. Very informative videos so I subscribed.
Thank you for the support. I am it intimately familiar with the 22L model but I would check out current Audiolab and Quad gear 😊
I've been running it's big brother CXA81 for 2 years. I was running a Yamaha AS501 with the same 80 Pac but the Cambridge seems to have a higher current and drives the music much smoother. I am running a Node2i streamer and have both the analog and digital outs going to the CXA81 so I can easily switch from one dac to the other. They both have nice sounding dad's with different attributes. These are powering my Martin Logan Motion 60xt towers which are very efficient and I sometimes use the b speaker output to listen to a pair of B&W 606s2's and an older B&W 12 inch sub. Overall I love the system but am experiencing a lot of drop outs from the Node2i. They blame my internet service and the internet providers say it is the Nodes fault. I believe the internet provider as i never has issues streaming television.
Thank you for sharing 😊
For 899.00us, but can be had for as much as $230 less on the open box market…(where I found mine, unopened) the Yamaha AS801 sounded much more neutral and engaging than either Cambridge offerings. At 100+ high current amps into 8ohms, it has a THD measured at 0.019. It drives a pair of speakers, the KLH Kendalls, that for no other reason than they sound stupidly good for 1499.00 a pair, you need to listen to. I’m a minimalist when it comes to audio gear having owned Luxman tubes to Pro Bose Amplifiers in the 80’s. The Yamaha allows for after market power cables which, again….if for no other reason, I’ve added the amazing Viborg MTR1501 power cable, which in tandem makes for one of the best sounding amplifiers this side of $3000 bucks! Its internal DAC uses an ESS Technology 32-bit ES9010K2M chip to play PCM files up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD files up to DSD128. A BluSound Node2i handles all streaming. With only very small amber led’s for input settings, it and the Kendall’s literally disappear for nighttime listening. And the Yamaha is so rich and non fatiguing in its presentation of the music in tandem with The Kendalls which at 96, yes, 96db sensitivity reaching down to a full range 25hz make for a 1-2 combination that I have found hard to beat! Oh and that Viborg cable…..120 bucks! And it’s more of a component than a cable….talk about jaw dropping! I hope you can get your hands on any of the gear I’ve mentioned here, but the Yamaha is overlooked in the realm of neutral, low noise, high amp sub $1000 Integrated Amplifiers. But on tighter budgets the Cambridge is a no brained! Cheers!!
Thank you. A Yamaha amp coming in soon 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I hope it’s the 801, cause it’s the Jewel in the line. There larger units are over priced, and offer no digital inputs…and while some just love the VU meters, for the money having auditioned the 2200 and 3200, I just don’t see the asking price. They sound great, but again, with the Viborg power cable, the 801 is every bit as musical and I’d say less colored as well. I’ll be watching, as always!!
Great review (again !). Next up it’s gotta be the CXA81 ! (Please)
Thank you 😊
Great review! Tip, when you raise the volume with the remote the knob moves, which is, in my opinion, a really really nice touch to the amplifier. It took me a few weeks owning my CXA81 to notice it as I left the remote on the side for a while. 🔥
Cool 😎
Surely all amps do that with a remote.
I bought one secondhand to hear the house sound, I believe your review is on target. The 35 is a delightful little amplifier for a small or second system. I think it's a great buy for the price.
Thank you 😊
Thank you for all your reviews. I'm just getting into all of this, and your videos have been so inspiring and informative. I just ordered Q 3020i speakers. I want something that will make my vinyls sound amazing and something I can connect my bluetooth to. Would this amplifier pair well with those speakers? There are so many opinions out there but I see you really know what you're talking about. So I just wanted to know what you think.
Thank you. On paper that should be a good pairing but best to try before you buy 😊
Woah! Outstanding from Tarun! Must be kick-ass. Great to hear about excellent affordable hi-fi. I missed a comparison to the Audiolab 6000A. A mix of the affordable and the pricey makes this channel even more attractive. Keep up the good stuff, Tarun. (The Menuet SEs are in their 20th hour of burn-in and beginning to sound very good)
Thank you Jeremy. Enjoy the new purchase 👍
Great review as per usual. Not many available reviews of hybrid pre- and amplifier combos. For instance, yours is almost the only review on IOTAVX PA3, which I am thinking of pairing with the Schiit Freya S pre-amplifier, but too many questions arise regarding compatibility and synergy between the components, only their own separate contributions. That'd fill a great gap, imho. thanks for your work!
Thank you 😊
TARUN,WE LIKE 👍 WHAT YOU’RE DOING …proving that this is the best time to be an audiophile 🤗💚💚💚
Thanks 😊
Good amplifier but I'd rather have 2nd hand Naim SI amp. Packs more rythem, scale more musical.
@@SteveG_ THANKS STEVE, FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE 🤗👍💚💚💚
Hi Tarun! Thanks for a wonderful reviews. Will kindly ask for an advice: I have a Cambridge Audio CXA61 and recently upgraded my old speakers to KEF LS50 (non-meta). At the moment I'm thinking about an upgrade ( want to try some streaming services and DLNA), so have two "ways" - either find a decent streamer or upgrade a whole amp to Hegel H95. Speaking of amplification performance, do you think that Hegel H95 will clearly outperform CXA61, or the difference from the "electrical" standpoint is not so huge and I should just add a nicer DAC/Streamer?
P.S. have no possibility to listen and compare, so have to make blind decisions
P.P.S. Thanks in advance!!
With the Amphion Argon 1s, the Hegel H95 will raise performance to another level above the CXA61 👍
I'm finding yours the most useful and relatable reviews on RUclips. Great stuff. Out of interest have you tried an Exposure 1010 amp? I got one as a stand in and actually preferred it to the 2010S2D. Not better, just better suited to my set up with a more delicate, subtle balance and delivery.
Thank you kindly. I haven’t tried the 1010 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Don't think they sell them new any more but they stand out as mile to me as a 2nd hand bargain. I swap between it and a Class A amp (depending how long it's going to be left on) - similar vibe of delivery.
Another great review Tarun. I am curious about the sub $1,000 Denon integrateds like the DENON PMA-900HNE
Thank you. Me too 😊👍
Hi
I had denon pma 900 with LS50 meta, the denon was much stronger than audiolab 600 a, but the sound was lacking
not heard the cxa61 but used my cxa 60 for years that has given great service and is excellent for the money , now have a Denon PMA-A110 paired with Bowers and Wilkins 705 s2 signatures , would be interested in your take on either of these , eccellent reviews keep it up😁
Thank you 👍
How would you rate the Leak 130 or 230 against the Cambridge?
Love your reviews...
Thank you. I have only heard the Leak briefly at a dealer but could pass judgement 😊
Another articulate, well-balanced review. Thank you.
If Emotiva equipment has penetrated the UK market, I would be interested to hear your remarks regarding any of their BasX amplifiers.
Thank you Mike 👍
Another really interesting review. A couple of years ago I mentioned about a pair of Celestion 100 speakers after your review of some older 300s you still owned. I auditioned the CX61 (my Dad has the older CX60) and we loved the sound, although eventually went for an end of line CX80 which, we felt, drove my 100 speakers a little better. The overall sound is definitely more biased towards clarity and imagery rather than weight, but I think this is that particular combo. Not sure whether my Dad's CX60-based system is better, but the CX80, although older, just edged it for me over the 61 with my existing speakers.
Thanks Richard. Great anecdote 👍
Love the review, thanks. Surely the CXA81 is next on the list. I've heard it has a different sound signature to the CXA61.
Thank you 😊
Awesome video - thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on this! Perhaps a naïve question (i'm new into this area!) but would you see this amp paired with B&W 606's be well suited?
Thank you Lukas. On paper they should work well together. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell without trying 😊👍
Thank you for this excellent presentation. I would love to watch a review of the Yamaha A-S801 amplifier. Also the Cambridge Audio AXr100 receiver. Thanks again for all your hard work.
Thank you kindly 😊👍
Hi T. Would this amp pair well with the acoustic energy ae109s? Or do you think it would be too warm? I know you said the axa 35 was too warm ..
all the best
That should be a very good pairing 😊
I have this amp and it has a very lovely sound signature!
Great 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314yes, the only problem is that it is too powerful for my triangle comete 40th anniversary with 90db sensitivity :/ probably gonna have to swap it for a tube amp. I never go past 10 o clock on it…
Thanks for the reviews. I get alot from them. 😊 I added the Aeres 2 and the Ifi AC Ipurifier to my system and I am extremely pleased and thank you!
You mentioned the Argon One would be a good pairing.
I have the CXA81
and was wondering what speakers you would pair with it?
Thank you.the Amphion Argon 1 would be great 😊
Please review a class D Hypex or purifi based amp,I'd like to know if the "future' is truly here...
Thank you 😊
I always look forward to your videos. Thank you for all the work that you put into them. The amplifier that I'd be particularly interested in you reviewing is the Roksan attessa (streaming). It seems like a great price point for an A/B with such wonderful connectivity. In addition, I note that you've started to review smaller tower speakers and, as they are owned by the same parent company, I wondered whether the monitor audio silver 200 might be an intriguing proposition. And they both look the part too. Thanks again
Thank you . Much appreciated. Watch this space …shh 😉👍
Excellent presentation. Really clear explanations...thank you.
Thank you kindly 😊👍
CXA81 next! :) My CXA60 pairs very well indeed with my original LS50s. Great width of soundstage, even a sense of 3D depth. Lovely bass frequencies too, surprisingly, espectially when I upgraded the power cable, not to mention the improved micro-dynamics. Although, when paired with my main speakers Tannoy XT6f, the amp couldn't give the low end juice the Tannoys was craving, so I opted for the Lyngorf TDAI-1120. An upgrade in all senses except for the slightly narrower staging and flatter depth, but everything else makes up for it. The Lyngdorf has a terrible time with the LS50s, by the way.
Thank you for sharing 😊
Cxa60 Is a keeper...far Better than it's absurd no tone controls version: Cxa61.
@@gianlucabassi8853 Fair, we all have our own tastes and preferences.
Thank you for the nice video and great channel, i own a pair of Monitor audio GR10 and i am trying to find a good match for them, this amplifier seems to be a good match, but i am wondering if the Rega brio will be a better choice here.
Thank you. The Roksan Attessa may be worth considering too. It is from the same company 😊
Thanks for another great review! Would be interested to hear your take on the NAD C399. Thanks again! Dave
Thank you Dave 😊👍
Hi there, just watched your reviews of the CXA61 and AXA35 and enjoyed both and am seriously thinking about both. I currently have an older Rotel RA-01...would I see a big uptick in quality with both Cambridge Audios? Thanks in advance,
Stuart
Some of those old Rotel amps can still sound very good but yes, I would expect the AXA35 and especially the CXA61 to outperform the RA-01 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314
Thanks for that, I have a decision to make then, also just as an additional option what is your opinion on the AudioLab 6000A Amp... I've heard good things about this also
@@anniestu44 the 6000A is a great amp but different in character to the CXA61. I reviewed it some time ago ruclips.net/video/ZYDoGkNB3Kw/видео.html
Hi again, I think I am about to pull the trigger on the CXA61, but I have one more question. My speakers are the Q Acoustics Concept 20...Would the CXA61 drive/power/work with these oki in your opinion?
Thanks again
Stuart
@@anniestu44 I can’t be sure, I don’t know how difficult the Concept 20s are to drive 😊
Well done, AGAIN !! Keep up the good work. I just purchased an awesome system,but maybe this another day. Thx good Man
Thank you 😊👍
Willsenton R300, which comes just under a grand depending on how currency plays up, is a worthy candidate for you review imo.
Thank you 😊
As much as this is fun to learn about, how about reviewing any Onkyo integrated amps. They make the best AV receiver for home theatre. They did make some really nice mid priced gear back in the late 70s. I’m not sure if they have any offerings, but it would be worth trying just to see what they have now. The T9 tuner back in the 70s was a real performer. I had one. Lovely piece with a tuning dial that had a great feel as well as an ability to bring in stations far away with a great antenna and rotator. Fun review Tarun! Didn’t think it would have the internals to drive your 1SCs. I was right. ProAcs can be notoriously hard to drive without a gutsy power supply. Takes real juice to make them sing. I know. My EBTs ate a 60W per channel pair of monoblocks for breakfast. It took a 100W per channel Roger Majeski RM 9 to wake them up.
Thank you Mark 😊
Onkyo's are not the best AV receivers. And how would you know that if you're not even sure what they offer if anything? They are generally solid mid range performers but every model is different.
Outstanding review as well, just like yours evaluation for this amp..
Beautiful presentation from the start to the very end.
Best regards Tarun!
P.S. Creek Audio ... some below 1k£ amp ... maybe ?
Thank you Hrvoje. Much appreciated 😊👍
It may be impossible to acquire, but I would love to hear your thoughts on the Croft Phono Integrated
I have tried but couldn’t get a response. Shame really as I am not sure what is happening after Glenn Croft’s passing.
Hi Tarun, I would like to you review the Rotel A11 tribute one day. I rate this amplifier very highly, as does your Canadian friend and cohort Ian White (when is the next chat happening?) another question! How does this Cambridge amp compare to the Audiolab 6000a, because that amp is incredible for the money. I managed to grab a brand new old stock factory sealed example from a dealer I trust for under £500, and to say I am happy with it would be an understatement!
The 6000A is excellent. It was returned a long time ago but would fair well with the CXA61 😊
I have the Rotel Tribute Cd player. Excellent for the price.
Using with the older Marantz PM6006 45 wpc into 8ohm amp (PM6007 being the updated model)
Really appreciate how you always back up your enthusiasms for a piece of hifi equipment with very clearly stated and understandable reasons re sound, build, etc., and how you always include comparisons and recommended partnering equipment. Very helpful! Thanks. I assume you're asking about integrated amps, but I'll throw in that I would be interested in a review of the Schiit Vidar 2 power amp, which sells for $800 USD. Maybe not quite enough left over for a good preamp to keep it under 1,000 GBP, but perhaps it's feasible. My reason is that I'm looking to upgrade from an IOTAVX SA3 that I like very much, though find a bit lacking in bass definition. Also, my speakers (Triangle Borea BR08) are known for sounding better with more wattage, even though they're quite sensitive. So the question in my mind is whether to upgrade to a somewhat more powerful and higher quality integrated amp or whether to go the route of the Vidar 2 or other power-pre combination. Thanks again for your great reviews!
That you Theodore. Always a pleasure to hear from you. There is no one route for your next step but I would probably go with the amp upgrade next 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you, Tarun. I've actually thought seriously about the Exposure 2510 based on your high praise for that integrated amp. Getting access at a decent price is a little challenge. But the other thing is that I don't know in advance how the synergy would be with the speakers I have. I've also thought about the Heaven 11 Billie amp, which some people find to be very good. Again, it's a big step to put down 2k or more if you're not sure how it's going to sound. So, will keep looking, and...I suppose that's part of the fun of this hobby, is making an estimation based on what others hear, and then trying things out. And keeping it all in perspective with what's most important in life. Hobbies have a way of taking on a life of their own. Thank you again!
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun, you are very good about responding to those who comment, but I want to be thoughtful of your time and say I mostly just want to follow up, and there's no need for you to respond to the semi-question embedded in my comment. Your response to my question about how to upgrade, "there is no one route for your next step" proved to be helpful and perceptive in a way I didn't expect. For both my classroom and home use, I had already wanted to buy a pair of REL T7x's, and I got a chance for a very good price on them here in Thailand. So I did. Their addition to my system -- Schiit Bifrost 2/64 to IOTAVX SA3 to Triangle Borea BR08 + REL T7x -- has given me a much greater enjoyment of the sound of my two-channel system as it reaches now into the deeper base octaves. I feel for my personal home use, I'm happy with this system as it is and will likely be for a long time. For my classroom, though, I am still interested long-term in exploring either a higher level integrated amp or mid-fi to hifi separates like those I can get from Schiit Audio (or elsewhere). The reason is that the very large classroom with 20 or more people listening (to recorded lectures, music, and films) puts much higher demands on the system, especially in terms of getting volume that is completely clean and undistorted at high levels. So I do look forward to whatever videos you might produce in the area of higher power (75 - 150 wpc into 8 ohms) integrated amps and affordable separates in the future. In the back of my mind I'm also wondering whether including the REL T7x in the system gives the IOTAVX SA3 greater room to perform well in the classroom, given that the very lowest base is now handled by the subwoofer. Or does that deeper base region ultimately put only a very minor load on the integrated amplifier to begin with? Thanks again for your helpful reviews!
Hi, I am keen on pairing up a pair of Triangle Borea 003 to Cambridge Amplifiers, model to consider including CXA 35, CXA 61 and AXA100. Could you kindly give me some expert advice on which of the pairing will yield better musical enjoyment, or maybe alternative speakers.
Many thanks and best regards.
The Iota VX SA3 has great synergy with it. I haven’t heard the BRO3 with CA amps 😊
Thank you.
Hi Tarun, great to bump into you again at Cranage. I've had my eye on this amp since your review and found a great deal on one. How well do you think they'd pair with the Neat Petite Classics? (also v high on my wishlist!)
Thanks and all the best!
Thank you. I hope you enjoyed the show. The Neat Petite Classics are too revealing of the shortcomings of the AXA35. Try the Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2 😊