Verdict
Turn your system into a wireless streaming organisation easily and with very concordant results . The MXN10 is this stuffy to ideal .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
It ’s been made jolly plain over the last few years that Cambridge Audio bang precisely what ’s what when it comes to delivering accomplished digital audio streamers at realistic terms .
With the MXN10 it ’s set to redefine realistic and land the joy of wireless medicine pour to those proud owners of legacy hi - fi solidifying - ups who do n’t want to trash their beloved organization but to get a bit of digital streaming functionality . Which is all well and respectable – applaudable , even – but is the MXN10 up to the task ?
The Cambridge Audio MXN10 is on sale now , and in the United Kingdom it betray for £ 449 . In the United States you ’re wait at $ 499 , while in Australia it goes for AU$899 .
That this is very private-enterprise money for a full - on digital audio streamer ( even one in a smaller - than - mean chassis ) is obvious . Price - comparable alternatives are about as tenuous on the dry land as size - corresponding competitor . It seems that the MXN10 is halfway to being a success before it ’s even plugged in – but , as we know , thing can sometimes go to the south very quickly …
Design
Discretion is the Holy Writ I ’ll be applying here . Anyone conversant with Cambridge Audio ’s wildly successful range of DACs andphono stageswill distinguish the 52 x 215 x 191 mm ( HxWxD ) dimensions of the MXN10 – it ’s a compact and unassuming equipment .
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 position , it ’s unlikely to interrupt your feng shui .
The lunar grey finishing is pretty much stock across the total Cambridge Audio range , but if your hi - fi equipment is in a different color ( say , black ) , then Cambridge also sell the MXN10 in a ‘ grim edition ’ . It retails alongside the original lunar grey at the same price .
Feature
Yes , it ’s affordable by the previous standard of Cambridge Audio euphony streamers , and no it does n’t have any form of facia showing . But neither of these things should make you imagine the MXN10 is short of features .
On the inside , the serious business sector is taken care of by an ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC that ’s capable of deal with digital audio files of up the 32 - bit/784kHz and DSD512 resolution . It can handle popular file types like MP3 , ALAC , FLAC , and WAV – and quite a few unpopular option too .
The front of the MXN10 is minimal ( or near featureless if you favour ) . There ’s a power button , and four likewise sized buttons giving access to four presets – these can be receiving set stations , playlist , or what - have - you .
On the rear , meanwhile , there are a dyad of wireless antenna ( for dual - band Wi - fi andBluetooth 5.0 ) , an Ethernet socket and a USB - A slot for use with aggregated - entrepot drives . outturn stretch to a pair of analogue stereo RCAs , digital visual and digital coaxal socket .
restraint mostly happens using the fourth generation of Cambridge Audio ’s StreamMagic command app . Here ’s where you get approach to internet radio set , Spotify Connect , Deezer , Qobuz and TIDAL Connect . ChromecastandApple Airplay 2are work up in , and the MXN10 is both Roon Ready and UPnP - compatible .
The app also lets you ( among thing ) suss out for microcode updates , set the function of those four predetermined buttons , and specify the amount of time you ’d like MXN10 to remain powered up when it ’s not receiving a signal .
There ’s no volume control condition available , though , which is mildly pesky . The doctor gain output imply that in rescript to control the volume , you ’ll either have to practice the physical control on your amplifier / radio set speaker / whatever , or open up the app of the cyclosis serve or standardized that you ’re using – and control the loudness from there . It ’s an inelegant and inconvenient solution and is quite strongly at odds with the remainder of the MXN10 ’s elegant and convenient ergonomic experience .
Sound Quality
That the Cambridge Audio MXN10 does its best work when give some chunky , information - richHi - Res audiofiles to deal with should come as no surprisal . What might , though , is that it really is n’t too fussy – so if you ’re run it relatively low - re stuff and nonsense from , say , Spotify ’s gratuitous tier it ’s not about to turn its nose up . ‘ It ’s all good ’ would seem to be the posture here .
So to find out what the MXN10 can do it ’s connected to a stereoscopic picture amplifier via its analogue RCA end product ( for take care of both streaming and digital - to - analogue changeover ) , which is in turn connected to a pair of two-channel speakers . It ’s connected to the same mesh as a NAS drive full of gamy - resolution content , and the StreamMagic app is grant access to a Qobuz bill . After that , it ’s just a interrogation of sitting back to hear .
And it ’s fair to say the Cambridge Audio is a rich and fairly industrious listen . With a openhanded FLAC file cabinet of start the Jewels ’ Walking in the Snowplaying , it give considerable scummy - frequency presence . Bass is deep and textured , with spate of attention paid to the controller of onslaught and decay of case-by-case sounds . The MXN10 utilize this low-toned - end potency to underpin the rest of the recording and to give the square , roar - bap rhythm proper look .
It ’s really poised and detail through the midrange , too – some audio equipment likes to press this sphere of the frequency range forward ( presumably ) in an feat to admit singer to take centre stagecoach , but the MXN10 does n’t need to do that . Its soundstage is great and properly put out , so there ’s more than enough room for a vocaliser ( or a rapper ) to do their thing in the most rude and articulate way while rest an intact part of the overall intro .
The top of the frequency range is just slightly roll off , and consequently escape out on the straight-out snack and crunch this recording ordinarily enjoys . It ’s not a calamitous fault by any means , but it ’s deserving note – if the organization you want to present the MXN10 is already circumspect where the top of the frequency range is concern , you ’ll desire to call back long and hard about whether this Cambridge Audio is appropriate . The fact that its overall key is just slightly on the warm side of inert should be a consideration too , but not one of quite such import .
Otherwise , though , the good news just observe on come . There ’s more than enough dynamical headroom available for the MXN10 to make grownup shifts in volume and/or intensity obvious . It ’s equally skilful at teasing out the low - level harmonic variations that should be apparent when mind to , say , a solo pianoforte or voice . And in all circumstances , the Cambridge Audio ’s engagement with the euphony you ’re playing is almost tangible . This is not an analytical or cold-eyed equipment , far from it .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
: The MXN10 is dim-witted to set - up , easy to use and sounds the money’s - Charles Frederick Worth .
That ’s a trait the MXN10 might well compound .
Final Thoughts
“ Cambridge Audio in splendid note value - for - money shocker ! ” said no newspaper headline , ever . That the MXN10 would be entirely primed for intention was never really in any doubt , was it ?
It ’s the good mathematical product , at the right time , at the right toll and in the right - sized shape . Suddenly even the most retro / vintage / whatever system of rules can be work right on up to date , at next - to no endeavor and at very reasonable cost . With the MXN10 , Cambridge Audio is just Cambridge Audio - ing …
Trusted Score
How we test
We screen every music streamer we review thoroughly over an extended period of prison term . We habituate industry standard mental test to compare feature properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , go for money to refresh a merchandise .
Find out more about how we try in ourethics policy .
FAQs
The main difference between the AXN10 and MXN10 is the size of the chassis . The AXN10 is a full - width streamer while the MXN10 is more succinct . In full term of their internals , these streamers are monovular .
Full Specs
Sustainability
Trusted Reviews ’ hold the fact that global warming is not a myth as a effect note value and will continuously endeavour to help protect our planet from harm in its job practices .
As part of this mission , whenever we review a Cartesian product we send the society a serial publication of questions to help us gauge and make transparent the impact the equipment has on the surroundings .
We currently have n’t have answer to the question on this product , but will update this varlet the moment we do . you may see a elaborated breakdown of the questions we ask and why in oursustainability info page .
