Cambridge Audio is a British hi-fi brand, founded in 1968 and based in London today. Its first product, the P40 amplifier, already used a toroidal transformer, and the brand still fits one into amplifiers costing €429. At my HI-FI HOUSE, in Lisbon, we carry four Cambridge Audio families: AX, CX, Evo and L/R. This guide explains how to build a system with each series, what it costs and who it makes sense for.
AX series: the classic entry-level system
The AX series is the way in. The AXA35 (€429) is a 35 W per channel integrated amplifier with a built-in MM phono stage, four RCA inputs and a headphone output. A turntable plugs straight in. The AXC35 (€429) is the matching CD player, with a Wolfson DAC and a coaxial output for the day you want a better DAC.
A complete AX system looks like this: AXA35, AXC35 or a turntable, and a pair of passive bookshelf speakers. With €858 in the two Cambridge boxes, there is budget left for speakers between €300 and €600. It is for people who own records or CDs and want a traditional system without streaming. If streaming comes later, an MXN10 goes into one of the RCA inputs.
CX series: proper separates, without excess
CX Series 2 is the next step up. The CXA81 Mk II (€1,199) delivers 80 W per channel in Class AB, with a toroidal transformer, an ESS ES9018K2M DAC, a balanced XLR input, USB, aptX HD Bluetooth and two speaker zones. It drives floorstanding speakers without difficulty. The CXN100 SE (€1,049) is the series streamer: an ESS ES9028Q2M DAC, StreamMagic with Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Roon Ready, plus HDMI eARC for the television. The CXC V2 (€599) is a pure CD transport: it reads the disc and hands the digital signal to the DAC in the CXA81 or the CXN100, with no converter of its own.
The typical CX system pairs the CXA81 Mk II and the CXN100 SE (€2,248) with speakers between €800 and €2,000. Anyone with a CD collection adds the CXC V2. Anyone with vinyl needs an external phono stage, because the CXA81 does not include one. It is for people who want a modular system, with the option of replacing the amplifier or the streamer separately ten years from now.
Evo series: amplifier and streamer in a single box
Evo combines what CX separates. The Evo 150 SE (€2,399) has 150 W per channel in Class D Hypex, an ESS DAC, an MM phono stage, HDMI ARC, full streaming and side panels that swap between wood and aluminium, in a box the width of a record sleeve (317 mm). The Evo 300 (€3,999) moves up to 300 W per channel in Hypex NCOREx, with a dual-mono architecture, an ES9038Q2M DAC, HDMI eARC and Control4 and KNX integration.
Pick the Evo, pick the speakers, and the system is done. The Evo 150 SE is enough for most rooms and for bookshelf or floorstanding speakers up to €2,500. The Evo 300 earns its place with demanding speakers or large rooms. The Evo One (€1,499) takes the idea all the way: streamer, 700 W of amplification and 14 drivers in a single 675 mm unit, with MM phono, HDMI eARC and a 6.8-inch screen. It is for people who want a living-room system with one power socket and nothing else.
L/R and MXN10: active speakers and the streamer that connects to everything
The L/R models are complete systems inside the speakers: amplification, DAC and connections are already there. The L/R S (€499) have 2 x 50 W, aptX HD Bluetooth, USB-C, optical and a subwoofer output. They suit a desk or a bedroom. The L/R M (€1,399) add StreamMagic streaming, an MM phono stage, HDMI eARC and 2 x 150 W. The L/R X (€1,999) go up to 2 x 400 W, 5-inch woofers, bass down to 35 Hz and a wireless WiSA link between the two speakers. All come in six colours.
With the L/R M or L/R X, the system is the pair of speakers plus the turntable or the television. Compared with an Evo 150 SE plus €1,000 speakers, the L/R X cost less and take up less space. They lose the ability to swap parts. The MXN10 (€449), meanwhile, is the streamer for anyone who already owns an amplifier: 215 mm wide, an ESS ES9033Q DAC, StreamMagic and RCA, coaxial and optical outputs. It adds streaming to an AXA35 or to any older amplifier.
| Model | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AXA35 | Integrated amplifier with phono, 35 W | €429 |
| AXC35 | CD player | €429 |
| MXN10 | Compact network streamer | €449 |
| L/R S | Active Bluetooth speakers | €499 |
| CXC V2 | CD transport | €599 |
| CXN100 SE | Network streamer with DAC | €1,049 |
| CXA81 Mk II | Integrated amplifier, 80 W | €1,199 |
| L/R M | Active streaming speakers | €1,399 |
| Evo One | All-in-one system | €1,499 |
| L/R X | Active streaming speakers | €1,999 |
| Evo 150 SE | Streaming amplifier, 150 W | €2,399 |
| Evo 300 | Streaming amplifier, 300 W | €3,999 |
Why we chose Cambridge Audio
Cambridge Audio designs its products in London and puts the money where you can hear it: a toroidal transformer in a €429 amplifier, ESS DACs across the CX and Evo ranges, a CD servo designed by the brand itself. It is the kind of brand we look for: a coherent catalogue, with clearly defined price steps, where every extra euro buys a difference you can hear in our listening room.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Cambridge Audio CXA81 Mk II and the Evo 150 SE?
The CXA81 Mk II is an integrated amplifier with a DAC, but no streaming or phono: it needs a streamer such as the CXN100 SE or the MXN10 to play Spotify or TIDAL. The Evo 150 SE already brings streaming, MM phono and HDMI ARC in the same box, with 150 W in Class D. The CXA81 plus the CXN100 SE cost €2,248 in two boxes; the Evo 150 SE costs €2,399 in one.
Do the Cambridge Audio L/R M speakers need an amplifier?
No. The L/R M, like the L/R X, have amplification, DAC and streaming inside the speakers. They connect to mains power, to the Wi-Fi network and, if you want, to a turntable through the MM phono input or to a television through HDMI eARC. The two speakers connect to each other with the included 5 m USB-C cable.
Does the Cambridge Audio AXA35 work with a turntable?
Yes. The AXA35 has a built-in MM phono stage, so a turntable with a moving magnet cartridge plugs directly into the phono input. With 35 W per channel it drives bookshelf speakers well in rooms up to 20 m².
Read also Active or passive speakers: which makes more sense? and DAC and streamer explained: do you need one? before deciding between the CX series and the L/R.