An amplifier is essential to any hi-fi system. Put simply, it makes small signals bigger. Chosen well, it will serve you for many years to come. However, I’d be interested to know what you find so terrible about the sound. Obviously, it’s subjective but mine is feeding B&W 800Ds via KW pre/powers and sounds very, very good with 44/16 FLAc from a NAS and gets even better with DSD/DFF files or Tidal Masters.

Cambridge Audio AXA35/AXC35 | Hi-Fi Choice Cambridge Audio AXA35/AXC35 | Hi-Fi Choice

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply 2 thoughts on “ Cambridge Audio AXA35 Integrated Amplifier Reviewed”At the bottom end, the AXA35 and AXC35 show off another common Cambridge trait. Not only is the bass firm, detailed and blessed with excellent timing, but when things become more dance orientated it laps up a decent beat. Spinning The Divine Comedy’s I’ve Been To A Marvellous Party is an absolute hoot as the Cambridge duo makes a fine job of Neil Hannon’s soft murmurings during the verses, and then hit their stride with the thumping techno beat in the choruses. Give this combo a bangin’ tune and it loves it – pushing it out with confidence and punch. Inside the AXA25 you’ll find quality components and short signal paths for the best sound quality in its class. Careful circuit design reduces the signal path, giving higher purity sound and less distortion. Other quality engineering components include a high-spec heat sink that is die-cast rather than pressed steel and a damped power supply – reducing the chance of annoying transformer hum and buzz. There were complaints about the CAP5 protection circuits being overly aggressive. But new CX model are released now and we assume they have dealt with this. After connecting it up to my nice but equally old JVC CD player, and Goodmans plastic covered chipboard 3-way passive Q70 speakers, I turned it all on.

AXA25 - Integrated Amplifier | Cambridge Audio UK

One of the key differentiators is the user interface. The AXA25 has old-fashioned analogue knobs for bass, treble, volume and balance. I presume that it is a fully analogue component design, though I don’t have one here so I can’t lift the lid to say for sure. The AXA35 has a digital interface as evidenced by the push-button input selection and digitally-controlled volume, complete with volume level display and tone and balance controls hidden behind a simple menu system. Assuming I’m right about the AXA25’s implementation of good old-fashioned potentiometers, the better AXA35 should be a significant jump in performance without the channel mismatch and noise issues associated with cheaper analogue pots.

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Many turntables need a bit of extra help to amplify the tiny signals output by vinyl recordings. A good phono-preamplifier can reveal previously unheard detail. Also purely andecdotally, my parents have a Cambridge Audio CD player and DAC that they bought in the 1990s. Both are still going strong and they've never had an issue with either. It just serves to tell you that mains power is coming to the amp. You have to work out for yourself whether the amp is actually on or off. I gave it an all-around listen − Neil Young’s Cortez the Killer via Spotify, on a smartphone, through the 3.5mm input, sounds confident, straight-edged (as much as Neil Young can ever sound all that disciplined) and there’s plenty of detail revealed about the condition of both Young’s larynx and the state of his guitar strings. The low-level dynamics are handled well, and there’s well-controlled impact to the drumkit. Another peculiarity is that the USB port fitted to the rear only provides power to a connected USB item – it is not actually an audio input. Also at the rear are a set of good-quality loudspeaker binding posts and Cambridge continues its tradition of labelling all its available connections both upside down – so that you can see the input you’re grappling with on the rear panel when looking over the top of unit – as well as the right way up, which all helps to make interconnect and speaker cable connections a doddle.

AXA25 - Integrated Stereo Amplifier | Cambridge Audio HK AXA25 - Integrated Stereo Amplifier | Cambridge Audio HK

Just like the partnering CD player, the AXA35 feels solid when you lift it. There’s no flex in its casework which is perfectly fitted and neatly presented with the side screws in deep recesses to obscure them from view. The top of the amp is vented with a grid of tiny holes to let the heat escape, though it doesn’t get above mildly warm in operation. By the standards of a long-in-the-tooth concept like an affordable stereo amplifier, the AXA35 is quite a good looker: the smoky grey finish is pretty sophisticated (to my eyes at least − no one ever accused me of being a slave to fashion). It’s not all that bulky and is visually quite arresting thanks to the minimalist selection of fascia controls and equally minimalist display. For many, the analogue sound remains as compelling as ever, and our turntables make it as easy as possible to enjoy your record collection. Otherwise the amps are functionally similar, broadly speaking. One reviewer referenced past Cambridge amps as having “something of the biscuit tin about them” with “casework that wasn’t what you’d call well-damped”. Neither comment I feel is justified based on my experience with multiple iterations of the A1, the A5, early CD players and the first models in the Azur range. My first Philips CD player top loader from 1992 lasted 20 years, my Roberts slot loader from 2002 about 7 years and my Cambridge tray loader from 2013 about 3 years... Is this a trend?These are Clearance items and therefore condition and accessories / promo items supplied may vary. This is also why we use guide prices for in-store items, as managers price these units according to state and completeness. I had the Azur 851A/C combo and had it not been for an act of stupidity I'd most likely still own it.