Arcam SA20 vs Cambridge Audio CXA81 Detailed Comparison

Arcam SA20 vs Cambridge Audio CXA81

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Arcam SA20

Integrated Amplifier | 90 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Cambridge Audio CXA81

Integrated Amplifier | 80 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Arcam SA20

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Cambridge Audio CXA8...

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Arcam SA20

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Arcam SA20 vs Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing SA20 and CXA81, two Integrated Amplifiers from Arcam and Cambridge Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Arcam SA20 and Cambridge Audio CXA81 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Arcam SA20	Cambridge Audio CXA81
Power	90 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 150 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms	80 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 120 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier class	Class G	Class A/B
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	Yes	No
Headphone output	3.5mm	3.5mm
Bluetooth	No	Yes
Weight	9.18kg / 20.2lbs	8.68kg / 19.1lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	3-7/16" x 17-1/16" x 14-5/16" 88.0mm x 434.0mm x 364.0mm	4-1/2" x 16-15/16" x 14-9/16" 115.0mm x 431.0mm x 370.0mm

What size room are the Arcam SA20 and Cambridge Audio CXA81 Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment	Arcam SA20	Cambridge Audio CXA81
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Average	Average
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Average	Average
Very Large Room	Poor	Poor

The sections below take each area in turn: power output, inputs and outputs, features and physical size.

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Arcam SA20 over Cambridge Audio CXA81

MSRP Price(*)	1,249USD vs 1,299USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Watts into 8-ohms	90 watts vs 80 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Watts into 4-ohms	150 watts vs 120 watts	Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
Signal to Noise Ratio	106 dB vs 105 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
PhonoInput	Yes vs No	Connect a turntable directly to your amp
Coaxial Digital Inputs	2 vs 1	More options for connecting Digital sources
Base Surface Area	1579.8cm²/ 244.9inch² vs 1594.7cm²/ 247.2inch²	takes less space in your room
Height	88mm vs 115mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose Cambridge Audio CXA81 over Arcam SA20

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.02% vs 0.5%	Less Harmonic Distortion
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Stream music via Bluetooth devices
Total Analog Inputs	5 vs 4	More options for connecting Analog sources
Optical Digital Inputs	2 vs 1	More options for connecting Digital sources
USB Input	Yes vs No	Connect Sources via USB
Max Bit Depth	32-bit vs 24-bit	Play higher resolution range media
Max Sample Rate	384kHz vs 192kHz	Play higher resolution media

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the Arcam SA20 and Cambridge Audio CXA81 differs from each other.

Arcam SA20 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4
Phono Input
1 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input

Cambridge Audio CXA81 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 5
2 Optical Digital Input
1 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-B(Connect to your PC for playback of stored files)

Arcam SA20 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output

Outputs

Stereo RCA, Sub Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output
Subwoofer Output

Cambridge Audio CXA81 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of Arcam SA20?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of SA20:

Integrated Amplifier
6.5-feet AC power cord
Remote control
2 AAA batteries
Handbook Manual
Thank you Letter

What's in the Box of Cambridge Audio CXA81?

Here are the items that come with the CXA81:

Integrated amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
Remote control
3 AAA batteries
Bluetooth antenna
39-inch mono-RCA control cable
Quick Start Guide
Important Safety Instructions