Guys, sorry that I open a topic for this, but my review has disappeared from the Cambridge CXA80 user review section. I don't know what's going on with this site, but I have almost always the same issues, deleted texts, chinese titles in the hi-fi forum, and in the settings, I got topic names in russian... A good admin team would be needed. So the text I saved is below.
Before buying it, I had the option to directly compare its sound in the same room with the same equipments against: Cambridge CXA60, Marantz PM8005, Primare i22. In other shop, I also heard the Vincent SV-500 (nice, precise sound, relaxing sound; not for agile musics), Marantz M-CR611 (omg, no way) and smaller amps. Priviously, I owned Pioneer A-30. So the test: we were four there. The Marantz PM8005 was clearly inferior, after 10 minutes we stopped listening it. Switching back and forth, the PM8005 lacked authority, dynamics, resolution and space. Even the CXA60 was better by far. The CXA60 provides similar sound to the CXA80, but its presentation is a bit lighter. For classical music and smaller speaker it could be great, however if you have a big room, the CXA80 is the way to go. The Primare i22 has a nice, relaxing sound, which is slightly more precise with a bit more resolution, especially in the high frequencies. Then why CXA80? It brings pure energy, with great resolution, strong bass, nice and not earpiercing highs. You can feel the 2*80 or 2*120 watts. We could immediately told in a blind test, when we heard the CXA80. You got the impression that you are on a concert in the first rows. I also tried the amp in the shop with a laptop to be sure, that I can use it as an external soundcard through USB. With the Vertere D-Fi I have recieved stunning results. Ingram Washington or Metallica? Doesn't matter, we were so impressed, that I bought that cable too. And the best thing: arriving home, switching on the CXA80, it gave the same sound (without running it) as in the shop in a completely different environment! I use it with Elac FS 147 via QED XT40 3 hours a day in avarage. After the Pioneer A-30 the sound quality has increased; full-bodied and clear. They are like new and much bigger speakers, I can now explore their full potentials, and again, it doesn't matter if I want to listen Vivaldi, Duke Ellington, Queen, or DJ Snake. Previously, I had issues with bass. Now it's there; turn it to 11 and you will not only hear but feel it too. The mid has nice resolution and the high is also very pleasant. The voice of Freddie Mercury is his, a violin is a violin, a contrabass is a contrabass, there is no fake/artificial sound. The music has a nice scale, 3d sound with lively presentation. Previously, I used ASUS DG sound card with QED QE5091 2 RCA - 1 Jack cable to the amplifier. Now, my amp works as an external sound card via USB, as the DAC is very good too, providing 24/192. I think I have arrived to the "truly satisfied camp" of Hi-Fi enthusiasts.
Before buying it, I had the option to directly compare its sound in the same room with the same equipments against: Cambridge CXA60, Marantz PM8005, Primare i22. In other shop, I also heard the Vincent SV-500 (nice, precise sound, relaxing sound; not for agile musics), Marantz M-CR611 (omg, no way) and smaller amps. Priviously, I owned Pioneer A-30. So the test: we were four there. The Marantz PM8005 was clearly inferior, after 10 minutes we stopped listening it. Switching back and forth, the PM8005 lacked authority, dynamics, resolution and space. Even the CXA60 was better by far. The CXA60 provides similar sound to the CXA80, but its presentation is a bit lighter. For classical music and smaller speaker it could be great, however if you have a big room, the CXA80 is the way to go. The Primare i22 has a nice, relaxing sound, which is slightly more precise with a bit more resolution, especially in the high frequencies. Then why CXA80? It brings pure energy, with great resolution, strong bass, nice and not earpiercing highs. You can feel the 2*80 or 2*120 watts. We could immediately told in a blind test, when we heard the CXA80. You got the impression that you are on a concert in the first rows. I also tried the amp in the shop with a laptop to be sure, that I can use it as an external soundcard through USB. With the Vertere D-Fi I have recieved stunning results. Ingram Washington or Metallica? Doesn't matter, we were so impressed, that I bought that cable too. And the best thing: arriving home, switching on the CXA80, it gave the same sound (without running it) as in the shop in a completely different environment! I use it with Elac FS 147 via QED XT40 3 hours a day in avarage. After the Pioneer A-30 the sound quality has increased; full-bodied and clear. They are like new and much bigger speakers, I can now explore their full potentials, and again, it doesn't matter if I want to listen Vivaldi, Duke Ellington, Queen, or DJ Snake. Previously, I had issues with bass. Now it's there; turn it to 11 and you will not only hear but feel it too. The mid has nice resolution and the high is also very pleasant. The voice of Freddie Mercury is his, a violin is a violin, a contrabass is a contrabass, there is no fake/artificial sound. The music has a nice scale, 3d sound with lively presentation. Previously, I used ASUS DG sound card with QED QE5091 2 RCA - 1 Jack cable to the amplifier. Now, my amp works as an external sound card via USB, as the DAC is very good too, providing 24/192. I think I have arrived to the "truly satisfied camp" of Hi-Fi enthusiasts.