Moving back and forth between the CXA60 and 61, the newer amplifier sounds more expansive and detailed. Because of this, even though they both share a 60W rating the CXA 61 feels as though it’s working with more power. Finally, the CXA61boasts aptX HD Bluetooth for wireless audio up to 48kHz 24Bit. The CXA60 picks up on everything. But no, the nice round figure stays. This didn’t impress us quite as much as the overall audio quality - the soundstage was solid, rather than spectacular - but it’s a clear improvement on less expensive amps currently available. We go into much more detail about the CXA61’s competitors below – there’s plenty of competition in the world of stereotypes. Earlier this year, Cambridge Audio announced a revamp of their well-reviewed CX Series hi-fi components called CX Series 2. ALL OF THE MUSIC Because it’s designed to deliver the maximum musical experience no matter where the music is coming from, the CXA61 has an entirely reengineered digital board featuring the industry-standard ESS Sabre ES9010 K2M … This is a review and detailed measurements of the Cambridge Audio Solo Phono Preamplifier. Clever design features and sleek looks make the Cambridge Audio CXA61 a winner. The solo costs US $179.99 including free shipping from Amazon. At $999, it’s $250 more than the previous model, and when it comes to other stereo amps, it’s definitely on the pricey side. We’ve heard it, and it sounds phenomenal, although the price may put some people off. The most complex operation here is Bluetooth pairing, and all that requires is holding the relevant button down. The Cambridge CXA61 also has four line level inputs - enough for all your analogue sources. Cambridge CXA61. Ever since the glory days, when hi-fi systems were integrated and even color-matched to the furniture, bookshelf speakers have been the beating heart of the party... Floorstanding speakers have one of the most recognizable profiles of all speaker types. Its disciplined neutrality is a major selling point, especially when that is coupled with a tremendous focus. Don’t get us wrong: it’s confident enough to work with genres of music that aren’t quite so energetic. But, if not quite limitless, the CXA61 is potent beyond its 60W and, given suitably talented support, a terrific amplifier, full stop, There are alternatives that undercut the CXA61, but few can match its all-round ability. It has some of the most lively sound of any amp we’ve ever tested. I was impressed by the DUO Phono Preamp I reviewed earlier this month. Try the $349 Onkyo A-9110. A punchy and upfront hifi amplifier, DESIGNED FOR DIGITAL: connect digital sources directly with high-performing DAC via TOSLINK and Coaxial, plus USB Audio Input for digital files from Mac or PC, BLUETOOTH BUILT-IN: flawless cable-free sound with Bluetooth aptX HD built in, for a high quality wireless connection to headphones or speakers, PERFECT FOR ANALOGUE: an audio amplifier with 4 x RCA analogue connections for all your sources, plus a 3.5mm jack for portable music players, BRITISH DESIGN: superior quality and stunning design by Cambridge Audio's engineers in London, for our most accomplished integrated stereo amplifier yet. Our favorite combo was the CXA61 with the MartinLogan Motion 35XTi. A pre-amp output is also fitted – ideal for power amp upgrades. Views: 426. It’s not a problem if those prices make your eyes water - less expensive speakers perform nearly as well, even if they aren’t especially sensitive. One that will prove very popular amongst many hi-fi users. Changing the crisp and lively Audiolab transport for Cambridge Audio’s softer and warmer sounding CXC and standing down the Chord DAC for the CXA61’s internal ESS Sabre brings an almost magical transformation, dialling down the detail retrieval and dimensionality of the soundstage to a noticeable degree but making the sound less starkly, Warm and rich tonal balance is anchored by impressively deep, taut and tuneful bass. WAV vs. FLAC vs. MP3: Audio File Formats Explained, Headphone Impedance And Sensitivity Explained, the chip which converts digital audio to analog sound. If you do own more than one Cambridge device, it’s a well-designed way to control them. If you want even more features, and want to get technical, then we strongly recommend the $1,145 Parasound New Classic 200 Integrated. Yet, with superstar jazz drummer Dave Weckl setting a fierce pace on Ha Ha Hotel from Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber’s aforementioned Eleven, there’s scant shortfall in the tremendous clarity, speed, solidity and noisefloorsweeping low-level detail the amp also exhibited with the Russell K standmount. We spent quite a bit of time listening to the CXA61 using a Bluetooth connection, which allows you to stream in full aptX HD, if you have a compatible source (more on what aptX HD is here). Because it’s designed to deliver the maximum musical experience no matter where the music is coming from, the CXA61 has an entirely reengineered digital board featuring the industry-standard ESS Sabre ES9010 K2M digital-to … Cambridge Audio has a rich history of developing innovative home entertainment products designed to capture every last drop of detail from your favourite music and movies.Every product bearing the Cambridge Audio name is created at our London research and development centre by a team of passionate, zealous and committed engineers who share a wealth of live music and … It’s a problem that was apparent on the original CXA60, too, which had a Wolfson WM8740 DAC. Its audio is a true and emotional delivery across thumping basslines, syncopated jazz rhythms, or distinctive vocals. It all starts with the bass. Cambridge Audio has drawn on every one of its 50 years of experience to make the CXA61 its most accomplished integrated amplifier yet. It’s a very barebones amplifier, with no digital inputs to speak of, and certainly no Bluetooth. The amp feels substantial and very well finished and, somehow, the circuit symmetry suggested by the dead-centre siting of its large, smartly dressed toroidal transformer seems more satisfyingly upmarket than the usual offset arrangement. There is a more expensive amp available in this line: the CXA81, which boasts 80 watts of power. FLAC, WAV, AIFF, DSD… There’s no denying that picking the right type of audio to listen to can be crazy confusing. There’s no phono stage, though. Read more about us. Picking the best stereo amplifier for your setup can be a huge challenge. The improved Bluetooth also adds an easy to use connection for those just looking to sit down and listen. My initial setup comprises an Audiolab 6000CDT CD transport (HFC 447) feeding the CXA61’s internal digital converter and an external Chord Electronics Hugo 2 DAC (HFC 428), with the amp’s speaker terminals running short lengths of Nordost Red Dawn speaker cable to a pair of Russell K Red 50 standmounts (HFC 422) placed on Slate Audio stands. Awards in a row speaks volumes about how well loved the CXN is - but Cambridge Audio is always searching for ways to improve. ✓ 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. Headphone ... Cambridge Audio has introduced a major update of its CX range with the CX 2. That being said, there’s no question that the CXA61 sounds better. The way weight, energy and the live venue atmosphere come together playing Marcus Miller’s uber-funky Trip Trap is an all-but tangible treat with the fine synergy really bringing out the best in both turntable and amp. Almost all the controls are handled using the remote, which we’ll talk about in more detail below, but at its heart, the CXA61 is a surprisingly simple machine. The CXA61 might not be the smoothest or most romantic sounding sub-£ integrated amp on the market, but it never fails to engage and its repertoire is outstanding. CXA61 handles 8-ohm and 4-ohm speakers, delivering all the musical peaks and nuances you expect to hear. Wireless speakers have become the quiet juggernaut of the audio industry. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Everything flows into it, and everything flows out of it... A simple DAC upgrade can do wonders for your audio playback, as for example, a 4K-capable TV might change your movie viewing experience. It should be the focus point for all your efforts, the piece of equipment that can make or break your sound. Offering components designed to partner with each other and to appeal to both audio and home-theater fans, the CX Series has a fresh look with a brushed finish and a nice “floating effect” created by the upturned corners of the chassis bottom plate. The volume knob is motorized, and is large enough to find without looking. We tried the CXA61 out on sub-$300 speakers from Fluance and ELAC, and we had a great time. Unlike the fabled goes-to-11 guitar amp of Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel, Cambridge Audio’s CXA61 integrated amp probably isn’t ‘one louder’ than the CXA60 it replaces. Sorry Nigel. But it’s monstrously powerful, and has some of the most enjoyable sound we’ve heard – definitely in this price range, anyway. The CXA61 sticks with the 60 watts as sported by the CXA60; however, the DAC has been replaced with a cutting-edge ESS Sabre ES9010K2M. One of them was the CXA60 integrated amplifier. Virtually every piece of gear that crosses the threshold of our office is capable of connecting to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, handling hi-res audio,or adjusting the sound to fit our unique hearing profiles. The Cambridge Audio CXA61 is expensive, particularly in comparison to its predecessor. The Parasound was good, occasionally great, but it just didn’t have the pleasing, warm sound quality of the CXA61. POWER AMPLIFIER: 60 Watts per channel with Class AB amplification for precise and powerful audio performance. Picking the best stereo amplifier for your setup can be a huge challenge. For the latest information on COVID-19, go to the CDC's website. Everything you need to know about headphone specs. The power is put to exceptionally good use here, and the low-end is just outstanding. It brings you closer to the music you love. Simon Lucas | October 24, 2019 10:10 am BST We don’t want it to sound like we are shilling for Cambridge – nothing they make is perfect, and that includes the CXA61. The CXA61 offers 60 watts of power, an improvement on the CXA60 amp, and is very similar to that model in both design and audio quality. In this review, we break down the CXA61’s sound, design, packaging and accessories, specs, and more. Two separate sets of channels, and yes, you can run both at once, regardless of the speaker impedance. There’s a 3.5mm input and a headphone amp, but that’s about it. It’s a brutally efficient and unforgiving amplifier that is dedicated to providing music in its rawest, purest form. I feel the better DAC offers quieter background, more dynamic sound, and a better sense of musical involvement. There are four RCA inputs, and a selection of digital inputs: S/PDIF coaxial, TOSLINK optical, and even a USB input. CAMBRIDGE AUDIO CXA61 REVIEW. Buy Now: $150 (Yamaha R-S202BL) Buy Now: $500 (Cambridge Audio … But if you only own the CXA61, you have a control with a lot of buttons you’ll never use. The remote is a weird one. The $400 Denon PMA-600NE, for example, was an interesting comparison. By the way, we are very pleased to report that the Bluetooth USB dongle found on the original CXA60 has been scrapped. If the claimed 60W a side isn’t quite your idea of limitless, there’s always the 80W-per-channel CXA81 – which builds on the estimable talents of its CXA80 predecessor. Cambridge Audio makes a mean amplifier. The wonderful, beautiful, stunningly-good-looking and intelligent people at Cambridge have labelled each input twice: once the right way up, and once upside down, so you can read them while leaning over the amp from the front. But it really is quite an experience and we had a tremendous amount of fun testing this one out. The DacMagic 200M is also the first Cambridge Audio product to support MQA. The sound signature extends well into the other parts of the sound spectrum, too. 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