Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
13 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
Cambridge Audio EXA100
Integrated amplifier
Relative price
typical
Among the 59 integrated amplifiers in the catalogue, this one is typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
What it is
KEY DIFFERENTIATION vs CXA81 MkII: (1) 100W vs 80W Class A/B power; (2) Edge-derived amplifier modules and power transistors (per Cambridge official + Twittering Machines review: "the same amplifier modules and power transistors as found in the Edge M mono power amplifier"); (3) HDMI eARC input added (vs no HDMI on CXA81 MkII originally — CXA81 MkII MAY have added HDMI in May 2024 launch — verify); (4) Power Amp Mode (direct bypass of preamp stage for use with external preamp); (5) milled aluminium front panel + knurled volume knob (more premium build feel); (6) CAP (Cambridge Audio Protection) thermal/power monitoring system; (7) four-layer PCB.
For vinyl-only: SAME limitation as CXA81 MkII — NO built-in phono. External phono required. Power Amp Mode is useful for chained valve-phono → preamp → EXA100 power-only setups. The balanced XLR input is useful for valve preamp pairing (e.g. Audio Note M-series, Croft preamps with XLR output).
Recognition: What Hi-Fi 4-star "impressive, powerful amplifier with generous connectivity and large-scale, refined sound, but it stops just short of troubling the class leaders". Hi-Fi+ Ed Selley: "a seriously capable amplifier that never loses sight of being an absolute joy to listen to". SoundStage UK: "exceptional amplification quality and an accomplished DAC section". TechRadar positive. TrustedReviews positive.
Competition record
Assessed against 19 rivals across the sixty systems: 2 head-to-heads won, 58 lost.
Where it gives ground
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
- low-level clarity ×8
- tonal body ×4
Who it comes up against
NVA S80 Stereo
8 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
Audiolab 9000P
5 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
Sugden ANV 50
4 lost · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Sugden ANV 50 keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Cambridge Audio EXA100 is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Leema Hydra II
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.
NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan)
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot decisively.
Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150)
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150) keeps the slot clearly.
With the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII, the pairing gives up most on tonal body.
On its own merits the Cambridge Audio EXA100 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Audio Note P1 SE
3 lost · Intimate, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino V12
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
Against the BBC Sound brief, the EAR Yoshino V12 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Cambridge Audio EXA100 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
3 lost · Artisan, PRaT, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino 890
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
Chord ULTIMA 6
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot decisively.
Longdog Audio P6100M (pair)
1 lost · Anchored
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) keeps the slot decisively.
Exposure 3510
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Exposure 3510 keeps the slot clearly.
On its own merits the Cambridge Audio EXA100 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Sugden A21 Signature
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden A21 Signature keeps the slot decisively.
With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Harbeth P3ESR XD2, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Cambridge Audio EXA100 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Leak Stereo 230
1 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Leak Stereo 230 keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Cambridge Audio EXA100 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Quad Artera Stereo
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot decisively.
Rega io
0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Cambridge Audio EXA100 takes the slot clearly.
On its own merits the Cambridge Audio EXA100 is the stronger integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Creek 4040A
0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Cambridge Audio EXA100 takes the slot by a whisker.
With the Falcon Q7 Complete@Home, the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Cambridge Audio EXA100 is the stronger integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
basslines pulled tautWhat Hi-Fi? 2024
What the reviewers said
precisely... place the instruments What Hi-Fi? 2024· Spatial resolution
basslines pulled taut What Hi-Fi? 2024· Bass control
greater subtlety and drive... could be improved What Hi-Fi? 2024· Dynamic coherence
a little too polite and polished What Hi-Fi? 2024· Presence & articulation
How it scores
Clarity
- Electrical noise floor 87 from specification
- Spatial resolution 76 from listening evidence
Voice
- Presence & articulation 70 from listening evidence
Bass
- Bass control 76 from listening evidence
- Physical impact 64 from specification
- Bass extension 64 from specification
LowerVolume
- Low-level noise floor 87 from specification
- Micro-dynamic resolution 72 from specification
- Tonal consistency 72 from specification
Specifications
| power 8ohm w | 100.0 |
|---|---|
| power 4ohm w | 155.0 |
| power class | AB |
| damping factor | 110.0 |
| line inputs | 5 |
| line input sensitivity mv | 370.0 |
| line input impedance kohm | 43.0 |
| has phono | False |
| pre out | True |
| pre power separable | true_break |
| internal bass management | none |
| headphone out | True |
| frequency response hz | 3/40000 |
| snr db | 105.0 |
| thd pct | 0.002 |
| integrated dac | True |
| notes |