First Listen: Cambridge Audio CXN100 Dethrones CXN V2

Designed, engineered, and acoustically optimised at Cambridge Audio’s London-based music venue and HQ, Melomania, the brand new CXN100 is way more than a easy improve of the CXN V2. Instead, this networked streamer/ preamp has been redesigned to make the most of “cutting-edge elements” and Cambridge Audio’s newest Gen4 StreamMagic module.

James Johnson-Flint, proprietor of Cambridge Audio, informed StereoNET:

Even with CXN V2 nonetheless on the throne, we have not rested on our laurels. We’ve taken the subsequent step, and CXN100 represents the subsequent technology of community gamers. It’s right here to take the crown.

The improve from CXN V2 to CXN100 is not only a refined change, therefore why this launch is not merely the V3; it is a full mechanical redesign. The music-obsessed engineering magicians at Cambridge apparently spent lots of of hours altering and listening to important components, tuning the complete audio stage round class-leading elements.

The first vital change is that the digital-to-analogue converter within the CXN100 is the ESS ES9028Q2M SABRE32 Reference DAC, changing the Wolfson WM8740 of the CXN V2. The result’s that the CXN100 handles PCM digital sign inputs as much as 32-bit 768kHz and DSD 512 with precision, excellent dynamic vary, and ultra-low distortion.

Not solely does the ESS ES9028Q2M in CXN100 sound and measure higher than the Wolfson DAC within the CXN V2, however Cambridge Audio states that the timing filter contained in the ESS 9028Q2M is so good that no post-DAC filter is required. The upshot is that the sign path is simplified, leading to exact, jitter-free audio readability.

You additionally get a extra in depth, 4.76-inch high-resolution color display that provides album artwork the respect it deserves.

The CXN100 advantages from upgrades and refinements in its post-DAC analogue stage. Here, extra environment friendly capacitors and op-amps improve the signal-to-noise ratio and scale back distortion.

These upgrades have been evident when Robert Wyatt‘s At Last I Am Free was performed within the Melomania listening room. Through a CXA built-in and a pair of ATC loudspeakers, the area and separation heard made this observe spellbinding. The piece’s sparseness highlighted the readability and lack of background noise.

Meanwhile, the participant admirably demonstrated dynamics and soundstage by means of Love And Hate In A Different Time (Greg Wilson & Ché Wilson Remix) by Gabriels. Our listening session was wrapped with Keane‘s Spiralling – a dense, nearly mid-80s-sounding manufacturing. Yet the CXN100 discovered its option to give sufficient consideration to all components that the observe bounced alongside in a musically entertaining means.

The CXN100 borrows the Gen4 StreamMagic discovered within the pricier Evo 150 and Evo 75 all-in-one gamers. This offers the brand new participant built-in Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, and Deezer, providing easy accessibility to an enormous world of music and podcasts together with UPnP as much as 32bit, 768kHz and MQA help. Furthermore, high-resolution web radio is onboard courtesy of MPEG-DASH help.

CXN100 is Roon Ready, so Roon subscribers can see all content material from their TIDAL, Qobuz, iTunes library or digital downloads alongside one another in a seamless, user-friendly interface with further wealthy information that you just simply do not get on a file sleeve or CD cowl. This additionally means you get Roon Multiroom for sharing music throughout different units in your community. Moreover, CXN100 can be absolutely appropriate with Google Home and Apple AirPlay, if that is your desire.

Cambridge Audio has additionally elevated the participant’s digital connectivity with the choice to hook up units by means of USB, Coaxial, TOSLINK or wirelessly with Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth – no dongle required. Analogue output is offered by means of balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA sockets. You may also change the CXN100 over to pre-amp mode and feed it straight into an influence amp, and make use of the participant’s improved quantity management.

In addition to app management by way of StreamMagic, the CXN100 might be managed with the CX Series system distant, which is provided with CX Series amplifiers and the CXC CD Transport and can be bought individually.

Cambridge Audio CXN100 is now out there and priced at £899/ €1049. Stay tuned for an in-depth assessment quickly