CA Evo150 or CXA81

[diddley]

Hello, I need some advice on the following;

When the EVO was announced, Cambridge Audio stated that the EVO series was more of a lifestyle thing and that the seperates sounded better.
For what I could find out is that they tune the seperates by ear (and maybe some measurements) to get that "typical british sound".
NCore what is used in the EVO is somewhat out of their comfort zone.

What should I do?Go for the EVO 150 or the CXA81.
And how much a problems is it when i gonna use the Revel M16 6 ohm bookshelfspeakers for it?
Review

The last question i have is; how worried should I be losing tonal controls on the EVO and the CXA8. I am a bass and treble head, and something tells me that I am gonna miss those.

Thanks in advance for help.
Greetings Jaap

 

[VintageFlanker]

When the EVO was announced, Cambridge Audio stated that the EVO series was more of a lifestyle thing and that the seperates sounded better.

I don't remember them saying such things.

For what I could find out is that they tune the seperates by ear (and maybe some measurements) to get that "typical british sound".

Just another marketing gimmick.

What should I do?Go for the EVO 150 or the CXA81

It happens that one costs twice as much as the other so comparison would be a bit complex.

Performance-wise, the Evo 150 is much more competent regarding power capabilities. Stereo DE measured 79W/8Ω and 116W/4Ω (<1% THD) for the CXA81, while on the same bench the Evo 150 (in reality: NC252MP, no more no less), you get 148W/8Ω and 282W/4Ω, with twice as high damping factor. The CXA81 shows very good distortion figures, on the other hand. Assuming both are equally transparent (and there is no reason to think otherwise), the better amp is the most powerful: the Evo 150. But you can get the exact same performance for way cheaper if you don't need/want the eye catching- lifestyle package.

how worried should I be losing tonal controls on the EVO and the CXA8

Not at all since tone controls on this kind of integrated is usually terrible (Only one frequency point for each bass and treble). You can do way better with software EQ or some DAC with DSP settings.

 

[diddley]

“I’m not going to tell you it sounds as good as a CXN and CX81 together,” says George. "But it sounds pretty comparable; we aren’t talking about night and day differences, we’re talking shades. I can accept the word ‘lifestyle’, but this is a proper hi-fi product.”

@VintageFlanker Thank you for helping me on my way, looks like the search isn,t over yet.
But the search in itself is fun too.

 

[diddley]

@VintageFlanker
I bought the set cxa81 and the cxn v2.
I try them, will keep the streamer and if the amplifier is coulouring to much i send it back.
I could not find a similar alternative.
The Denon got close but from what i read in different places was'nt all that positive.
So for reasonable good specs and maybe new speakers( i got currently epos m5) i will try the Revel m16 because they got bass boost and a bit higher treble and a great revealing review from Amir.
So i hope that the search is over find it out later this week.

 

[abdo123]

I love Cambridge Audio, and if i could i would purchase more of them. They’re the perfect balance between marketing and evidence.

 

[diddley]

I got the set in house! Waiting for the right cabels but it is playing.
And it's playing good!
But with the app i am strruggling for playing playlist from the synology.
I have to manually ad number for number for the waiting que in the app.
If somebody got an idea or telling me i'm doing it wrong, please let me know

 

[burninggecko]

Hey diddley the cables that came with the unit are fine. My current speaker wires are bulk lamp wire from the hardware store. I'm sure it measures fine.

 

[diddley]

Hey diddley the cables that came with the unit are fine. My current speaker wires are bulk lamp wire from the hardware store. I'm sure it measures fine.

I know but i had no optical cable and balanced cables so that was what i was waitng for.
Everything is connected and well playing,meanwhile i have the issue with the playlist under control

 

[burninggecko]

Cool! Hey quick question how do you like the unit? I'm thinking of getting one for my living room. I thought it'd be kind of cool because of easy accessibility (Bluetooth, streaming, etc.) for everybody in the family and it's supposed to sound great. Do you like it?

 

[diddley]

I am very happy with it, first you think it lacks some bass but then when there is bass in the record it shows it well balanced.
If you buy the streamer with it you can use it as pre-amp and have balance controle.
It is a very nice sounding and operating combo and for a reasonable price.
But is does get warm, nothing to worry about cos it's got good ventilation.
The remote control is very easy and nice, so is the streamer.
I would recommend it.

 

[Snoopy]

@diddley

Currently I'm using the Cxa81 and it's internal DAC. Sounds pretty good already. I ordered the Cxn V2 and it's on backorder but I should get in the next 2-3 weeks.

Are you running the Cxn as preamp or simply as streamer? Did you try both and what do you prefer?

I have a pair of Wharfedale Evo 4.2 with a Rel TZero MK3 Subwoofer and bass is pretty good for me.

I was thinking about getting the Evo 75 or 150 but decided to separates instead. Don't want everything in one box. And if I want class D there would be cheaper options

 

[diddley]

@Mansinthe86 I am running it in streamer mode, it's more convienient.sound wise i can't hear no difference.
I am using the balanced cables.
I think the separates is a better solution then the all in one.
It's sounds perfect to me and the app works really fast.Qobuz works great but i do have to get used to buy no more c.d.'s.

 

[diddley]

I also bought it because it will be the last AB amp i will buy, and i am a little bit conservative regarding class d.But you've got that covered.

 

[Snoopy]

I also bought it because it will be the last AB amp i will buy, and i am a little bit conservative regarding class d.But you've got that covered.

I went from A/B stereo amp (Yamaha) , A/B Yamaha Receiver to the class D Yamaha wxa50.
But something always sounded "not right". And I did feel like it's not powerful enough.

The Cxa81 is probably going to my last A/B amp. But currently I feel like A/B still provides more value for the money.

+ The CXA81 has a pretty good headphone amp

 

[Snoopy]

@Mansinthe86 I am running it in streamer mode, it's more convienient.sound wise i can't hear no difference.
I am using the balanced cables.
I think the separates is a better solution then the all in one.
It's sounds perfect to me and the app works really fast.Qobuz works great but i do have to get used to buy no more c.d.'s.

Has the Cxn v2 settings to adjust bass, treble etc? Are you using the streammagic app or something like roon?

 

[diddley]

No but bass and treble are a good match and if you use the subwoofer you will be fully covered.
And I don't use roon, can't effort it.And the app works very quick and intuitive.

 

[Mindhead1]

@diddley

Currently I'm using the Cxa81 and it's internal DAC. Sounds pretty good already. I ordered the Cxn V2 and it's on backorder but I should get in the next 2-3 weeks.

Are you running the Cxn as preamp or simply as streamer? Did you try both and what do you prefer?

I have a pair of Wharfedale Evo 4.2 with a Rel TZero MK3 Subwoofer and bass is pretty good for me.

I was thinking about getting the Evo 75 or 150 but decided to separates instead. Don't want everything in one box. And if I want class D there would be cheaper options

Did you ever get the CXN V2? I’m thinking of getting one to pair with my CXA81. Currently streaming via an RPi 4 into the CXA81 coax. Everything sounds great but I’m wondering if the CXN DAC via XLR would offer a noticeable sound improvement. The CXA8/CXN stack will definitely look better.

 

[Mindhead1]

+ The CXA81 has a pretty good headphone amp

The headphone amp in the CXA81 is surprisingly good. wja I don’t understand is why the couldn’t put a 1/4” jack on the box.

 

[diddley]

Did you ever get the CXN V2? I’m thinking of getting one to pair with my CXA81. Currently streaming via an RPi 4 into the CXA81 coax

Yes the combo is running fine.
Here on ASR they measured the wolfson dac, the same as in the V2 and it didn't measure well.
But it's all about implemantation i learned and the V2 sounds perfect to me.
I have absolutly no complaints, Well short drop outs with the app, but got that fixed via connection and then fill in i.p.number.No more losing of connection.
That was the only thing i got the last couple of weeks, it shows itself to be a stable well balanced machine.

I have qobuz and consider myself a lucky guy.all the music in great quality.the app is not working flawlesly with qobuz( when you want in the search page one page back, he closes the app.
Then you gotta start al over again.
But yesterday Aretha Frankling Day it's a joy!
It.s good to know that the H.P.amp is good too.
I think the 81 will last me many many years, it's good quality.

 

[Snoopy]

Did you ever get the CXN V2? I’m thinking of getting one to pair with my CXA81. Currently streaming via an RPi 4 into the CXA81 coax. Everything sounds great but I’m wondering if the CXN DAC via XLR would offer a noticeable sound improvement. The CXA8/CXN stack will definitely look better.

I have the Cxa81 + the Cxn V2. With a pair of wharfedale Evo 4.2 and a rel T Zero MK3.

Super happy with the combo.

Really like the cxn V2 , DAC "sounds" pretty good. The streammagic app works flawlessly.

I only use qobuz and my own flacs. All perfectly good.

I have a headphone amp (Singxer SA1) that is connected to the XLR connection of the cxn V2.

Works fine. I set the volume in the headphone amp and adjust it on the cxn V2 (pre amp mode)

The Cxn V2 is connected with RCA to the Cxa81.

I use airplay from a apple 4k TV to the cxn V2 because my LG OLED has audio dropouts through the optical out.

And I don't mind that the DAC measures bad. Implantation is very important and Cambridge did hell of a job.

Plenty of reviews compare the Cxn V2 DAC to the chord mojo. And the streamer is in my opinion better than musiccast (not difficult) and pretty much as good as bluesound OS.

I didn't really hear a difference between RCA and XLR with the Cxa81.