During my tenure as a Stereophile writer, I’ve reviewed a lot of integrated amplifiers. The most moderately priced integrated machines I’ve reviewed have included the Heed Audio Elixir ($1195), Luxman SQ-N150 ($2795) and L-509X ($9495), NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital ($549), Octave Audio V 80 SE ($10,500), Rega Brio ($995), and Schiit Ragnarok 2 ($1799 as equipped). Regardless of price, all these integrated amplifiers engaged my senses and made engaging, dynamic, colorful music from LP grooves and ones and zeros.
Decades ago, integrated amplifiers were full-featured beasts—and then there was a move toward minimalism, at least at the higher end. Today, things have swung back again: With some exceptions, today’s integrated amplifiers once again offer myriad extras. Today there’s more to offer. In addition to the traditional phono stage and headphone jack of decades past, today there’s Bluetooth, internal DACs, streaming, implanted mood-enhancer chips, and integrated cappuccino/latte/espresso machines—all at a competitive price point.
The Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier ($1299) is a feature-rich machine. It doesn’t have Ethernet, and it lacks a phono stage and coffee machine, but otherwise, it offers everything popular with today’s music- and hi-fi– loving suburban bon vivant: a built-in DAC that converts up to 32/38 and DSD256 (delivered via DoP) files and streams. It has an asynchronous USB input, the best kind. There’s Bluetooth, which makes it easy to send music from portable devices, and because it’s aptX HD, it even sounds good. There’s headphone support and even mood enhancement, although it’s the old-fashioned way: with music.
Design
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