When exploring the listening rooms at AXPONA, often you encounter an enormous, six-figure system that makes you pause and query why you’re not a multimillionaire with an countless provide of money. But if you happen to do your analysis, you may as well discover loads of very accessible, elegant, high-performance gear that places nice sonics simply inside attain.
One instance is the Cambridge Audio MXN10 community participant, which might be very best for a second system in a house workplace—or for anybody making their preliminary entry into the world of high-resolution streaming. This pretty little field additionally could be excellent for somebody who needs so as to add streaming functionality to an current, older system.
At 8.5 inches vast, this streamer is simple to position on almost any kind of desk or shelf. (An various mannequin, the AXN10 community participant, is identical part underneath the hood, with the one distinction being a bigger chassis. At roughly 17 inches vast, the AXN10 is aesthetically interesting for purchasers who need to put it on a rack alongside different, equally sized tools.)
Vast Streaming Frontier
“The MXN10 fairly merely is the whole distillation of our streaming platform, all the way down to its easiest doable type,” stated Bob Scranton, head of U.S. gross sales for Cambridge Audio, emphasizing that a number of of the corporate’s merchandise use the identical platform. “So, the issues which were sacrificed listed here are feature-oriented, not capability-oriented. The MXN10 offers you direct entry to Qobuz, TIDAL and Spotify Connect.”
The unit could be very straightforward to make use of, and it may be managed through the StreamMagic app on a cellphone. With the app, you should use presets, browse albums and curate playlists. If you favor a extra “hands-on” method, the 4 buttons on the entrance of the MXN10 will let you program it for direct entry to your favourite playlists and web radio stations.
Worldwide Radio, Plus Roon
Inside, the MXN10 has an ESS SABRE ES9033Q DAC for high-res streaming, and it’s able to delivering music with as much as 32-bit/768KHz PCM or DSD512 decision. Plus, it’s a Roon Ready system—which has grow to be an more and more essential function as increasingly shoppers now crave the encyclopedic data that Roon gives.
“The MXN10 comes with a extremely glorious web radio, too,” Scranton stated. “We understand that a whole lot of audiophiles type of sneer at web radio as a result of the decision is maybe not that prime, however it’s all the music on the earth—totally free. [It’s like] getting all the albums ever made in a low-res format totally free. That’s just about what’s occurring everytime you purchase any streamer.”
Ins & Outs
In phrases of connectivity, the MXN10 gives USB playback, Bluetooth 5.0, Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast built-in. The outputs embrace analog RCA phono, digital coaxial and optical connections.
The analog and digital outputs work concurrently, so your hi-fi setup is usually a supply for a multiroom system. Adding to its flexibility is the truth that the MXN10 can also play high-res information from USB and NAS drives.
Pricing & Availability
The MXN10 is accessible from licensed Cambridge Audio retailers, together with Crutchfield, for $499. The AXN10, which has the identical options however a bigger chassis, is $599.
With an easy, no-frills aesthetic, an intuitive app and an inexpensive worth, the MXN10 is certainly price a pay attention if you happen to’re searching for high-res sonics and the varied playlists of web radio—all with out placing an enormous dent in your checking account.
The put up Cambridge Audio MXN10 Network Player Makes High-Res Streaming Simple first appeared on DwellingTheaterReview and is written by Bobby Reed
