I’ve been busy reviewing a lot of separates lately like the Schiit Saga+ preamp, Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ speakers, and the Vincent PHO-8 phono preamp and yet friends keep asking me to suggest a budget amplifier as a starting point to build their stereo system.
I’m always on the lookout for great sounding budget gear for beginners and I’ve had my eye on the new integrated amplifiers from Cambridge, specifically the AXA25 and AXA35. I finally got my hands on the AXA25 and was impressed by the big sound for the low price. I’ll explain more of my favorite features below, along with a few annoyances and lastly, how the AXA25 compares to its bigger brother, the AXA35.
Also, I reviewed the matching Cambridge AXC35 CD player if you are interested in how it performs along with the AXA25.
Cambridge AXA25 Features
The 25 in AXA25 means just what you’d expect, the amplifier is rated at 25 watts per channel.
The question is always, “Is 25 watts loud enough?”, to which I would answer, “Yes”. Most of our listening rooms are not large, mine included, and I don’t have to turn the AXA25 much past the 1/4 mark on the volume knob to have enough volume for my room and power my Emotiva bookshelf speakers.
The AXA25 offers four RCA inputs on the rear which was just enough to hook up my turntable, CD player, cassette deck and streaming DAC. There is also a 3.5mm input on the front of the unit where one could connect a phone or other streaming device.
This sounds silly, but one feature I like is Cambridge printed the input numbers (A1-A4) upside down so when you’re looking over the rear of the unit to plug in your sources, they are easy to read.
Also located on the rear of the unit is a USB connection, but note it is for power only, not for audio. I used the USB port to connect my Andover Songbird wifi streamer without any issue, saving me from having to plug another device into my crowded power strip.
My favorite feature is the Rec Out RCA output that sits next to the four RCA inputs on the rear of the unit. This can be used to connect to a recording device, for me a Nakamichi CR-1A, where I can record my DJ mixes to a cassette.
Audiophiles dislike tone controls, but the AXA25 is not an audiophile level product and provides beginners the ability to adjust the bass, treble and balance as needed as they fine tune their new stereo system.
Things To Note Before You Buy
The AXA25 does not come with a built in phono preamp, meaning you will either need to purchase a standalone phono preamp or use the one in your turntable if provided.
The unit does not have built in bluetooth, but again, it provides a convenient USB port on the rear of the unit to power a streaming DAC.
The AXA25 does not come with a remote control so you will get some steps in getting up to adjust the volume as needed.
Finally, if you stop playing music and leave the unit powered on, the unit will go into standby mode after a certain period of time. This isn’t a bad thing except for the power light is very close to the same color when powered on as when idle and it’s really hard to know what mode it is in. Just note, when you press play on your source, if you haven’t played something in awhile, the unit might have gone into standby mode and you’ll need to press the power button to start listening again.
What Are The Differences Between The Cambridge AXA25 and the AXA35?
The main differences between the Cambridge models is the AXA35 offers 35 watts per channel instead of 25, has a built in phono preamp, includes a remote control and has a light up display showing the source in operation. Also, the AXA35 retails for $350 while the AXA25 is just $225.
How Does The AXA25 Sound?
As I mentioned above, the 25 watts per channel were not an issue in my listening room. I found myself getting near the halfway mark on the volume control maybe once or twice, but that was usually only when I wanted to hear something really loud.
The AXA25 will require time to burn it in. When I first powered on, I thought the highs sounded rolled off and started to reach for the tone controls. But after a few days of playback, the sound really opened up and I left the tone controls in the middle without having to adjust.
Overall, the sound of the AXA is forward and detailed, especially in the mid and high range. The acoustic guitars in Los Lobos’ La Pistola Y El Corazon were presented accurately with enough air around the instruments to let them breathe.
There was plenty of bass when listening to the song Dot Eyes from a 2003 live performance by Tortoise at Abbey Pub in Chicago. My wife commented about the song in a way that suggested we turn it down, that’s how much bass was coming through the speakers.
It’s worth noting that I used my Vincent PHO-8, which originally retailed at $400, as the phono preamp for my Pioneer PL-560 turntable using an Audio Technica VMN95SH cartridge that retails for almost $200 when testing vinyl playback.
I was impressed with the overall performance when listening to records on the AXA25. Each album was presented quietly without any humming or buzz. I could hear the detail I expected when listening to albums.
Should I Buy A Cambridge AXA25?
The AXA25 is a great unit for someone who is building their first stereo system or looking for an affordable option for a second system in a bedroom or an office.
I would suggest the AXA25 over budget receivers by companies like Sony or Pyle which always have a very digital sound. Cambridge has an analog sound that will compliment folks building a stereo system that includes a turntable.
I have friends who want to build their first system using vintage gear but recently the prices for those units have increased and people aren’t prepared to spend the eventual repair bills to keep a fifty year old piece of gear working properly. These days, I steer them towards the AXA25 or AXA35 instead of vintage gear.
Finally, some of my friends might benefit owning the AXA35 with the built in phono preamp rather than the AXA25. If you do not want to mess with adding a stand alone phono preamp or buying a turntable with a built in preamp, I would suggest graduating up to the AXA35 instead.
Support Forever Analog
If you’d like to support Forever Analog and help me review more gear, you can purchase either unit above via the affiliate Amazon links below:
Before you go…
Please sign up for our mailing list below and receive 15% off at our Etsy store where we sell shirts for analog fans like the one below.
