RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
This £799 asking price is significantly overpriced for a used CXA81 MKII, sitting well above the market median of £112 and far exceeding the 75th percentile of £229 based on 613 recent GBP listings. Even comparing against the £999 new retail price, £799 offers minimal discount for a traded-in unit, making it an ambitious listing that ignores typical used depreciation.
The CXA81 MKII remains a top-tier choice under £1,000 for its smooth Class-A/B power, excellent DAC, and versatile streaming via Bluetooth and USB, delivering the warm, refined sound Cambridge is known for. However, given the steep price gap versus the £112 median, this listing is not a buying opportunity unless the unit is brand-new with full accessories and warranty—otherwise, buyers should wait for a listing closer to the £65–£229 range to get genuine value.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Cambridge Audio emerged from the innovative spirit of 1960s Britain, founded in Cambridge, United Kingdom, by a group of young engineers who spun off from Cambridge Consulting Group. Established in 1968, the brand launched with the groundbreaking P40 integrated amplifier—the first to employ a toroidal transformer, setting a new standard for dynamic power delivery in hi-fi design that endures in high-end gear today. This heritage of British engineering excellence propelled decades of award-winning products, navigating ownership changes including a revival under entrepreneur Vince Adams and acquisition in 1994 by Julian Richer and James Johnson-Flint of Richer Sounds.
The brand excels across core hi-fi categories, renowned for integrated amplifiers like the iconic A1 and P-series, alongside streaming DACs, network players, turntables, and all-in-one systems that prioritize pure analogue warmth and digital precision. Speakers, headphones, and cables round out a cohesive ecosystem, emphasizing accessible high performance without excess frills.
Positioned firmly in the mid-tier market, Cambridge Audio delivers premium British sound—detailed, rhythmic, and uncolored—at prices that democratize quality for discerning buyers. Free from corporate bloat, it holds a reputation for reliability and value, appealing to enthusiasts seeking sophisticated hi-fi that punches above its weight rather than chasing ultra-high-end esoterica.
See all Cambridge Audio listings on RADAR.
