Cambridge Audio AXA25, AXC25 (Lunar Grey) & Wharfedale DIAMOND 220 (Black)

The Cambridge Audio AXA25 puts sound first - great sound simply doesn’t get much better than this.

No bells and whistles, just great sound
Inside the AXA25 you’ll find quality components and short signal paths for the best sound quality in its class. Careful circuit design reduces the signal path, giving higher purity sound and less distortion. Other quality engineering components include a high-spec heat sink that is die-cast rather than pressed steel and a damped power supply – reducing the chance of annoying transformer hum and buzz.

All the features you need
Although Cambridge Audio hasn’t wasted money on gimmicks, the AXA25 still has all the basic features you need. Balance, Bass and Treble controls let you tailor the sound to your preference, without overly distorting it as EQ presets can do. There are also a wide range of inputs.

Plenty of inputs – including one at the front
Four RCA phono inputs are ideal for a CD player, streamer, games console and turntable (with built-in pre-amp). There’s also a 3.5mm AUX input at the front that’s handy for temporary connections – such as an MP3 player or smartphone. The audio output lets you take a signal out to an external processor or recorder.

Power your music player or Bluetooth receiver
Next to the audio inputs you’ll also find a handy USB power socket. This is perfect for powering Bluetooth receivers or smart audio streaming devices, such as the Google Chromecast Audio, without having to find another spare mains socket.

Sleek new style
The entire Cambridge AX Series has a fresh new look that catches the eye. The Lunar Grey front panel contrasts with the black top and sides, making it ‘pop’ into crisp focus. The minimalist button count give a timeless style that’s typical of the Cambridge Audio brand. The teardrop facia with wedge foot mirrors the CX Series, showing a strong family link between ranges.

Make your move into hi-fi separates in style, with the class-leading Cambridge Audio AXA25.

Smooth, detailed sound meets elegant design, with the Cambridge Audio AXC25.

Putting sound first
Skilfully engineered, the Cambridge Audio AXC25 puts the emphasis firmly on sound quality. Features such as separate power and output circuit boards and a centrally mounted CD transport help reduce distortion and maximise the potential of the high quality Wolfson DAC (Digital to Analogue Convertor). Features are basic but the sound is certainly a step above its rivals.

Now with gapless playback
New to the AXC25 is gapless playback. With some CDs, a marker point is placed between tracks, even though the music runs continuously. This produces an annoying pause in the music as the player reads the track marker. With gapless playback, this is no longer an issue, meaning you get to hear the whole album exactly as the artist intended.

Sleek new style
The entire Cambridge AX Series has a fresh new look that catches the eye. The Lunar Grey front panel contrasts with the black top and sides, making it ‘pop’ into crisp focus. The cool white display and minimalist button count give a timeless style that’s typical of the Cambridge Audio brand. The teardrop facia with wedge foot mirrors the CX Series, showing a strong family link between ranges.

Make the best of your CD collection, with the Cambridge Audio AXC25.

"Want to know what the best sounding budget speakers on the market are? Easy, its Wharfedales brand-new Diamond 220s." What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine, 5-star review.

The legend continues
It was back in 1981 when the Wharfedale Diamond first redefined expectations of small speakers. The original model proved that a small speaker didn't necessarily need to sound 'small', that a budget speaker could sound full-bodied without being intrusive. The latest Diamond 220 follows on from the highly successful 121 model and has already received an excited response.

New cabinet for improved sound
New to the Wharfedale Diamond 220 is a sandwich cabinet design. Rather than the simple chipboard and MDF used by the previous Diamond 121, the new 220 uses particle board sandwiched by MDF on either side. This gives superb rigidity and damping properties, helping to further reduce the already low levels of distortion. A further benefit is the smooth MDF construction provides a cleaner surface for the veneer; meaning a smoother finish all round.

Ported design
Also new is the gloss finished baffle, making the speakers far more pleasing to the eye. As before, the 220 ports the bass via an integral plinth, rather than the more usual front or rear holes. This not only provides a more efficient and even bass output but also makes the speaker easier to place: you don't have to take wall positioning into account.

New drive units, class-leading sound
The bass driver is formed from woven Kevlar with ribs for added rigidity, but has a revised magnet system for tighter control of the sound. Vocals still sound incredibly realistic, and the bass is upbeat and never lags. At the other end of the scale the treble unit is surrounded by a deeply dished waveguide. This helps to improve the imaging and 'width' of sound, making it easier to pick out individual instruments, as well as providing loads of detail. Put together, the overall sound quality is still fantastically well-balanced.

With its latest upgrades the Wharfedale Diamond 220 has truly come of age. If ever there was an argument for evolution over revolution in speaker design, a listen to the Diamond 220 proves the case for the former - and then some!