In the world of high-quality sound, there is equipment that not only plays music but also creates an atmosphere. It invites you not just to listen but to immerse yourself in the details and feel the emotions intended by the artist. The Cambridge Audio CXN network player and CXA80 integrated amplifier fall into this category.
This setup is more than just a couple of boxes with buttons. It is a well-thought-out duo designed to be your guide to the world of high-quality digital sound. The player carefully extracts music from streaming services and files, and the amplifier faithfully and powerfully transmits it to the speakers without adding unnecessary coloration.
In this test, we won't bore you with dry technical charts. Instead, we'll try to understand what this system brings to a normal room. How does it handle an energetic rock anthem and a gentle acoustic ballad? Does it let the music breathe and make you want to listen to album after album? Let's find out.
The old new player
Both devices from British Cambridge Audio belong to the CX series, which is at the very center of the catalog — below the 850 series, but above the AX series. The source in our setup was the CXN network player — not a new model, but one that has won awards in the specialist press (and, significantly, not only in the UK) and undergone one reincarnation to become the CXN v2.
The device is praised and loved for good reason: built-in Airplay, Chromecast, and an external USB Bluetooth module with aptX allow you to quickly connect to any gadget and enjoy high-quality sound. The device itself works with Tidal, reads files from flash drives and NAS, and supports all major formats up to DSD64 (not many, but still!), and is also Roon-compatible, acting as a playback device.
In addition, there are balanced outputs and the ability to connect external digital sources, including a computer. In short, almost all the current needs of the modern hi-fi enthusiast have been taken into account and included. Personally, I only missed Deezer, but the manufacturer provides enough alternative ways to solve this problem.
Among the hardware details, it is worth noting the presence of the proprietary second-generation ATF2 upscaling algorithm, which increases the resolution of all incoming digital signals to 24-bit/384 kHz. However, after that, the signal goes to a pair of old-school Wolfson WM8740 DACs operating in differential mode. The chip is generally good, but it is limited to a maximum frequency of 192 kHz and does not have native DSD support. This fact could well be taken as grounds for righteous anger directed at the developers, but the many happy owners of the first and second versions of the CXN player may not agree with the results of this armchair expertise.
The Cambridge Audio CXN and CXA80 are not just a player and an amplifier, but a pair that can evoke emotions. Together, they turn listening to music into a truly immersive experience: the sound is warm, clear, and lively — every instrument is in its place, every detail is audible. It doesn't matter if you listen to jazz, rock, or electronic music — this combination doesn't just play tracks, it makes you empathize, feel the rhythm, pause at quiet moments, and relax, contemplating the music like a painting.
Two channels
To tell the truth, if it weren't for the desire to hear how the new “Cambridges” play over the network, the system could have been much more compact. The fact is that, in addition to amplifying and switching analog signals, the CXA80 amplifier can do a lot more, threatening the very existence of its colleague. It is equipped with a similar DAC module, has SPDIF and USB-B inputs, and even a USB-A port for connecting a proprietary Bluetooth module. The only trump card up the CXN v2's sleeve is the upsampler. The CXA80 does not have this technology.
When it comes to the design of the amplifier section, the CXA80 features entirely classic solutions. It implements a completely traditional class AB design in the best possible way. The left and right channels are separated according to the principle of full dual mono, starting with the power supply transformer windings, and the transformer itself demonstrates a solid power reserve to avoid voltage drops and characteristic distortions when operating at high volumes.
The amplifier has balanced inputs, boasts a double set of output terminals for easy bi-wiring, and adjustable outputs: one for the subwoofer and a separate stereo output for system upgrades or bi-amping.
Depth and breadth
Each listening session is inevitably preceded by an attempt to find the ideal placement of the speakers in the room and relative to the listening position. The notorious triangle is sometimes easy to construct, but sometimes the process of building it literally leads to a dead end when you can't decide which option to choose.
I tested the components in the Pult.ru listening room, where the system was set up in conjunction with Dali Rubicon 2 speakers. The problem of choosing the right position was particularly acute due to the exceptional obedience and responsiveness of the speakers. Rotating the axis of radiation and changing the distance from the listener to the system not only made it possible to adjust the depth and width of the soundstage, but also allowed these parameters to be manipulated with high precision.
I turned the speakers slightly inward — the soundstage became deeper and narrower; I moved the chair forward — I found myself in the thick of the action. All the options are good in their own way, but among them, I still couldn't find one that provided holographic accuracy. There was a lack of depth, width, or localization accuracy. It probably made sense to double my efforts or even move the system to a more spacious room, but the time allotted for the test was not infinite, and listening to music was very interesting.
In the end, I settled on a slightly compressed soundstage with a deep soundstage. Most of the musical events took place in the space between the listener and the system, but some sounds flew far away, sometimes even ending up somewhere behind the listening position.
My first impressions while listening: the system is detailed, accurate, and dynamic. The sharpest and fastest sounds are not smeared or slowed down, there are no obvious tonal balance issues, and small details are audible even in complex, multi-layered musical compositions.
The midrange sounds very dense and energetic, while the treble is transparent and sometimes mercilessly draws out equipment noise, mastering flaws, and compression artifacts (if you decide to listen to MP3s). The upper bass is well focused and rhythmic. The overall presentation of the music is neutral, but not dry. The system pays equal attention to both the details and the overall artistic component of the music.
Realism
The nature of the combination can be well understood by listening to The Cure. This music can hardly be called audiophile in essence: it is more emotional, atmospheric, evoking feelings rather than a desire to delve into the details of the sound. The Cambridge Audio CXN and CXA80 combination, supported by Dali Rubicon 2, revealed recordings from different years from an unexpected angle. In addition to the overall emotional message, many details became audible, as if The Cure's music videos from the 80s and 90s had been remastered in 4K resolution, and now you can see every cobweb in them, which makes them even more exciting and scary.
And since we're talking about rock stars of the late 20th century, it would be impossible to ignore Queen. The sound of “Another One Bites the Dust” turned out to be very elastic, dense, rhythmic, and fast. The whole room begins to pulsate to the rhythm, your feet start tapping, your fingers snap, and you immediately want to change your black T-shirt for a white one.
When “Under Pressure” starts playing, you involuntarily freeze and watch the work of two geniuses with interest. You can feel the song to the fullest, and at the same time, you can see a very curious spatial musical structure from the inside.
Going through familiar recordings, I once again noticed that the system very accurately conveys not only the character of the music, but also the character of the mastering. In one Pink Floyd release, the clocks in “Time” sounded very loud and harsh, while in another they did not cause any discomfort at all and were very realistic.
When switching to classical music, it was interesting to evaluate the system's ability to convey the scale of musical works. In the famous piece “Carmina Burana,” with its transition from piano to forte, there was a good dynamic range, allowing one to feel the intensity of the emotional charge. And although the use of shelf speakers meant that the system was more suited to chamber music, the grandeur of symphonic works was quite evident.
And finally, a life hack for beginner music lovers. Want to understand why Ray Charles is a genius? Take this system and play the first hit you come across, or at least “Georgia On My Mind,” but make sure the rest of the playlist is empty — so that you have time to sit in silence, watch the goosebumps running all over your body, and fully experience what has happened to you. As strange as it may sound, this song alone is capable of filling and saturating the soul of a music lover with experiences for a day, or even a week ahead.
So, what do we have in the end? The Cambridge Audio CXN and CXA80 combination is a case where the equipment not only performs its function, but does so with remarkable musicality. It does not seek to dazzle with numbers or fancy features, but focuses on the main thing — pure and emotional sound.
This system is an excellent choice for those who want to take a step from simply listening to music to deeply experiencing it. It masterfully reveals the details and atmosphere of recordings, allowing you to hear familiar tracks in a new way. The sound is lively, voluminous, and very natural.
Ultimately, the CXN and CXA80 offer a rare balance: modern capabilities for playing music from any source and a truly analog soul. They are reliable partners for long hours of music enjoyment, which do not impose their own coloration, but honestly convey everything that the artist and sound engineer put into the track.
