Cambridge Audio MXN10

Verdict

Flip your system right into a wi-fi streaming system simply and with very agreeable outcomes. The MXN10 is this shut to perfect.

Introduction

It’s been made fairly plain over the previous couple of years that Cambridge Audio is aware of exactly what’s what in the case of delivering achieved digital audio streamers at practical costs. 

With the MXN10 it’s decided to redefine practical and produce the fun of wi-fi music streaming to these proud homeowners of legacy hi-fi set-ups who don’t need to junk their beloved methods merely to get a little bit of digital streaming performance. Which is all properly and good – laudable, even – however is the MXN10 as much as the duty? 

The Cambridge Audio MXN10 is on sale now, and in the UK it sells for £449. In america you’re taking a look at $499, whereas in Australia it goes for AU$899.

That that is very aggressive cash for a full-on digital audio streamer (even one in a smaller-than-average chassis) is clear. Value-comparable alternate options are about as skinny on the bottom as size-comparable rivals. Evidently the MXN10 is midway to being successful earlier than it’s even plugged in – however, as we all know, issues can typically go south in a short time…

Design

• Dimensions (HxWxD, mm): 52 x 215 x 191
• Weight (kg): 1.2
• Lunar gray end

Discretion is the phrase I’ll be making use of right here. Anybody acquainted with Cambridge Audio’s wildly profitable vary of DACs and phono levels will recognise the 52 x 215 x 191mm (HxWxD) dimensions of the MXN10 – it’s a compact and unassuming gadget.

Which suggests it’s perfect to be used both in a full-on hi-fi system, say, or as a supply for a wi-fi speaker. Except for mains energy, it appears probably solely one in every of its outputs would require any cabling – so regardless of the place it’s positioned, it’s unlikely to disrupt your feng shui.

The lunar gray end is just about normal throughout the whole Cambridge Audio vary, so (until you’re one of many fortunate few who secured one of many limited-edition black parts) it is going to look the half in amongst the remainder of your system. Supplied it’s a Cambridge Audio system, anyhow. 

Function

• ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC
• Bodily and wi-fi connectivity
• Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC and AAC compatibility

Sure, it’s reasonably priced by the earlier requirements of Cambridge Audio music streamers, and no it doesn’t have any type of fascia show. However neither of this stuff ought to make you think about the MXN10 is wanting options.

On the within, the intense enterprise is taken care of by an ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC that’s able to coping with digital audio recordsdata of up the 32-bit/784kHz and DSD512 decision. It might deal with in style file varieties like MP3, ALAC, FLAC, and WAV – and fairly a number of unpopular alternate options too.

The entrance of the MXN10 is minimal (or just about featureless should you favor). There’s an influence button, and 4 equally sized buttons giving entry to 4 presets – these could be radio stations, playlists, or what-have-you. 

On the rear, in the meantime, there are a few wi-fi aerials (for dual-band Wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.0), an Ethernet socket and a USB-A slot to be used with mass-storage drives. Outputs lengthen to a pair of analogue stereo RCAs, digital optical and digital coaxial sockets. 

Management principally occurs utilizing the fourth era of Cambridge Audio’s StreamMagic management app. Right here’s the place you get entry to web radio, Spotify Join, Deezer, Qobuz and TIDAL Join. Chromecast and Apple Airplay 2 are in-built, and the MXN10 is each Roon Prepared and UPnP-compatible. 

The app additionally allows you to (amongst issues) examine for firmware updates, outline the perform of these 4 preset buttons, and specify the period of time you’d like MXN10 to remain powered up when it’s not receiving a sign. 

There’s no quantity management out there, although, which is mildly vexatious. The mounted achieve output implies that in an effort to management the quantity, you’ll both have to make use of the bodily management in your amplifier/wi-fi speaker/no matter, or open the app of the streaming service or comparable that you simply’re utilizing – and management the quantity from there. It’s an inelegant and inconvenient answer and is kind of strongly at odds with the remainder of the MXN10’s elegant and handy ergonomic expertise. 

Sound High quality

• Detailed, spacious and full-scale sound
• Not fairly assertive sufficient the place treble is worried
• Dynamic and entertaining in equal measure

That the Cambridge Audio MXN10 does its greatest work when given some chunky, information-rich Hello-Res audio recordsdata to cope with ought to come as no shock. What would possibly, although, is that it actually isn’t too choosy – so should you’re feeding it comparatively low-res stuff from, say, Spotify’s free tier it’s not about to show its nostril up. ‘It’s all good’ would appear to be the angle right here.

So to seek out out what the MXN10 can do it’s related to a stereo amplifier through its analogue RCA outputs (in an effort to maintain each streaming and digital-to-analogue conversion), which is in flip related to a pair of stereo audio system. It’s related to the identical community as a NAS drive stuffed with high-resolution content material, and the StreamMagic app is given entry to a Qobuz account. After that, it’s only a query of sitting again to hear.

And it’s honest to say the Cambridge Audio is a sturdy and pretty energetic hear. With a giant FLAC file of Run The Jewels’ Strolling within the Snow enjoying, it generates appreciable low-frequency presence. Bass is deep and textured, with loads of consideration paid to the management of assault and decay of particular person sounds. The MXN10 makes use of this low-end authority to underpin the remainder of the recording and to offer the sq., boom-bap rhythm correct expression. 

It’s actually poised and detailed by way of the midrange, too – some audio tools likes to push this space of the frequency vary ahead (presumably) in an effort to permit vocalists to take centre stage, however the MXN10 doesn’t want to do this. Its soundstage is huge and correctly laid out, so there’s greater than sufficient room for a singer (or a rapper) to do their factor in essentially the most pure and articulate approach whereas remaining an integral a part of the general presentation.

The highest of the frequency vary is simply barely rolled off, and consequently misses out on the outright chunk and crunch this recording ordinarily enjoys. It’s not a deadly flaw by any means, nevertheless it’s price noting – if the system you need to introduce the MXN10 is already circumspect the place the highest of the frequency vary is worried, you’ll need to suppose lengthy and exhausting about whether or not this Cambridge Audio is suitable. The truth that its total tonality is simply barely on the nice and cozy facet of impartial needs to be a consideration too, however not one in every of fairly such significance.

In any other case, although, the excellent news simply retains on coming. There’s greater than sufficient dynamic headroom out there for the MXN10 to make huge shifts in quantity and/or depth apparent. It’s equally adept at teasing out the low-level harmonic variations that needs to be obvious when listening to, say, a solo piano or voice. And in all circumstances, the Cambridge Audio’s engagement with the music you’re enjoying is nearly palpable. This isn’t an analytical or dispassionate gadget, removed from it.   

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Sustainability

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As a part of this mission, every time we evaluation a product we ship the corporate a sequence of questions to assist us gauge and make clear the impression the gadget has on the surroundings.

We presently haven’t obtained solutions to the questions on this product, however will replace this web page the second we do. You’ll be able to see an in depth breakdown of the questions we ask and why in our sustainability information web page.