# Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII vs Yamaha A-S801: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII (Cambridge Audio) and Yamaha A-S801 (Yamaha) among integrated amplifiers. Yamaha A-S801 is the cheaper of the two at $1099.

## Side by side

| Spec | Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII | Yamaha A-S801 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $1199 | $1099 |
| Brand | Cambridge Audio | Yamaha |
| Power per channel8 ohm (W) | 80 | 100 |
| Power per channel4 ohm (W) | 120 | — |
| Amplifier class | AB | — |
| Thd percent | 0.02 | 0.019 |
| Snr (dB) | 105 | 99 |
| Built in dac | Yes | Yes |
| Phono stage | none | MM |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Analog inputs | 5 | — |
| Digital inputs | 4 | — |
| Headphone output | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (kg) | 8.68 | 12.1 |

## Key differences

- Power per channel8 ohm (W): Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII 80 vs Yamaha A-S801 100
- Thd percent: Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII 0.02 vs Yamaha A-S801 0.019
- Snr (dB): Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII 105 vs Yamaha A-S801 99
- Phono stage: Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII none vs Yamaha A-S801 MM
- Bluetooth: Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII Yes vs Yamaha A-S801 No
- Weight (kg): Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII 8.68 vs Yamaha A-S801 12.1

## What reviewers say

**Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII** — Only What Hi-Fi, among whitelisted testers, ran a genuine hands-on review of this exact model; SoundGuys, TechRadar and others had none. It praises big, clear, authoritative sound, a decent DAC and a generous feature set, but faults muted rhythmic drive, ultimately judging it beaten by the rival Arcam A15. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII: https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/usa/en/products/hi-fi/cx-series/cxa81-mkii (cambridgeaudio.com, verified 2026-07-13)
- Yamaha A-S801: https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/a-s801/specs.html (europe.yamaha.com, verified 2026-07-13)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/integrated-amplifiers/cambridge-audio-cxa81-mkii-vs-yamaha-a-s801/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII ($1199) vs Yamaha A-S801 ($1099) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/integrated-amplifiers/cambridge-audio-cxa81-mkii-vs-yamaha-a-s801/
License: CC BY 4.0.