these videos are spectacular and very much appreciated thank you

Thx for the video. They both sound really good (for their respective price class) but the Rotel has slightly less forward upper mids & highs making it my favorite.

Thank you for this. So useful for determining relative sound characteristics of items being compared. Btw, I own those same speakers, in the same color.

For me, Cambrige is a very positive surprise. Rich soundscape, and it's kind to my ears in the 2 kHz area, where my ears seems to be easily "irritated". My listening HW: D/A, preamp and headphoneamp: NAD D3045. Headphones: Good ol' Sennheiser 555.

E-Proj, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to put this comment in several of your videos for audience benefit, I appreciate the work you are doing but wanted to add constructively to the conversation. Folks if you are panging over which amp to buy, keep this in mind, there are so many caveats! Today I hooked up a Rotel A14mkii and a CXA61 to three different sets of speakers and tested them back to back for hours, and here are my observations: The CXA61 has no tone controls, so it's gonna play as it was voiced by Cambridge, and news flash, it wasn't voiced to be neutral, it was voiced to be pleasing to most people's ears, i.e. they put listening enjoyment over accuracy. That's the bad news, the good news is that they picked a really nice sound for the amp, mission accomplished, it sounds wonderful! Also realize when amps have different DAC's, that's going to effect the sound to a pretty significant degree, in all these auditions between amps he's not eliminating the DAC, that's huge. In order to even the comparison I hooked both amps to identical DACs with identical cables. Next, in order to "voice" the Rotel similar to the CXA61 I adjusted the tone controls until I got a perfect match. Guess what, you can make the Rotel sound EXACTLY like the CXA61 by doing this (the Rotel lacks a "mid" tone feature, so I was somewhat limited in my adjustments, but for practical purposes I had these two sounding 99% identical). In my test I hooked each amp to one speaker and was able to flip instantly back and forth between the two in order to match the sound perfectly. And of course the tone adjustments for the Rotel were different depending on the speakers, but eventually I was able to perfectly mimic the CXA61 in all three speakers. (I was really surprised by this end result!) Moreover, you've got variations in room acoustics and types of music, etc. etc., the variables are endless. So why did I take the time to write all this? Like you, I always want to answer for myself, how should I spend my money? I think the answer (for me anyway), is to buy something that has a good build quality and has the features you'll use. Consider whether you need a phono stage, or whether you prefer external DAC's (and you can ignore the internal) or internal (because you get what you pay for, cheap amp, probably cheap DAC). Consider your source quality, (if you're mostly streaming spotify then your equipment is the least of your problems lol!) In the end, I think you are best to get something that leans neutral and accurate but has tone controls so you can adjust for speakers/rooms/personal taste. There's nothing wrong going with a brand that colors the sound a little if that's what you like it's fine. Rotel leans neutral for sure, before I adjusted the tone controls it sounded a little thin and flat relative to the CXA61, but once I dialed in the tone, the extra power of the A14 ultimately showed through as the advantage over the CXA61, as they say, there's no replacement for displacement! (That extra power gives you a "full" sound that's hard to describe, but it's definitely there). My opinion is you are better off with as much high quality power supply that you can afford (within reason), I prefer the sound of class A/B but good quality class D is fine as well (class D quality varies widely, be careful). Brands off the top of my head that are affordable, well built, and I think lean neutral are Rotel, NAD, Arcam. When you get into the big box stuff (Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Marantz, etc.) it often leans colored, but they still make good products if you go to the right spot in the product line. Anyway, hope that helps all who are obsessing. The bottom line is the speakers and your room acoustics make a WAY bigger difference than the amp you pick, so don't think the amp decision is all that critical relative to other factors in the system.

@TheIoMeroMero

5 ай бұрын

I've been reading your comments and I apreciate a bunch. Do you think there is a huge sound difference between big box (Onkyo, Yamaha, etc) and the likes of Rotel, Arcam, Cambridge? I currently have and Onkyo Tx 8140 and I'm debating if buying a Cambridge CXA81, Rotel A12 Mk2 or Arcam Sa20. Is it worth the upgrade? Thanks

@sabresys45

5 ай бұрын

@@TheIoMeroMero I think it's an apples and oranges situation, the Onkyo tx-81xx series and 82xx series are less than $500 new and class D, whereas the others are 3X more expensive and class A/B. You are paying 3x more, you're of course getting much nicer equipment from a quality standpoint. The real question is whether a $1500 amp sounds 3x better than a $500 amp, and generally the answer is no. The more expensive amps certainly sound better with power hungry speakers, and the internal DACs of the more expensive units will definitely be of higher quality as well. It depends on your speakers, how loud you listen, and what your source and processor are (DAC/analogue/etc.) If you are on a budget, spend the most on good speakers, personally, I'd rather suffer through a cheap amp and nice speakers than the other way around. You can also snag used stuff for half of retail, I'd def recommend shopping that way. If you pull the cover off your Onkyo and then do the same thing on a Rotel, you'll see why they cost so much more: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/integrated-amp-advice-rotel-a12-vs-rotel-a12-mkii.31742/ People buy a good class A/B amp because they have plenty of clean driving power, they sound neutral, and last forever, a good amp can be the core of your system for decades, so people view them as a good long-term investment. But do they sound 3x better than cheap amps, no. They def sound "better" than cheap amps, how much better is subjective and dependent on some other factors.

@TheIoMeroMero

5 ай бұрын

@@sabresys45 Thank you for a very insightful point of view. I recently upgraded my speakers to Sonus Faber Lumina II and been thinking if a better amp would be more appropriate. But as you just said, maybe won't be three times better than I got now with the Onkyo Tx-8140. I kind feel worried I'd spend money not worth sound quality wise because where I live I can't demo them. So I kinda need to relay on opinions just like yours

@sabresys45

5 ай бұрын

@@TheIoMeroMero In my experience with speakers like your Luminas, the improvement in sound would be very, very, small if switching into a $1500 amp. Having said that I would still eye upgrading to a nicer amp, especially a used one. There is nothing wrong with your Onkyo but look under the cover, the quality is just very low-end. I would look for an NAD C-368 or Rotel A12 mkii, they both have very good build quality, both have really good internal DACs, both have plenty of clean power/current, both are neutral sounding amps with tone controls. The Yamaha A-S701/801 are also very nice quality and real bargains in terms of value for the quality of the build.

@TheIoMeroMero

5 ай бұрын

@@sabresys45 Thanks again for your replay. I will consider your suggestions in order to upgrade to better components. You are very kind

Haha I'm surprised how well this comparison works. I'm listening through a pair of beyerdynamic DT880's/OTL valve amp and this really does give me an idea of the sonic differences between the two. I reckon the slightly more relaxed mids of the Rotel will match my 3 way speakers better.

8:36 I find the Rotel to have a slightly better precision over the drums and the Cambridge to have a more pronounced ambient presence in the mids, mids-low. They both sound fantastic depending on what you are looking for. I love this comparison, really well made!

Bonne comparaison. Le cxa61 a une belle sonorité et ce Rotel est plus neutre et moins chargé dans le médium. Le choix est une affaire de goût face à ces 2 bons modèles.

This channel is onto something. Noticed that you have NAD C368 and Cambridge Audio CXA61. Would love to see similar priced IOTAVX SA3 and PA3, Audiolab 6000A, Arcam SA10 or Rega IO.

@eprojectEllie

3 жыл бұрын

thanks, let me try my best

@user-xh2qi7tn2l

2 ай бұрын

I am love BRZHIFI DC200

I have the Rotel, the mid range is absolutely stunning on this amp. The only thing I don't like is no sub out with a low pass filter, so I have to use one of the pre-outs with the low pass filter on my SVS sub. Cambridge with the sub out and a built in low pass filter should be very nice.

Cambridge,no doubt !

CXA 61 👍

thanks for the comparison, but please (!!!), use at least one audio example that is not over compressed pop/rock! these super compressed audio files are so squashed it makes it pointless to evaluate the amps.

CXA61✌️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍✌️🇵🇱

The CXA is more in your face... The A12 is slightly more relaxed... I'd choose the A12...

@corinnemanning1935

2 жыл бұрын

Same, my vote is for the A12. The CXA, vocals are placed upfront, sort of overlayed on top of the rest of the music and, there's more decay and a little more sparkle on the top end than the A12. The Rotel integrates the vocals within the whole soundscape of the music but, there is less decay and it has a slightly darker tone. Both are moving but, I think the Cambridge would be fatiguing after awhile. And, as you said, the A12 is more relaxed.

The Rotel has a tiny edge in treble clarity and air, and a drop more deep bass and definition overall. The Cambridge has slightly richer, more textured and detailed midrange.The sound of these seems competitive with NAD's and other current integrateds in the pricerange. Personal taste, features/value, and loudspeakers being used can be the deciders.

Rotel for meee

Demo is fine, but we need some commentary at the end. Most people are not listening to a youtube video through a high-end system. If they are, all that they have done is introduce another variable with their own equipment. I didn't learn anything!

I'm glad this comparison video exists, as I am contemplating buying both the LS50 Metas and a Cambridge Audio amp. I heard that the Metas need a little more power to drive them, so perhaps a CXA81 is recommended over the CXA61? Any thoughts?

@eprojectEllie

2 жыл бұрын

thanks, Absolutely you are right. Let me try LS50 Meta with CXA81 later soon~

would they be a good pair with TRIANGLE ESPRIT ANTAL EZ? thanks a loot!

Which amp matched better with the KEF Q750...Rotel or CA?

now the only thing i need is one of these rotel's or perhaps the a11 tribute compared to one of their 70's 80's 35w-60w range or higher models...

Cambridge has more muscle. I compared Rotel a11 to the micro Denon m38. The micro Denon had more muscle. Rotel had darker mids, bit more refined highs, with an overall “reverb” effect infused across the sound stage. But………Rotel has tone controls to provide enough bass commandingly. I added a Schiit Loki eq to bring out the mids in Rotel and minimize sibilance at very high frequencies.

@eprojectEllie

2 жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

@gokhanersan8561

2 жыл бұрын

@@eprojectEllie Rotel a11 defines the bass better on bass-heavy contemporary pop recordings. It is a bit timid in presenting bass-deprived 70s and 80s recordings.

Кэмбридж!

@user-tf9hm3nz6g

2 жыл бұрын

Ратель!))))

After years of listening to japanese amps not knowing why im not satisfied the Cambridge answers all my quwstions like falling passionately in love after years of polite marriage.

The Rotel sounds darker to my ears with my B&W PX headphones..

How about a Rotel A12 versus NAD C 368 on the Metas please? I think they will sound similar, but prove me wrong!

@eprojectEllie

3 жыл бұрын

I will do it for you soon. thanks

Who is the singer of the 2nd song BETTER THAN LIFE

Hoping someone here can comment on whether the sample rate of incoming digital music is viewable on the A12 display. I haven't found any press images that show anything besides "CD Tone Bypass", or any information regarding confirmation of signal format. Some amps and receivers have a display button on the remote which cycles between different information about the current playback settings and format of the signal. Any owners want to weigh in?

@TristanSchneck

2 жыл бұрын

I can now confirm that sample rate is displayed. At the moment the front USB port for compatible Apple devices seems to lock the sample rate at 44.1 khz or force a downgrade to AAC when playing apple lossless and high res lossless files. The back USB port acepts signals up to 24 bit/ 192khz when enabling USB 2.0 in the settings.

@miguelderas1388

Жыл бұрын

yes, i have a Playstation 4 pluged on optical and It appears 48Mhz on the display

some amp with sound in between those two? :|, cambrage is to much rotel misses last spark

Gosto mais do som do Rotel A12

is it just me, or is the Rotel recessed and the CXA much more forward sounding? It seems to have more soundstage to it. Terrible music though.

@sabresys45

9 ай бұрын

Sounds fuller because they voiced it u shaped, Rotel is flat, more accurate.

hı E project what about Cambridge Audio CXA81 with B&W 707s2 ? does cx 81 give good performance for B&W 707s2 please ?

@eprojectEllie

2 жыл бұрын

thanks, I have 705 S2 instead of 707 S2. let me make a video with 705 S2 if you OK...

@enderc2406

2 жыл бұрын

@@eprojectEllie ı ıntend to buy 705 S2 but ı think Cambridge Audio CXA81 couldnt give enough performance for 705 S2 ? so ı searching yamaha A-S801 what do you think about it ?

For me ..Cxa 61

Rotel

Neither of these really has the power to drive the KEF's to their full potential. Feed them (a fair bit) more power and they shine. That's also where you will find larger differences between various amps.

how is the Cambridge doing this? I am impressed or I have always been biased towards that British sound

@thomasward00

3 жыл бұрын

Cambridge is awesome

Rotel has bit flat sound and Cambridge audio has big sound, personally I would choose Cambridge audio but there's no tone control 😢

@janulik9535

Жыл бұрын

I have axa35 and it has tone control in 11 steps 0 + - 5, so this one will have. I can tel you this apm sounds that I have it all at 0 all the time

cambridge is too bassy. the singer on the rotel has much clearer vocals tho. l think a sub for the rotel would help it greatly. neither is particularly impressive on its own tho.

Glad I never jumped on the LS50 band wagon cuz they sound awful.

Cambridge is much fuller and richer, at least to my ears. The Rotel is thinner, with much weaker bass response, and has recessed midrange. It sounds weaker and more hollow in comparison, IMO

@hardestyboy

3 жыл бұрын

Very very true. And I came in with an unbiased ear and I honestly could tell the difference. I’m glad I’m not the only one to notice that.

@jonthompson8807

3 жыл бұрын

beginner question but cant you dial that in a bit? they both have tonal control right?

@acmuscravageur3627

2 жыл бұрын

Test them both…….well…..when pushed hard Cambridge hardens a bit……Rotel opens and has a fuller body mids and unmatched bass….. huge

@gokhanersan8561

2 жыл бұрын

Rotel has tone controls to offset that difference.

I found Rotel sounding a bit sterile and recessed. CXA61 sounds a bit more emotional and forward with a vivid sympathy towards mid range.

Crappy hi hats sound bad on both amps :P

Cambridge audio far better

Cxa61

@eprojectEllie

2 жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing!

CXA61 won.

I bought the A 14. I hated it. Took it back and changed it for a Cambridge Axr 100. It started my tinnitus back off again. And the sound is too sterile and lacking in realism on male voices.

Seen numerous videos off this channel however I find everything sounds almost the same. My recommendation would be to use bigger better speakers so that your videos can help people but as of now I find your videos useless.

@krishmandal9769

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed, I couldn't tell which was which without looking at the yellow boxes

All amps sound the same. Buy new speakers or a new cartridge. Change the room acoustic or move your speakers. Buy the amp that you like the look of and have the connections you need. You can save money!

@gokhanersan8561

2 жыл бұрын

Cambridge, Rotel, Audiolab perform similarly: Very spacious and nuanced. There is a whole other class of amps at this price range : Denon and Yamaha, less spacious and more muscular. NAD stands in between.

@musiconvinylisbetter.1449

2 жыл бұрын

@@gokhanersan8561 that's your opinion.

@gokhanersan8561

2 жыл бұрын

I am a “speaker first” person myself. But, recently also had to replace my CD Player. Tried a NAD with my system and my CDs sounded like a veil was lifted from them. NAD amp didn’t work, though. Didn’t produce bass from the speakers.

@-MarkWinston-

2 жыл бұрын

Bullshit. The right stetement would be all competant and hifi worthy amps will sound the same under clipping levels when volume matched. Ignorant blanket statements like ALL amps sound the same just proves you overread a statement by someone you take your advice from from the net. All amps sound the same, yeah right.

@ewizzle2

2 жыл бұрын

All amps do not sound the same moron. Go buy a lepai amp then and go kick rocks with your Bose setup 🤡

So bad recorded 😝

recording is really terrible,ruined .