Rotel A14 MKII vs Cambridge Audio CXA81 Detailed Comparison

Rotel A14 MKII vs Cambridge Audio CXA81

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Rotel A14 MKII

Integrated Amplifier | 80 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Cambridge Audio CXA81

Integrated Amplifier | 80 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Rotel A14 MKII

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Cambridge Audio CXA8...

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Rotel A14 MKII

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Cambridge Audio CXA8...

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Rotel A14 MKII vs Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing A14 MKII and CXA81, two Integrated Amplifiers from Rotel and Cambridge Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Rotel A14 MKII and Cambridge Audio CXA81 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Rotel A14 MKII	Cambridge Audio CXA81
Power	80 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 A/B	Class A/B
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	Yes	No
Headphone output	3.5mm	3.5mm
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Weight	8.95kg / 19.7lbs	8.68kg / 19.1lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	3-11/16" x 17" x 14-15/16" 94.0mm x 432.0mm x 380.0mm	4-1/2" x 16-15/16" x 14-9/16" 115.0mm x 431.0mm x 370.0mm

What size room are the Rotel A14 MKII 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	Rotel A14 MKII	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 Rotel A14 MKII over Cambridge Audio CXA81

Watts into 4-ohms	150 watts vs 120 watts	Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.018% 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
Roon	Tested vs No	Roon Compatibility
Height	94mm vs 115mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose Cambridge Audio CXA81 over Rotel A14 MKII

MSRP Price(*)	1,299USD vs 1,600USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Signal to Noise Ratio	105 dB vs 100 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Total Analog Inputs	5 vs 4	More options for connecting Analog sources
Base Surface Area	1594.7cm²/ 247.2inch² vs 1641.6cm²/ 254.4inch²	takes less space in your room

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 Rotel A14 MKII and Cambridge Audio CXA81 differs from each other.

Rotel A14 MKII Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4
Phono Input
2 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-A front(Connects to iOS devices)
- USB-A rear (Charging only)
- USB-B (allows connection to your Windows PC or Mac computer)
Ethernet Port

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)

Rotel A14 MKII 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 Rotel A14 MKII?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of A14 MKII:

Stereo integrated amplifier
58-inch AC power cord
Remote control (RR-AX1400)
2 AAA batteries
5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable
57-inch Ethernet cable
Quick Installation Guide
Warranty/Registration Card
Important Safety Instructions
Addendum For Roon Test

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