Cambridge Audio AX R85

AXR85 is a receiver (combined amp and radio) aimed at listening to music, and appreciating how it’s been recorded, from a variety of sources – including its own integrated tuner. Hi-fi separates like AXR85 are designed to take a signal, amplify it and output to your speakers. Choose speakers to suit your own taste, this unit certainly gives you options. 

With all the talk of streaming, it’s sometimes easy to forget the simple pleasure of radio. Turn it on, and it just works. With AXR85 you can programme up to 15 favourite stations and retrieve them quickly, without having to re-scan. Station information, thanks to RDS, is shown on the white LED dot matrix display.

A built-in phono stage is one of many aces up AXR85’s sleeve. You can plug a turntable straight into the rear sockets without any extra kit. Moving magnet compatibility means it works with most turntables – including that vintage one you’ve always wanted to dust off. Soon you’ll be playing the records you already own and planning the next purchases.

Thanks to integrated Bluetooth 5.0, it’s simple to play music from your phone, laptop or other compatible device on AXR85. It’s a great way for friends to share music with you, helping you to discover new favourite albums – before you splash out on a vinyl copy.

AXR85 is a well-connected receiver, with 3 pairs of analogue RCA inputs, moving magnet phono section for a turntable and a pair of recording outputs. Hi-fi quality speaker binding posts (connectors), for 2 sets of speakers, mean that thick cable connects securely for an authentic sound. There’s even an output for a subwoofer. 

As with the rest of the AX Series, AXR85 shares our house-style of Lunar Grey minimalist fascia, black steel cabinet and ‘floating’ base. This timeless look allows for an upgrade path through our range. A relatively slim build, in the classic 430mm hi-fi width, also means that AXR85 can easily slot into a much-loved system.