The Cambridge Audio AXA35 built-in amplifier
Cambridge Audio
Sound high quality is ephemeral and subsequent to unattainable to quantify, so it is no surprise most audio corporations load on options to draw new prospects. We purchase audio to hearken to music when it is all stated and finished, and the Cambridge Audio AXA35 built-in amp aces that division. It sells for $350 (£299, AU$599).
The options set is downright minimalist. The AXA35 serves up 35 watts per channel of Class AB energy, however Cambridge would not specify whether or not the score is for Four- or Eight-ohm audio system (I assume it is for the latter). There are a complete of 5 units of RCA stereo enter jacks, one set of which is completely to be used with turntables fitted with moving-magnet phono cartridges. There’s additionally a set of “rec out” jacks, for individuals who nonetheless use tape recorders, and a 5-volt USB port to cost telephones and different gadgets. A single stereo set of speaker cable binding posts full the rear panel connectivity decisions.
The entrance panel hosts yet another stereo enter, a three.5mm jack and a 6.3mm headphone jack. A menu button gives entry to the AXA35’s bass and treble tone controls. The straightforward to learn show signifies chosen enter, quantity stage, bass and treble settings.
What’s lacking? The AXA35 lacks digital inputs of any type, however I do not view that as a critical lapse. Excessive-quality converters such because the Schiit Modi are probably higher than the interior converters constructed into most inexpensive built-in amps.
The Cambridge AX Sequence additionally contains a lower-power built-in amp, two stereo receivers and a CD participant.
The Cambridge Audio AXA35 built-in amplifier rear panel
Cambridge Audio
Listening to the AXA35
I mated the AXA35 with two completely different units of audio system — the JBL Stage A170 and the Klipsch RP-5000F — and had nice outcomes with each of them. The AXA35’s sound had some heft to it, and stereo imaging was first rate. Bass will not be the tightest or finest outlined, however it was glorious general.
In a shootout with my long-term reference price range built-in amp, the NAD C 316BEEv2, the AXA35 appeared like a way more highly effective amp on Kraftwerk’s Tour de France album. The C 316BEEv2 sounded leaner, and somewhat missing with the music’s dynamics, whereas the AXA35 extra totally liberated them. The C 316BEEv2 sounded tougher edged whereas the AXA35 sounded easy by comparability. I additionally famous the C316BEEv2’s soundstage was smaller and flatter, whereas the AXA35’s opened up extra.
That was particularly obvious once I took within the pure element on the excessive decision Blu-ray audio sound on the Hoff Ensemble’s Polarity and Nadarosdomen Jentekor & Trondheim Solistene’s Lux, two albums of extraordinary audiophile recordings of latest Norwegian classical music and jazz.
These two recordings had been actually extraordinary, and highlighted the variations between amps. I used a Mytek Liberty digital converter with the C316BEEv2 and the AXA35 amps. Bass had extra heft over the AXA35, the C 316BEEv2’s bass appeared higher outlined, probably as a result of there was much less bass. A lot so I puzzled if I had unintentionally turned on the AXA35’s tone controls and boosted the bass, or if the C 316BEEv2’s tone controls had been decreasing the bass, however no, each amps’ tone controls had been set to flat.
I additionally spent a while listening to a set of Massdrop X Sennheiser HD 6XXs and beloved the best way the AXA35 performed with these headphones.
The Cambridge AXA35 built-in amplifier is good for devoted audiophiles on a price range. Sound high quality is superb, and its minimalist options set makes it a delight to make use of.
