Cambridge Audio · Updated July 2026
Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII: price & specs
The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII costs $1199, #5 cheapest of 7 integrated amplifiers (median $1099.95). It earns a Silver Deskmark — 57/100 pay-blind standing, #3 of 7 in class.
Verified Jul 13, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Big, spacious, authoritative sound with gains in clarity, detail and openness; Decent DAC; improved digital circuitry (new ESS SABRE32 chip).
- Skip if Lacks rhythmic drive and cohesion versus its predecessor is a dealbreaker.
Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: cambridgeaudio.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
Is the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII a good buy?
At $1199, the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII is #5 cheapest of the 7 integrated amplifiers we track, where the median is $1099.95. On the spec sheet, its analog inputs of 5 is the highest of the 7, its digital inputs of 4 is the highest of the 5, and its thd percent of 0.02 is below the median of the 6.
Evidence of Record
Our dataNo independent lab has measured this product yet. 1 outlet has it on record by mention only, with no hands-on measurements published to weigh its claims against — a gap in the evidence, not a verdict on the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the 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.
Tested by What Hi-Fi?
Consistently praised
- Big, spacious, authoritative sound with gains in clarity, detail and openness
- Decent DAC; improved digital circuitry (new ESS SABRE32 chip)
- Generous feature set (balanced XLR, aptX HD Bluetooth, sub and pre-out)
Commonly flagged
- Lacks rhythmic drive and cohesion versus its predecessor
- Beaten for outright expression by the class-leading Arcam A15
- Bluetooth noticeably cruder and less detailed than wired inputs
Where reviewers disagree Only one whitelisted source, so no cross-source comparison is possible. What Hi-Fi's verdict is internally consistent: clear tonal and technical gains over the original CXA81, but rhythmic drive and musical expression fall short of the Award-winning Arcam A15 at the same price.
The sources (1)
You're immediately drawn into the music even more thanks to significant gains in clarity, detail and openness.
We love how the CXA81 MKII grabs us from the off with its impressively big, clear and full sound
we just wish it had the musical tenacity and drive to keep us hooked.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $1199 US MSRP $1,199. SpeakerDecision states verbatim "Cambridge CXA81 II has an MSRP of 1199$"; corroborated by two retailer listings at $1,199.00 (The Audio Legacy and Dedicated Audio). Note the original non-MkII CXA81 carried a higher $1,299 MSRP, confirming this figure is the Mk II price. |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cambridge Audio |
| Released | — |
| Power per channel8 ohm (W) | 80 |
| Power per channel4 ohm (W) | 120 |
| Amplifier class | AB |
| Thd percent | 0.02 |
| Snr (dB) | 105 |
| Built in dac | Yes |
| Phono stage | none |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Analog inputs | 5 |
| Digital inputs | 4 |
| Headphone output | Yes |
| Weight (kg) | 8.68 |
Source: cambridgeaudio.com (verified 2026-07-13) · corroborated by speakerdecision.com. The official Cambridge Audio product page for the CXA81 Mk II returned HTTP 403 to automated fetching, so every spec was verified verbatim against the SpeakerDecision spec sheet (which lists "Full Model Name: Cambridge Audio CXA81 Mk II") and cross-checked against The Audio Legacy and Dedicated Audio retailer listings, all identifying the exact Mk II model — distinct from the original CXA81 (MSRP $1,299). SpeakerDecision confirms 80W into 8Ω / 120W into 4Ω, THD 0.02%, S/N 105 dB, Class AB, ESS Sabre ES9018K2M built-in DAC, "Total Analog Inputs: 5", 2 optical + 1 coaxial + 1 USB digital inputs, "Phono Input: No", built-in Bluetooth aptX HD, "3.5mm Headphone Output", and "Weight: 8.68 kg". The US MSRP of $1,199 is corroborated by The Audio Legacy ($1,199.00) and Dedicated Audio ($1,199.00) plus SpeakerDecision's stated "MSRP of 1199$".
Is the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII worth it vs cheaper integrated amplifiers?
Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII against its closest cheaper and pricier integrated amplifiers on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 7 ranked →
| Product | Price | Power per channel8 ohm (W) | Power per channel4 ohm (W) | Amplifier class | Thd percent | Snr (dB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII this | $1199 | 80 | 120 | AB | 0.02 | 105 |
| Arcam A15 | $1099.95 | 80 | 120 | AB | 0.5 | 106 |
| Rega Elex Mk4 | $1895 | 72 | — | AB | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the 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. Praised: Big, spacious, authoritative sound with gains in clarity, detail and openness; Decent DAC; improved digital circuitry (new ESS SABRE32 chip); Generous feature set (balanced XLR, aptX HD Bluetooth, sub and pre-out). Flagged: Lacks rhythmic drive and cohesion versus its predecessor; Beaten for outright expression by the class-leading Arcam A15; Bluetooth noticeably cruder and less detailed than wired inputs. (From 1 tester review.)
How much does the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII cost?
The Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII has a US price of $1199 (US MSRP $1,199. SpeakerDecision states verbatim "Cambridge CXA81 II has an MSRP of 1199$"; corroborated by two retailer listings at $1,199.00 (The Audio Legacy and Dedicated Audio). Note the original non-MkII CXA81 carried a higher $1,299 MSRP, confirming this figure is the Mk II price.), as of 2026-07-13.
How does the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII compare on price?
At $1199, the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII is #5 cheapest of the 7 integrated amplifiers we track, where the median is $1099.95.
What are the Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII's key specs?
Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII (Cambridge Audio): powerPerChannel8OhmW 80, powerPerChannel4OhmW 120, amplifierClass AB, thdPercent 0.02, snrDb 105. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-07-13.
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Head-to-head
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- Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII vs Arcam A15
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Cheaper integrated amplifiers
- Arcam A15 $1099.95
- Yamaha A-S801 $1099
- Rotel A11 Tribute $799
- Marantz PM6007 $750
Step up
- Rega Elex Mk4 $1895
- McIntosh MA252 $5000