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The MXN10 is very 2023 in that it conspires to do a fair amount without looking like it does much at all. It’s built around a 4 th Both new models have a single-ended output only, but it’s a good one. Signal to noise ratio is better than 110dB (20Hz – 20kHz), distortion is 0.001dB from 20Hz to 20kHz reference a 0dB output, and frequency response is 20Hz to 70kHz, with a maximum 1dB rolloff at the upper extreme. Essentially ruler flat performance within the audioband, and the bandwidth is not filtered so actual frequency response is better, albeit with a more significant rolloff at both extremes. Either way, you can’t hear it. The top of the frequency range is just slightly rolled off, and consequently misses out on the outright bite and crunch this recording ordinarily enjoys. It’s not a fatal flaw by any means, but it’s worth noting – if the system you want to introduce the MXN10 is already circumspect where the top of the frequency range is concerned, you’ll want to think long and hard about whether this Cambridge Audio is appropriate. The fact that its overall tonality is just slightly on the warm side of neutral should be a consideration too, but not one of quite such significance. With Internet Radio, built-in, the AXN10 moves radio to the next dimension. Thanks to its MPEG-DASH support and, of course, the top quality audio electronics, radio often sounds several notches better than DAB. What’s more, the copious choice of radio stations, worldwide, leaves traditional FM and DAB radio floundering to compete. You needn’t worry about accessing your favourite stations (or playlists), either. Thanks to four presets on the facia, station recall is as simple as it gets. With the AXR100D stereo receiver, Cambridge Audio introduces the new flagship of the budget-friendly "AX" series.
Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 27th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) This is important because one of the more engaging things that the Bluesound can do is go like the clappers when you need it to and the MXN10 is no less able in this regard. The tremendously engaging If We Don’t Make It by UNKLE isn’t the fastest piece of music going but it’s head noddingly, foot tappingly propulsive and the MXN10 is able to make good on the promise. What’s more, it’s fast on its feet but this is not at the expense of impact. Bass depth and definition is excellent (and for the avoidance of doubt, is still excellent when the the MXN10 is removed from the subterranean embrace of the Fyne Classic VIII and given the rather leaner Spendor A1 to play with). This is a device that is absolutely conversant and comfortable with the idea of music at any tempo. File support across the two models equals ALAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD (x512), WMA, MP3, AAC, HE AAC, AAC+, and OGG Vorbis. Connectivity is the same across the AXN10 and MXN10, with an unbalanced Line out, Digital out (Coax and Optical), plus Ethernet for a hardwired connection to the Internet and USB inputs for adding mass storage. Developed for over a decade, the latest StreamMagic Gen 4 module and software takes centre stage in this powerful streamer. Delivering the ideal combination of no-compromise sound quality, absolute signal stability and intuitive app control, it’s one of the very best streaming platforms in the business. It occurred to me that I’ve yet to cover the Stream Magic app UI, so here’s a basic rundown. The Home Screen gives you access to recent stations, sources and presets, your available stream magic devices and their settings.The source list is configurable so you can hide services you don’t use. There are 99 preset slots available, 4 of which can be accessed via the front panel. With UPnP (Universal Plug n' Play) compatibility it's easy to connect this versatile player to your home network and stream from your NAS drive, hard drive, PC or laptop. The AXN10 accepts a wide range of files, including many Hi Res formats. ALAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD512, WMA, MP3, AAC, HE AAC, AAC+ and OGG Vorbis are all supported, making this a highly flexible streamer. When put up against a peer competitor like the Bluesound Node 2i, I found the AXN10 slightly more detailed in how it digs into the recorded acoustic and reproduces everything inside. On the other hand, the former has a fractionally fuller tonality, but whether this is better depends on individual taste or the system it will be used in. The main thing is that the Cambridge Audio is expansive and detailed enough to make any kind of music enjoyable. As we have seen in our That Was Then... Rotel RA820BX (1984) feature, which looked at how the iconic amplifier performs by today’s standards, there’s still plenty of life in a lot of older kit.
Max Richter’s melancholic slow-builder Never Goodbye is delivered in a spacious and well-organised manner. The MXN10 walks a carefully chosen path between the even-handed, detailed and spacious sound of the similarly-priced Audiolab 6000N Play and the more characterful and energetic balance of the current Award-winning Bluesound Node (2021). It combines the strengths of these talented rivals while adding a dose of dynamic expression and rhythmic coherence that they can’t match. On the announcement, Cambridge Audio CEO, Stuart George said: ”At Cambridge Audio we believe in offering our listeners choice; it’s essential to offer diverse routes to the music you love. We’re delighted to expand the StreamMagic family to even more listeners worldwide.” With the latest update to version V2.12.0, the MXN10 and AXN10 network streamers from Cambridge get a variable, app-controllable output and can thus be used as preamps. And though we haven’t yet reviewed it, I can’t help but get excited about the MXN10 as it is the first product I have seen that could do this. If it delivers, this is also a win for sustainability – it could save a lot of great, but vintage, kit from the dump and help reduce the amount of waste we create. The app is excellent. There are a couple of general bugs here and there, and a few accessibility bugs that need to be ironed out, but it’s a solid, dependable app. With the exception, perhaps, of Yamaha’s MusicCast, and Arylic’s 4Stream as a noteworthy runner up, it’s the best streamer control app in the industry by a country mile.Yes, it’s affordable by the previous standards of Cambridge Audio music streamers, and no it doesn’t have any kind of fascia display. But neither of these things should make you imagine the MXN10 is short of features. The AXN10 also supports Chromecast-built-in and Apple AirPlay 2 for easy access to even more streaming content. And built-in Bluetooth gives friends and family an easy way to connect wirelessly and play music using a compatible smartphone, tablet, or computer. Upon investigation, I found that both units were identical in features and flexibility, with the AXN10 being full-width and the MXN10 being a more compact design. As such, both suited my needs exactly, due to their inclusion of Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Roon Ready endpoint, support for Spotify Connect, Tidal and Qobuz, as well as Bluetooth 5 and USB connectivity.
Digital-to-Analog Converter: The AXN10 is equipped with the ESS Sabre ES9033Q Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) for playing your digital music files up to 768kHz/32-bit PCM and DSD512. The device is compatible with the following audio formats: ALAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD (x512), WMA, MP3, AAC, HE AAC, AAC+, OGG Vorbis, HLS/DASH, and .m3u and .pls playlists. The radio tab gives you access to well over 20,000 global internet radio stations. It’s an extraordinary amount of choice with categorised ‘local’ stations by region, and a handy search function to narrow down your selections. Whether your system is analogue or digital based, the AXN10 connects with ease. A simple phono AUX input is all you need to transform your existing hi-fi into a streaming sophisticate. Alternatively, use either the coaxial or optical digital outputs to link with an AVR or digital amplifier. As the successor to the DacMagic Plus, the DacMagic 200 offers even better converter chips, extensive connectivity, and support for high-resolution formats up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD512. The DacMagic 200M is also the first Cambridge Audio product to support MQA.Road To Perfection – Cambridge Audio recently dropped quite a bombshell. Not in the literal sense, of course, but the newly presented Evo 150 simply has it all and could (r)evolutionize many a living room. STEREO reports to you with the exclusive, worldwide first review! generation of the Cambridge Audio Stream Magic streaming platform - which we will cover in greater depth in a little bit and offers sample rate handling to 768kHz and DSD512 (and if this all seems a bit run of the mill to you, your friendly reminder than the NP30 topped out at 96kHz with no DSD support at all). Something that is slightly odd is that, having introduced MQA on the DacMagic 200M, it’s not present here but, depending on what services you use, it almost certainly won’t matter.
Internet Radio: You can choose from over 20,000 Internet Radio stations on your AXN10, including local, national, and international stations, and special interest stations. The network audio player features MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP), which enables higher audio quality with less buffering by adapting to the available bandwidth. Cambridge Audio's new Edge M mono power amplifiers have high power reserves and are fully balanced from input to output. They also use the unique Class XA amplification technology. How does the MXN10 sound? In a word, neutral. It’s an honest, accurate representation of the source, with nothing added and nothing taken away. The CXN had a slight top end lift and perhaps a bump int eh upper mids too which gave it an air of excitement. It was a jubilant performance that in partnership with a companion CX-series amp was an exciting, ballsy performance. The MXN10 and AXA10 take a leaf from the tree that grew the AX-series CD players in that their digital to analogue circuitry is sophisticated yet simple, and doesn’t appear to have been tuned for any particular character. It’s clean and uncoloured, and simply faithfully represents the source media. Which means it’s ideal for use either in a full-on hi-fi system, say, or as a source for a wireless speaker. Aside from mains power, it seems likely only one of its outputs will require any cabling – so no matter where it’s positioned, it’s unlikely to disrupt your feng shui.With the introduction of two new network streamers – the AXN10 and MXN10 – Cambridge Audio is turning up the heat on entry-level streaming territory already occupied by Bluesound, Wiim and NAD. However, the incoming Cambridge models offer a different set of streaming possibilities to each of their rivals. Bluetooth is onboard, version 5.0 A2DP/AVRCP, supporting SBC and AAC. Sadly there is no AptX or AptX HD support which is a shame, you have to shell out for the Cambridge DACMagic 200M for AptX. The Bluetooth implementation is as a receiver only, you cannot transmit to Bluetooth headphones or speakers from the AXN10 or MXN10.
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