CXA61

INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER

• 60 Watts per channel with Class AB amplification for detailed and powerful audio performance
• High Quality DAC - Connect digital sources directly via TOSLINK and Coaxial
• Bluetooth aptX HD built in for a high quality wireless connection
• 4 x RCA Analogue connections for all your sources.
• USB Audio Input accepting up to 32bit/384kHz & DSD 256 digital files from Mac or PC

集成立体声扩音器

• 每通道 60 瓦，具有 Class AB 扩音功能，可实现细腻而强大的声音表现
• 高质量 DAC - 通过内置的 TOSLINK 和 Coaxial 直接连接数字源
• 内置蓝牙 aptX HD 以实现高质量无线连接
• 4 x RCA 模拟连接，适用于所有音源。
• USB 音频输入高达 32bit/384kHz & Mac 或电脑的 DSD 256 数字文件

CX SERIES 2. THE SOUND OF PROGRESS.

Half a decade after the CX range redefined performance at its price point, it’s time to reimagine, reengineer and reinvigorate. The all-new CXA61 and CXA81 integrated amplifiers build on the foundations laid (and the Awards won) by CXA60 and CXA80, but with a fresh and progressive perspective.

The CXA61 is 60 watts per channel of pure excitement. It’s a punchy and upfront listen, without giving away detail or precision - so it’s just as much at home in the mosh-pit as it is the conservatoire.

CX 系列 2。进步之声。

CX 系列以其卓越的性价比重新定义声音呈现至今已有五年之久，是时候进行重新的演绎与设计，以焕发全新活力。 全新 CXA61 和 CXA81 集成扩音器立足于 CXA60 和 CXA80 的基础（及其赢得的奖项）之上，但又呈现了崭新的进步。

CXA61 拥有每通道 60 瓦功率，带来纯粹的音乐刺激。真实有力的音乐表现，保留了所有的声音细节与精确度——因此，无论是音乐学院或是摇滚乐区，它都能出色胜任。

LET YOUR MUSIC MOVE YOU

The CXA61 is designed to bring you closer to the music you love. It’s designed to put you right at the heart of your favourite recordings, telling you the story of every note in the most natural, most effortless, most detailed way imaginable. Analogue or digital, lo-fi or hi-res, the CXA61 lets the music take you where you want to go.

让音乐感动您

CXA61 让您更亲近自己喜欢的音乐。让您置身于最喜欢的唱片中，用最自然、最轻松、可想象的最细腻的方式为您讲述每个音符的故事。不管是模拟还是数字音乐，低保真还是高分辨率音乐，CXA61 都能让您畅游音乐的海洋。

UNCOMPROMISED SOUND

The CXA61 has been engineered, refined and finessed with only one objective in mind: to deliver the most thrillingly musical sound you’ve ever experienced. Every choice of component, and every engineering decision, has been made in order to minimise colouration of the sound and maximise its accuracy. Cambridge Audio has drawn on every one of its 50 years of experience to make the CXA61 its most accomplished integrated amplifier yet.

毫不妥协的声音表现

CXA61 经过精心设计，精炼和精雕细琢，目的仅在于一个目标：让您听到最震撼的音乐声音。每个组件的选择以及每项设计决策，均致力最小化声染色并提升精准度。Cambridge Audio 借鉴其 50 年的经验，使 CXA61 成为迄今为止集大成于一身的扩音器。

ALL OF THE MUSIC

Because it’s designed to deliver the maximum musical experience no matter where the music is coming from, the CXA61 has an entirely reengineered digital board featuring the industry-standard ESS Sabre ES9010 K2M digital-to-analogue convertor. The CXA61 can bring digital audio files up to state-of-the-art 32bit/384kHz and DSD256 resolutions vividly to life, combining convenience with performance in a way unheard-of until now.

所有音乐

CXA61 拥有重新设计的数字板，配备行业标准的 ESS Saber ES9010 K2M 数模转换器，无论是何种音乐源，均致力提供最佳的音乐体验。CXA61 可生动逼真地地呈现最先进的 32bit/384kHz 和 DSD256 高解析音频，以前所未有的方式将便捷性与声音表现结合为一。

POWER WITHOUT CORRUPTION

An oversized toroidal transformer gives the CXA61 a muscular 60 watts of power for each channel. Painstaking engineering gives it super-low levels of distortion and supreme electrical efficiency. The result is an amplifier with limitless reserves of power, ready to maximise the dynamic potential of any loudspeakers and able to play at any volume level without stress or distortion.

无损品质

超大号环形变压器为 CXA61 的每个通道提供了 60 瓦的强劲功率。反复专研的工程设计使它具有极低的失真度和极高的电力效率。最终成就一款拥有无限动力储备的扩音器，可以最大程度地发挥所有扬声器的潜力，无论在任何音量下播放都轻松自然，毫不失真。

COMPLETE MUSICAL FREEDOM

Pair any Bluetooth device to the CXA61 to stream up to aptX HD-quality audio. Because there’s no need to compromise your musical experience when you decide to cut the cord.

绝对的音乐自由

将蓝牙设备与 CXA61 配对，播放 aptX HD 品质音频。无线聆听音乐时也无需牺牲您的音乐体验。

SONIC INTEGRITY

The CXA61 features a reimagined power amp stage with optimised capacitors values, and a revised volume pot designed to offer minimised crosstalk. The result is a clean, short and pure signal path that allows your music unmatched coherence - at any volume.

完整音质

CXA61 具有经过重新设计的功率放大器以及优化的电容值，并修改了音量调节器，旨在减少串扰。最终带来干净、简短而纯粹的信号路径，让任何音量的音乐都能保持无与伦比的连贯性。

PARTNER FOR LIFE

The amplifier is the heart and the engine of any system - and the CXA61 is able to power your favourite speakers and form the centre of your musical experience for years to come.     

生活的好伙伴

扩音器是所有系统的心脏和引擎——CXA61 能够出色支持您最喜欢的扬声器，并成为您未来多年的音乐体验中心。

POWER OUTPUT

60W RMS into 8 Ohms, 90W RMS into 4 Ohms

DAC

ESS Sabre ES9010K2M

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

<5Hz– 60kHz +/-1dB

ANALOGUE AUDIO INPUTS

4 x RCA, 1 x 3.5mm MP3 input (front panel)

DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS

1 x S/PDIF coaxial, 2 x TOSLINK optical, 1 x USB audio, Bluetooth (integrated)

COMPATIBILITY

TOSLINK optical: 16/24bit 32-96kHz PCM only, S/PDIF coaxial: 16/24bit 32-192kHz PCM only, USB: audio profile 1.0/2.0 (default 2.0), up to 32bit 384kHz PCM, up to DSD256 or DoP256, Bluetooth: 4.2 A2DP/AVRCP supporting up to aptX HD (24bit 48kHz)

BLUETOOTH APTX HD RECEIVER BUILT-IN

Yes

ROON TESTED

Yes

OUTPUTS

Speakers A+B, 3.5mm Headphone, Preamp Output, Subwoofer Output

REMOTE CONTROL

Yes

MAX POWER CONSUMPTION

600W

STANDBY POWER CONSUMPTION

<0.5W

DIMENSIONS (H X W X D)

115 x 430 x 341mm (4.5 x 16.9 x 13.4”)

WEIGHT

8.3kg (18.3lbs)

BOX CONTENTS

CXA61 Integrated Amplifier, Power Cable, 3 x AAA Batteries, Remote Control, Control Bus Cable

Review photo uploaded 4/8/2023-(2)

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Cambridge Audio CXA61 review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2019 winner. Extra features and improved sound quality for those willing to pay a higher price Tested at £750 / $999

By What Hi-Fi? September 05, 2019

(Image: © Cambridge Audio)

OUR VERDICT

Apart from the substantial price rise, there’s little to complain about here - the CXA61 is an real winner

FOR

• Open, detailed and dynamic sound
• Punchy and exciting presentation
• Good feature list
• Excellent build and finish

AGAINST

• Pricier than its predecessor

Cambridge Audio’s CXA61 has a tough act to follow. Its direct predecessor, the CXA60, is a multiple Product of the Year winner and has remained one of our go-to recommendations, despite the emergence of superstars such as the Rega Brio (£599) and Audiolab’s 6000A (£599).

At first glance, it looks like Cambridge may have been a little over-ambitious with the price. The previous generation launched at £599 back in 2015 and, despite all the issues over currency fluctuations and economic uncertainty, as well as general inflation over the last four years, at £750, this new price tag looks a tiny bit steep.

Build

(Image credit: Cambridge Audio)

The new amplifier looks remarkably familiar, and apart from the absence of the original’s balance and tone controls on the front panel, there’s little to separate them. While we mourn the loss of these (occasionally) useful features, we’re pleased to note that the CXA61 remains a solid and classy piece of kit. It looks and feels a step above its rivals, though once again that price rise takes the shine off a little.

Look closer at the specification and you’ll notice that Cambridge’s engineers haven’t just been twiddling their collective thumbs for the past four years. There are plenty of detail changes between the two generations of CXA amplifiers. The big news is that there’s now a USB (type B) alongside the usual coaxial and optical digital inputs on the rear panel.

Features

(Image credit: Cambridge Audio)

Cambridge’s engineers have specified a new DAC chip on the CXA61. It’s now an ESS Sabre SE9010K2M DAC rather than the Wolfson 8740 of the previous model. This means it is now compatible with 32-bit/384kHz PCM files and up to DSD 256 data streams. That’s pretty comprehensive and likely to cover just about any file most people will use.

Bluetooth is built-in too, and it’s of the better aptX HD (24-bit/48kHz) variety. The old amp needed an optional Bluetooth dongle that added £70 to the price. Cambridge has also courted the home install market with the addition of a RS232 port and trigger inputs that help to integrate the CXA61 into an automated system.

Looking at the specifications, it would be easy to assume that little had changed on the analogue side. The power output remains a solid 60W per channel and there’s no change as far as connectivity is concerned. This integrated still has four line-level stereo RCA inputs on the back and a 3.5mm jack for portable music players on the front. 

That should be enough for most systems, though we’re seeing more focus on phono inputs over the last couple of years, so it’s a bit of a surprise that Cambridge has decided to omit that from this amp. Of course, we’re sure the company would point towards its fine, affordable Alva outboard phono stages and suggest that’s the route to take if vinyl replay is a priority. We wouldn’t necessarily disagree, but it’s still neater to have it all in one box.

While the basic analogue circuit hasn’t been revamped, the engineers have improved sound quality by changing most of the op-amps in the signal path and upgrading the capacitors in both the pre and power sections of the amp.

Sound

(Image credit: Cambridge Audio)

We’re pleased to report that all of this work has paid off. While that hefty price suggests that the CXA61 might struggle against more affordable rivals, it doesn’t take long to realise Cambridge’s detail tweaks have worked really well. While still recognisably related to the older amp, this new one sounds more transparent and playful. It’s simply more fun to listen to, regardless of input chosen.

Through the line level connections (where we use our reference Naim ND555/555PS music streamer as well as the more price compatible Marantz CD6006 CD player) we’re pleased by the amplifier’s lively nature. We play a range of music from Hans Zimmer’s Gladiator OST and Living Room Songs from Olafur Arnalds, right the way through to Prince’s 3121 and the CXA61 handles it all with skill.

This integrated sounds firmly in control, regardless of whether we use B&W’s 606s or our reference ATC SCM50 speakers. It has enough in the way of scale and authority to work well with the Gladiator OST. There’s plenty of punch when required, with the amplifier thumping out the album’s numerous dynamic peaks with conviction. We’re pleased with the composure on show and the CXA61’s refusal to sound confused or stressed when the music gets demanding.

(Image credit: Cambridge Audio)

It has a nicely judged tonal balance that walks that delicate path between attack and refinement. This is the kind of presentation that works well across a wide range of speakers and musical genres. There’s spaciousness here too, and the kind of outright clarity that sets a high bar for the price.

Stereo imaging is impressive, with the amp able to place sounds and instruments with precision and stability. It’s an expansive soundfield and one that's nicely layered, provided the rest of your system is suitably talented.

Once we spend a decent amount of time listening, it becomes clear that few rivals have the resolution to challenge the CXA61. It digs up low level details with ease and renders them with care and conviction. 

This is made clear when we listen to the Olafur Arnalds set, which relies on the system having a high degree of subtlety. It’s easy for an amplifier to sound ham-fisted when playing this recording, but it’s a trap that the Cambridge avoids. Instead it is confident and composed, but never overplays its hand.

This Cambridge is a rhythmic performer too, delivering Prince’s 3121 with verve. There’s plenty of entertainment to be had here from thumping basslines to intricately shifting rhythms with Prince’s distinctive vocals at the centre. The CXA61 ticks all the hi-fi boxes without forgetting that all the detail and tonal neutrality in the world doesn’t matter if the emotional content of the music is ignored.

Verdict

We don’t like the fact that the CXA61 has gone up in price so much over its predecessor. However, it is better equipped and clearly sounds superior to the last model.

Just as importantly, it justifies the price premium over rivals such as the Audiolab 6000A and Rega Brio by delivering a combination of sonic ability, features and build quality even those fine amps struggle to match. If you’re looking for a well equipped integrated at this level, this is a great place to start.

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Features 5
• Build 5