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Cambridge Audio CXA81 Review and Thoughts?

Though it’s likely too mid-fi for most folks on this forum to be bothered, I thought I’d share my experience w/ this amp and also see if anyone else has thoughts or advice. I have mixed feelings about the amp.

My previous amp was a Creek Classic 5350SE. My speakers are Dynaudio Audience 52s. Source is Tidal on an iMac connected via USB to a Musical Fidelity V-DAC ii. I was having problems w/ the old Creek amp (channel drop-out) and so finally decided to replace it with the CXA81.

I find the CXA to be much more forward in presentation than the Creek. The level of detail and the soundstage is much more apparent. In addition to the highs being more emphasized, the bass has more drive, yet is sufficiently firm and resolved to my humble ears. Certainly there are some things I like about all this. Though I really don’t like the onboard DAC that comes with the CXA amp. It’s pleasantly detailed but sounds thin. Female vocals in particular, which once were the focal point of a track, lack presence and seem to disappear in the background, leaving only the breath-y upper registers. So I’ve switched back to using my old V-DACii.

But even with my old DAC, I’m trying to decide if the amp is still too forward and fatiguing for me. I like the level of energy that the amp brings to music. It’s more engaging than the 5350. But I’m trying to decide if it will be too fatiguing and if the presentation is somehow "false." I listen to all kinds of stuff, lot’s of neo-classical, minimalist piano, folk, ambient electronic. I have another month to spend with it and still be able to return it. I’m also thinking of swapping out my DAC with a Schiit Modi 3, which has a reputation for having a sweet, strong midrange presentation which I thought could pair well with the cool, airy CXA81.

The CXA81 gets tons of very good reviews, but maybe these reviews are all very influenced by some back room marketing dynamics.

Thoughts?
olilama76

Showing 1 response by ohmy

ohmy
8 posts
 
Thanks for posting this. I discovered it while searching for a comparison between Cambridge Audio amps and Schiit amps. Your experience with the CXA81 mirrors my own with the CXA61. I landed on the CXA61 because of stellar reviews and an overall brand reputation. However, after using it for two months I could not stop headaches from happening while listening to music. It took a while to even identify that it was the music that was causing them. If someone had told me a particular piece of audio equipment could cause headaches (which I think some people call listener fatigue) I would have told them to just turn down the volume, but this had nothing to do with the volume. It was the strangest thing. For what it is worth, I used the CXA61 with its built in DAC via USB and Optical, with a PC onboard DAC via RCA and optical, and with a Schiit Modi 3+ via USB and optical. My ears hurt while listening to all of them, and they stopped hurting as soon as I went back to my cheap AudioSource AMP100VS. I think it’s pretty clear the fatigue had something to do with the CXA61.

Since then I’ve experimented with a few of Schiit’s products. Right now I have a Sys, Loki Mini+, and Modi 3+ Multibit hooked up to my AudioSource amp. As is, I really like the quality of the sound, but I noticed a nice broadening of sound when I tried a Valhalla 2 and Bitfrost combo in Schiit’s store. So now I’m entertaining the idea of a Schiit Vidar and one of their preamps. I’m not sure if I should go with the Saga+, Freya, or less traditionally used Valhalla 2 that I enjoyed in store. Anyway...

I’d be curious to hear about your experience with the Vidar/Saga combo. Have you continued to like it? Did you trade-in or upgrade since then?
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