Cambridge Audio AXA35 review | What Hi-Fi?
The amplifier without tranzistors on the end. So good ? Your opinion?
The amplifier without tranzistors on the end. So good ? Your opinion?
Found a photo of the insides. Looks like power amp wise, you're getting two LM3886 or similar chipamps and 4400 + 4400 µF of capacitance on the rails (which explains the so-so power bandwidth). The circuitry seems to be using all through-hole parts, so servicing should not be a major issue in case something does go wrong. Apart from that it seems to be rather pedestrian bread and butter tech.
The only distortion spec you get is at 80% of nominal output power, i.e. 2x 28 W / 8 ohms. That is poor form. Even then, 0.15% 20-20k isn't much to write home about - the designer may not even have studied tomchr's Taming the LM3886 Chip Amplifier. Who knows who even did this.
The only distortion spec you get is at 80% of nominal output power, i.e. 2x 28 W / 8 ohms. That is poor form. Even then, 0.15% 20-20k isn't much to write home about - the designer may not even have studied tomchr's Taming the LM3886 Chip Amplifier. Who knows who even did this.
Oh I'm sure the marketing droids are responsible for the published specs - it might actually be better in reality, but its the budget line, mustn't look too good if you want to sell the more expensive models.
I can hear 0.15% of 3rd harmonic with a 100Hz fundamental, and my hearings nothing special, nor as good as when I was younger, 0.15% is definitely pretty lacklustre.
Never heard having an IC amp as "without transistors" before, "without discretes" would have made more sense to me. One thing an LM3886 is full of is transistors!
I can hear 0.15% of 3rd harmonic with a 100Hz fundamental, and my hearings nothing special, nor as good as when I was younger, 0.15% is definitely pretty lacklustre.
Never heard having an IC amp as "without transistors" before, "without discretes" would have made more sense to me. One thing an LM3886 is full of is transistors!
Yes, clearly you're blind.
Most all of Cambridge Audio's entry level integrated amplifiers in the past have used LM3886 ICs for the output stage.
This one is no exception and the main reason I would avoid it like the plague.
So...go ahead and get those new glasses before Christmas my latest "ignore list member"...LOL.😀
OK, this is a budget line, without discretes tranzistors. But the price in Czech about 300 GBP, the same as entry level Marantz, Denon, Onkyo without IC.
Its less confusing to say what the output devices are, than what they are not. Its also without thermionic valves, thyristors, and magnetic amplification(!)
Nothing wrong with LM3886 , low power amp with all the protections built in, the distortions mentioned here are a little bit high for an LM3886 but I guess the Cambridge people used the worst case scenario numbers , just like for the output power, the LM3886 can deliver more power than the published one.
What is your budget? if i read that "list" of best of amplifiers in What hifi and you believe this or lets say you want to go in this direction = without build a DIY amp then my proposal is the Marantz PM6005. actually at amazon about 227 euro. its not always a must to have the lates version.
i had the new PM6006 at home and compare it with my DIY amps.nice sound , very good craftman ship, remote control, DAC inside and that about 340 euro.
chris
i had the new PM6006 at home and compare it with my DIY amps.nice sound , very good craftman ship, remote control, DAC inside and that about 340 euro.
chris
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