There comes a time, and it must come for me from time to time, that I try an amp that is so well regarded and reviewed expecting to be blown away. But in the end, I end up with an amp that is really good but not fitting all my needs and preferences, just ending a tad bit disappointed.
Cambridge Audio is a brand very well known in the audio world. Its previous generation of CXa60 and 80 were a full hit for the company. They had a very punchy, warm sound that brought a lot of technology from their Edge series. It was really versatile as well, bringing Bluetooth, USB, and subwoofer output. No wonder why it was such a hit.
But what they did with a new generation is exemplary work in updating your current gear enough with new technology and sounds while remaining faithful to your winning formula.
So from the perspective of design and features, many things have been inherited from the previous generation. Besides the new generation being a bit bigger and the buttons being a bit flatter, the looks are very similar. Feature-wise, they switched from USB A to USB B and provide almost the identical amount of features.
Sound Quality
But the sound is where it becomes more interesting. While remaining the same formula of meaty, punchy sound, they also added a bit of clarity and transparency into the mix, making it a more versatile amp.
The first thing I noticed when I tested this with a few different speakers is that it does not play well with every gear, so be mindful of that. One of my favorite speakers at the time, the Sonus Faber Lumina 2, unfortunately did not play well. The punchy, dynamic sound with coloration of Sonus Faber brought a bit too forward sound that was a bit muddy from what I got used to while listening to these speakers.
This is no fault of Cambridge Audio, as it is an amp that does what it is made for: to bring you muscular, punchy sound that will make listening to your music a very rhythmic and fun experience. But be very careful with what you pair them with, as they tend to push your speakers forward to become a bit more detailed, which can cause fatigue. They work best with speakers that are more neutral or those that are not too warm.
Cambridge Audio can offer so much in this price range - its sound, design, and versatility. It's no wonder it is so popular.
And those are the words that I can use to promote this device - sound, versatility, and design, with the last one being subjective, but the first two being objective perks that this amp offers.
Great Versatility
While always thinking that sound is a paramount necessity of every audiophile gear and everything else is just a bonus, I always like when companies can provide both sound and more in the package. That is why I think brands like Denon and Marantz have been successful and had a large presence in the market all these years, as they pack their gear for a wide variety of audio lovers.
Just think about what you can do with this amp - you can have a nice dinner with friends and use Bluetooth to share your favorite playlists from Spotify/Tidal/Apple Music, etc. You can use its muscular sound as an AV receiver alternative when you need that extra attack and presence from your movies. And for what most of us are going to use it for: to enjoy your music collection in a true HIFI manner, with a big grin on your face, relishing in your favorite hobby. Unless you are a vinyl enthusiast, for that you will need a separate phono preamp, as this amp does not have a phono stage.
For who this amp is for?
Sound-wise, for whom is this amp for? I think for someone who wants a lot of agility and punch from their music, someone who listens to music with a lot of upbeat instrumentation and power that circulates around the room, giving it tact and rhythm.
I heard a lot of people listening to jazz hyping this amp because of its attack and punchiness.
And so I did, I put some "Giant Steps" by Coltrane to test that theory, and I was not disappointed. There is that galloping snare that gives rhythm to the song with so much precision and drive, a saxophone solo so filled with dynamics. It was fun listening to this, as the amp does a good job in coupling all the elements together. I heard some amps deliver a lot more texture with this song, but I can pick out a lot of behavior and movement of instruments, how they feel and how they behave.
But I should test this with something more emotionally expressive and to test how vocals fit in by listening to a different variety of music from Perter Gabriel, Prince, Sufjan Stevens, Kate Bush, Nick Cave, and some Pain of Salvation, etc. A variety of styles and expressivity to test this amp. And here comes to me the point of why this amp does not fit my needs.
Despite how punchy and meaty this amp is, it did not work for the transparency and emotions I wanted from my music. While I enjoyed all that energy and rhythm and how dynamic the sound can get, I always believed that in the mids section of the sonic spectrum, how treble and bass couple to create a space for vocals, they never allowed vocals to flourish and to be felt with all the heart.
I like when speakers have that bloom and it opens the soundstage to you so you are able to hear and feel instruments around you. To build that soundstage, speakers need to have the ability to do so, but the shape, presence, and scope of the soundstage are built with a great amp. While there were a lot of details and dynamics in front of you, instruments felt alive, but vocals always took a back seat here, especially noticeable while listening to female vocalists. The completeness and fullness of the soundstage is something I always root for.
Alternatives
The amps I would compare this to are Rega Brio, Audiolab 6000a, and Denon PMA 900ne. All of these amps are at a similar price range to Cambridge Audio.
Rega Brio
Starting with Rega, we have an amp with a whole different philosophy than Cambridge Audio. While Rega pours all its heart and engineering into providing the best analog experience you can get for that money. Rega does not have any digital connections; it is a compact device used to be tucked away among your analog sources to deliver punchy dynamic sound. So it is not a do-it-all device like Cambridge Audio. But there are some similarities in audio quality between them. Both of them are punchy, forward, and detailed, but Rega is dominant when it comes to punchiness and detail, as Rega delivers a very detailed sound that has been spiked for your enjoyment of that pulsing forward mids. However, Cambridge has a more rounded sound which provides better clarity, soundstage, and refinement. It also brings a big versatility into how this is being used. So depending on your preferences, this can go both ways.
Audiolab 6000a
Audiolab is a very versatile amp; it provides many digital inputs and Bluetooth, similar to Cambridge Audio. But they have different sonic signatures to them. Audiolab is a more airy, neutral amp. It emphasizes space, definition, and clarity. It is a more laid-back amp compared to Cambridge Audio's more forward, punchy, and dynamic sound. Audiolab is a great companion when you want to relax and have speakers that can provide a big soundstage. It will provide a great meditative experience with hints of lovely mids, whereas Cambridge Audio provides more immediate fun sound that is brimming with details and dynamics. Again, you can go both ways as they are both great amps.
Denon PMA 900hne
Lastly, I would like to highlight one more comparison, Denon 900ne. I have a soft spot for Denon gear, and for a good reason. They are always so reliable and always provide as much as they can to their abilities. They have a balanced but a bit weighty darker tone. It emphasizes bass rather than treble, so the bass and lower mids are going to be more pronounced and heavier. Vocals are going to have more presence and there is going to be a lot of texture in every instrument or vocal in the soundstage. While until now we spoke about versatility in terms of features that the amp brings, I can say that Denon is super versatile when it comes to sonic character. Denon can be used as an AV receiver, more than any amp I know. It is not like it can completely change an AV receiver, but it will provide an attack and agility of great bass. It can be used to listen to music; the phono stage is phenomenal in Denon - at this level, there is no phono stage like this. It is a great party amp to listen with your friends. There is a lot of value in Denon, and it is certainly something to look at when browsing for a new amp. Cambridge is more punchy and dynamic, but Denon excels with all-around versatility and a fantastic phono stage.
Conclusion
In the end, despite the hype that this amp has, maybe a bit distorted my view of expectations from it. This is a great amp, don’t get me wrong, but all the things which are important to me, some other amps do better. Whether it be punchy sound, clarity, or soundstage, there are amps at this level that bring more out of this. But there is no amp at this level that has everything and so many things at an affordable level. It can satisfy every listener, but not impress everyone. That is my final say on this amp; it is just a great people champion as it is here to cater to everybody’s needs while providing value and versatility.
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