Cambridge Audio MXW70 Power Amplifier

Seventy Watts, Half a Shelf Wide

The MXW70 is Cambridge Audio's half-width power amplifier, and at 215mm across it is designed to go where a full-size component cannot. It makes 70 watts per channel of Class D power.

Bridge two of them to mono and each one delivers 250 watts. That is a genuine upgrade path rather than a specification line you are never going to use in practice.

It takes both stereo RCA and balanced XLR inputs, which is unusual at this size and at this price. XLR is the connection that keeps a long run from the preamplifier free of hum, and most compact amplifiers omit it.

Inside the Chassis

Class D amplification is what makes the size possible. The MXW70 drives a range of speakers without the heatsinking or the mass a conventional design of the same output would need.

Being half-width, it pairs naturally with the rest of Cambridge Audio's MX series. It will also sit alongside a streamer on a desk or in an entertainment unit without dominating the shelf it stands on.

Cambridge Audio covers the MXW70 with a 2-year warranty when it is bought from an authorised US retailer, and that cover is valid in the country where the product was sold.

Who Is This Amplifier Best For?

• Your shelf is already full — 215mm wide means it sits beside another half-width component rather than claiming a shelf of its own, which is the whole reason this amplifier exists.
• You want balanced inputs at this price — XLR as well as RCA is rare in a compact amplifier, and it is what keeps a long run from the preamplifier free of hum.
• You expect to add a second — bridged to mono each MXW70 makes 250 watts, so the amplifier you buy today becomes half a monoblock pair rather than something you replace.
• It needs to go in a cupboard — Class D means it runs cool enough to be tucked into an entertainment unit or a cabinet without a ventilation plan.
• You run a preamp or a streamer/DAC with its own volume — that is where the controls sit; see our preamplifiers

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect your preamplifier or streamer by stereo RCA or balanced XLR. Speakers go to the outputs. For mono operation, set each amplifier to bridged mode before connecting anything.

It can go on a desk, in an entertainment unit or in a cupboard, and it does not need clearance planned around it.

Pairs Well With

Here are some great companions:

• Preamplifier: Required, and the natural next decision — see our Preamplifiers.
• Speaker Cables: Carry the current properly — see our Speaker Cables.
• Interconnects: Balanced XLR is the better run from preamp to amp — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Audio Rack: Give the amplifier a proper shelf — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does it make?

70 watts per channel. Bridged to mono, each MXW70 makes 250 watts.

How wide is it?

215mm, which is roughly half the width of a full-size component, so two fit side by side on one shelf.

Does it take balanced inputs?

Yes. Stereo RCA and balanced XLR inputs are both fitted, which is unusual in an amplifier this size.

Can I use two as monoblocks?

Yes. Each bridges to mono for 250 watts, so a second unit doubles the system rather than replacing the first.

Does it run hot?

It runs cool. The Class D output stage means the amplifier is comfortable living in a cabinet or an entertainment unit without extra ventilation.

What warranty does it carry?

Two years when bought from an authorised US retailer. The cover is valid in the country where the product was sold.

See It in Action

Cambridge Audio's own guide to the MXW70:

A British Audiophile reviews it alongside the DacMagic 200M:

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