NAD C 388 vs Cambridge Audio CXA81 Detailed Comparison

NAD C 388 vs Cambridge Audio CXA81

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NAD C 388

Integrated Amplifier | 150 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Cambridge Audio CXA81

Integrated Amplifier | 80 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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NAD C 388

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Cambridge Audio CXA8...

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NAD C 388

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NAD C 388 vs Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing C 388 and CXA81, two Integrated Amplifiers from NAD and Cambridge Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features of NAD C 388 and Cambridge Audio CXA81 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	NAD C 388	Cambridge Audio CXA81
Power	150 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 D	Class A/B
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	Yes	No
Headphone output	1/4	3.5mm
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Weight	11.23kg / 24.7lbs	8.68kg / 19.1lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	4-3/4" x 17-1/8" x 16-5/8" 121.0mm x 435.0mm x 423.0mm	4-1/2" x 16-15/16" x 14-9/16" 115.0mm x 431.0mm x 370.0mm

What size room are the NAD C 388 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	NAD C 388	Cambridge Audio CXA81
Near-field	Are you nuts?	Poor
Small Room	Bad	Average
Mid-size Room	Poor	Good
Large Room	Good	Average
Very Large Room	Good	Poor

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

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Reasons to choose NAD C 388 over Cambridge Audio CXA81

Watts into 8-ohms	150 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
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.009% vs 0.02%	Less Harmonic Distortion
PhonoInput	Yes vs No	Connect a turntable directly to your amp
Coaxial Digital Inputs	2 vs 1	More options for connecting Digital sources

Reasons to choose Cambridge Audio CXA81 over NAD C 388

MSRP Price(*)	1,299USD vs 1,499USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Signal to Noise Ratio	105 dB vs 95 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Bluetooth Version	v4.2 vs v4.0	Higher transfer rate and range
Total Analog Inputs	5 vs 2	More options for connecting Analog sources
Base Surface Area	1594.7cm²/ 247.2inch² vs 1840.1cm²/ 285.2inch²	takes less space in your room
Height	115mm vs 121mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

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 NAD C 388 and Cambridge Audio CXA81 differs from each other.

NAD C 388 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Phono Input
2 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-A(Service Only)

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)

NAD C 388 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
1/4 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 NAD C 388?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of C 388:

Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
Bluetooth antenna
Remote control (SR 9)
2 AA batteries
Quick Setup Guide
Warranty Information

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