whf.cm/AXA35
The Cambridge Audio AXA35 is a 35W per channel stereo amplifier positioned at the budget end of the market. Out of the box, it looks understated and reasonably elegant for an affordable amp. The dark grey finish that Cambridge has adopted for many of its recent products looks stylish and helps add a sense of purpose.
At just over 8cm tall, this is quite a slender hi-fiseparate. That profile, combined with a minimalist front panel, makes a rival amp such as the Marantz PM6006 UK Edition (see p35) look fussy and even messy in comparison.
From the front, it looks as though the AXA35 is floating. It’s an effective illusion created by a thin plastic wedge running under the front edge, which lifts up the chassis and is set back just enough to blend into its own shadow.
The dot-matrix display in the middle of the amp is bright and easy to read head-on, but because it appears to be set back quite far from the front panel, you don’t always get a clear view if you’re looking at it from more of an angle.