Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII Review: A Stereo Amplifier With a Reference DAC

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII is a 2 channel integrated amplifier built around 80 watts per channel of Class AB power along with a built in reference grade digital to analogue converter. It is aimed squarely at stereo listeners rather than home theater buyers, with no surround channels or HDMI switching in its feature set.

What stands out in the listing is the combination of a serious DAC, balanced XLR inputs, and Roon certified USB streaming in one integrated amplifier, rather than requiring a separate DAC or streamer box. For buyers building a dedicated 2 channel system, that consolidation is the main appeal.

That consolidation matters because stereo listeners upgrading from a basic amplifier often end up buying a separate outboard DAC anyway to get better digital sound, and here that upgrade is already built into the amplifier chassis rather than adding another box and another set of cables to the rack.

Power and Sound Quality

At 80 watts per channel, the CXA81 MkII sits in a comfortable middle ground for driving a wide range of bookshelf and floorstanding speakers without needing a separate power amplifier. The listing specifies Class AB amplification, a well established design approach the listing describes as delivering balanced and efficient performance rather than extreme output figures.

The built in ESS ES9018K2M SABRE32 DAC is described in the listing as reference level for digital to analogue conversion, which matters for anyone feeding the amplifier from digital sources like a computer, disc transport, or digital streamer rather than relying only on analogue inputs. Pairing a strong internal DAC with the amplifier section avoids the cost and clutter of an outboard converter.

A toroidal transformer is called out specifically in the listing as contributing to what it describes as an incredible soundstage, a common claim for this transformer design since it tends to run with lower noise and better regulation than cheaper laminated core alternatives. Exact measured distortion or signal to noise figures are not given beyond the wattage rating.

Connectivity and Inputs

Digital connectivity includes TOSLINK optical, coaxial, and USB audio inputs, covering most common ways to connect a television, disc player, or computer digitally rather than through analogue cables. Balanced XLR inputs are also included, intended for connecting matched components such as Cambridge Audio's own CXN100 streamer for a cleaner signal path.

The listing does not specify an exact count of analogue RCA inputs, so buyers with several analogue sources such as a turntable with an external phono stage or multiple legacy components should confirm available input counts before assuming unlimited analogue connectivity. There is no phono input built into the amplifier itself based on the available feature data.

Buyers planning a system around a specific streamer, such as a matching Cambridge Audio unit connected over balanced XLR, get a cleaner signal path than a standard unbalanced RCA connection typically offers, which can matter in rooms with longer cable runs or more electrical interference nearby.

Formats, Processing and Room Correction

As a 2 channel stereo amplifier, the CXA81 MkII does not process object based surround formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, since those require a multichannel AV receiver rather than a 2 channel integrated amplifier. Its format strengths are instead on the digital audio side, through the SABRE32 DAC and USB input.

Roon Tested certification means the amplifier has been verified to work reliably as a USB endpoint for the Roon music management software when connected to a Mac or PC, a detail that matters specifically to listeners already using or considering that platform. There is no automated room correction feature mentioned in the listing.

Buyers who care about file compatibility should note that the certification covers how the amplifier behaves as a USB endpoint rather than detailing specific supported sample rates or bit depths, so exact digital playback limits beyond general USB audio support are not spelled out in the available feature data.

• ESS ES9018K2M SABRE32 reference DAC
• Class AB amplification at 80 watts per channel
• TOSLINK optical, coaxial, and USB digital inputs
• Balanced XLR analogue inputs
• Roon Tested USB connectivity for Mac or PC
• Bluetooth aptX HD wireless input

Features, Streaming and Apps

Wireless connectivity is limited to Bluetooth aptX HD, which the listing notes can connect to devices including an Alva TT V2 turntable with built in Bluetooth, among other Bluetooth aptX HD sources. This gives casual wireless playback from a phone or compatible turntable without needing a cable run.

Beyond Bluetooth and the Roon certified USB connection, the listing does not describe a dedicated companion app or additional network streaming platform, so buyers wanting Wi-Fi based multi room streaming should look at pairing this amplifier with a separate streaming source rather than expecting built in network features.

For buyers who already run Roon across other rooms or devices, that certified USB connection is likely the more relevant feature than Bluetooth, since it lets the amplifier sit inside an existing Roon library setup rather than functioning as an isolated Bluetooth receiver for casual phone streaming alone.

Build, Design and Controls

The listing describes the unit in a Lunar Grey finish, fitting Cambridge Audio's current design language across its CX series. The internal toroidal transformer is mentioned specifically for its contribution to sound quality rather than purely as a build detail, though it also typically allows a more compact chassis than older transformer designs.

Exact dimensions and weight are not given in the available feature data, so buyers should confirm physical fit on a shelf or rack separately. As an integrated amplifier rather than a full width AV receiver, it is reasonable to expect a relatively compact footprint typical of 2 channel Cambridge Audio components.

The MkII designation in the name typically signals a revision over an earlier version, and buyers researching the model should expect incremental refinements over that previous generation rather than a completely new design, consistent with how Cambridge Audio has historically updated its CX series amplifiers.

Setup and Daily Use

Setup for stereo listening is straightforward, connecting speakers to the amplifier's outputs and choosing between the available analogue, digital, or balanced XLR inputs depending on the source. Buyers using the USB input with a Mac or PC benefit from Roon Tested certification if they use that software for library management and playback.

Day to day use likely centers on switching between a handful of connected sources, such as a television over TOSLINK, a computer over USB, and a phone over Bluetooth aptX HD. Without a dedicated app or remote described in the listing, physical controls on the unit itself are likely the primary method of day to day adjustment.

Buyers who later add a matched network streamer over the balanced XLR input gain an additional source to switch between, effectively turning the amplifier into the central hub of a small, digitally focused stereo system built up over time rather than purchased all at once.

Who Should Buy It

This amplifier suits buyers building a dedicated 2 channel stereo system who want strong amplification and DAC performance in one integrated unit rather than assembling separate boxes. It fits particularly well for anyone already using digital sources like a computer or disc transport rather than relying solely on analogue inputs.

Roon users specifically benefit from the certified USB connection, and buyers planning to add a matched streamer later can take advantage of the balanced XLR inputs designed for that kind of pairing. Buyers needing a phono input or home theater surround sound should look elsewhere.

Listeners upgrading from an entry level all in one system, where amplification and DAC quality are usually the first bottlenecks, should notice the clearest improvement here, since both the amplifier section and the built in SABRE32 DAC are meaningfully more capable than what typically ships in lower tier bundled systems.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Buyers who specifically need a built in phono stage for a turntable without an external phono preamp might consider a different integrated amplifier more explicitly built around analogue and phono inputs, since this unit's listing does not describe a phono input.

For a simpler, more budget conscious stereo setup without a reference grade DAC, something like a Cambridge Audio AXA35 trades away some of the SABRE32 DAC performance and balanced XLR inputs for a more accessible price point within the same general brand family.

Buyers wanting multichannel surround sound for movies rather than 2 channel music should look at a dedicated AV receiver such as a Denon AVR-S760H, which handles HDMI switching and object based surround formats that this stereo amplifier does not attempt to cover.

Verdict

The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII is a focused 2 channel integrated amplifier that pairs solid Class AB power with a genuinely strong built in DAC and flexible digital and balanced connectivity. For stereo listeners who want to avoid a separate outboard DAC box, that combination does real work in simplifying a system.

It is not built for home theater surround sound or turntable owners needing a built in phono stage, and those buyers should look elsewhere. For dedicated 2 channel listening with digital sources and the option to add a matched streamer later, it is a well considered and capable amplifier.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Bluesound POWERNODE N331

Buyers who want one box to handle TV sound, multi room music, and hi res streaming without a separate AV receiver.

Read the Bluesound POWERNODE N331 review →

Klipsch Reference

Buyers who want a receiver and a matched 5.1 speaker package in one purchase, with room correction included.

Read the Klipsch Reference review →

Cambridge Audio CXN100 SE Gen 4

Hi-fi listeners who already own or plan to buy a separate amplifier and want a feature rich streaming source with a named reference DAC and broad service support.

Read the Cambridge Audio CXN100 SE Gen 4 review →

Questions Buyers Ask