Cambridge Audio has unveiled the CXN100 network player, which is the successor to its CXN V2. The CXN100 has been totally redesigned to benefit from cutting-edge components and Cambridge Audio’s latest Gen4 StreamMagic module. The result is a true generational step up in sound quality and functionality.
The upgrade from CXN V2 to CXN100 includes a complete mechanical redesign. The music-obsessed engineering magicians at Cambridge spent hundreds of hours changing and listening to critical elements, tuning the entire audio stage around class-leading components.
The digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is a vital cog in any streaming machine. The ESS ES9028Q2M SABRE32 Reference DAC at the heart of CXN100 can handle PCM digital signal inputs up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD 512 with precision, superb dynamic range, and ultra-low distortion.
Thanks to leaps in technology, that ESS ES9028Q2M in CXN100 sounds and measures demonstrably better than the Wolfson DAC in the CXN V2. The timing filter inside the ESS 9028Q2M is so good that no post-DAC filter is required, which further simplifies the signal path and ultimately results in precise, jitter-free, class-leading audio clarity.
There have been significant changes made to the post-DAC analog stage, too, with new, more efficient capacitors and op-amps increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and reducing distortion.
Incorporating the Gen4 StreamMagic module found in Cambridge’s Evo 150 and Evo 75 all-in-one players opens up a wealth of streaming options. Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, and Deezer are all built-in. High-resolution Internet Radio is also just a few taps away, courtesy of MPEG-DASH support.
CXN100 is Roon Ready, so Roon subscribers can see all content from TIDAL, Qobuz, iTunes library, or digital downloads alongside each other in a seamless, user-friendly interface with additional rich info that you just don’t get on a record sleeve or CD cover.
Digital connectivity is more flexible than ever before, with the option to hook up devices through USB, Coaxial, Toslink, or wirelessly with Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth — no need for a separate dongle. Analog output is available through balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA sockets. For sharing music across devices all around the home, CXN100 is fully compatible with Google Home, Apple AirPlay, and Roon multiroom systems.
Like all Cambridge network players, CXN100 is controlled in full by the StreamMagic app. It can also be controlled with the CX Series system remote, supplied with CX Series amplifiers and the CXC CD Transport. This remote can be purchased separately from cambridgeaudio.com for those who require one.
Adorning CXN100’s beautifully crafted front panel is a larger 4.76-inch high-resolution color screen, which means listeners can see the displayed album artwork from across the room.
Cambridge Audio CXN100 is available now at cambridgeaudio.com and authorized retailers, priced at $1099/£899/€1049.
For more information, visit cambridgeaudio.com.
