Cambridge Audio EXN100 Music Streamer Review

Verdict

The EXN 100 is a lot more expensive than the similar CXN 100 but you can see where the improvements have actually been made. This is a superb streamer and preamp and one of the absolute best alternatives anywhere near the rate.

Intro

Take a quick look at the Cambridge Audio EXN 100 and you can be forgiven for believing that Cambridge Sound has taken one of their (outstanding) CXN 100’s, repainted the centre section black and decided to bill a substantial quantity more money for it.

It’s the matching resource to the EXA 100 amplifier which I’ve already taken a look at and that likewise has a bit of an identity crisis with the even more affordable CXA 81 MkII amp and, for reasons I’ll cover in the review, I’ve decided to take a look at it on its own.

The prophecies that the EXN 100 will be rather good are good too. Cambridge Audio has actually been making streamers for a very long time and they were one of the earliest firms to exercise that, if you offered a streamer a quantity control and some additional inputs, you could build a device that had the ability to act as the full front end of a digital system rather than simply be connected to an integrated amplifier.

The EXN 100 belongs to an ongoing advancement of the idea and brings some added functions to the table to aid with it. Is this a CXN 100 with ideas over its terminal or a genuinely great little set in its own right?

Accessibility

The EXN 100 is readily available in the UK direct from Cambridge Audio and using the nationwide chain of Richer Appears shops for ₤ 1599 In the United States, this rises only a little to $ 1799 (in part, thanks to extremely competitive direct sales version. In Australia, this price increases to $ 2999 AUD.

As I shall cover, the EXN 100 has a fair level of function overlap with the CXN 100 which is still a sensational little bit of package and one that is available for jumping on half the price of the EXN 100 This is the law of lessening returns in action and for many individuals, the CXN 100 will be all the banner they ever require.

Design

• Boosted ex-spouse casework
• Bigger display
• Application and optional push-button control

The EXN 100 does look a reasonable bit like the CXN 100 yet when you actually obtain hands on with it, it comes to be clear that it is not the same thing. The ex-spouse metalwork feels heftier than the CX equivalent and, while it is the same size, it manages to really feel a fair bit a lot more considerable at the same time.

The knurled rotary dial may feel like a tiny touch but it is a good deal better to make use of and engage with. Something else that has become apparent while the evaluation sample has been right here is that the black area in the centre of the system truly assists it to sit more happily with black tools than the CXN designs do.

Another thing that appears minor however really makes a distinction is that the display on the EX is larger than the one on the CX. The difference theoretically is tiny; 1280 x 720 on the EXN versus 1280 x 576 on the CXN yet it feels rather larger in reality and the outcome is a lot more vivid and very easy to read. This is not a touchscreen; Cambridge Audio favors physical buttons along with. As soon as you dial in to this method, it works truly well.

These controls are signed up with by a flexible combination of control application and the capability to respond to a remote phone. The Stream Magic application is now in its 4 ^th generation and it has actually progressed into among the cleanest and most rewarding control applications to make use of. You can establish the home display up to have the controls you require on it and nothing even more and it’s impressively secure and user-friendly in operation.

The mobile phone the EXN 100 responds to is not supplied as typical, which at ₤ 1600 is a little disappointing however Cambridge Sound’s thinking is that the ex lover amp includes one so you will not need two. This is great regarding it goes but I believe many EXNs will certainly be used on their own.

Attributes

• Stream Magic streaming platform
• Choice of digital inputs … however no analogue ones.
• ESS DAC for deciphering
• Taken care of and variable outputs

Alluring as it is to reduce and paste the matching area from the CXN 100 and amend it somewhat, the EXN 100 is a little different to its little sibling but, while it borrows some engineering and style concepts from the a lot more pricey Side array, it is closer in style and format to the CXN 100

Offered among those resemblances is the StreamMagic system, this is not necessarily a bad thing. I have actually already covered that it’s secure and easy to utilize but it likewise does a wonderful several points. In addition to having the ability to access a local library, you obtain support for Spotify, Tidal (with Link performance for both), Qobuz and Deezer sustained by AirPlay and a great Chromecast implementation. Actually, you can get the huge bulk of material to the Cambridge Sound without having to work also tough for it.

There is then a choice of digital inputs and these follow the pattern set with the CXN 100 of a USB-B, optical and coaxial electronic connection. For the EXN, this is signed up with by an HDMI eARC link, the same as the matching amp. This is a little meaningless if you have the amp but dazzling information if you do not.

It’s a fantastic HDMI application as well; the EXN 100 will react every single time, sync and just operate in a way that must be the case with every HDMI application but isn’t. What you don’t obtain is the capability that the instead more expensive Edge NQ has which suggests no form of analogue input which means you battle to make the EXN 100 play perfectly with a turntable.

All this connection is sent out developed around an ESS ES 9028 Q 2 M DAC which can manage as much as 768 kHz PCM and DSD 512 (or essentially any file that presently exists if you want an even more real world application). This is greatly the like the CXN 100 but the EXN flaunts modifications and enhancements that are meant to eke a bit extra performance from the fundamental layout– more on that particular in the following area.

The last component of the EXN’s specification is an essential one. You can connect it to an analogue input on an amplifier via RCA or XLR links and it will certainly run as a regular line degree resource but if you choose preamp setting in Stream Magic, you can turn on a 100 step volume control and link the EXN 100 directly to a power amp or active speakers.

If you have no demand of analogue inputs, this is probably where the functionality it uses over less complex competitors actually enters its own. As I noted in the EXA 100 review, the EXN has a great deal of functionality overlap with the amp and might be excessive for lots of people. Used by itself (or with a much less well specified amp), it makes rather extra sense.

Audio Quality

• Phenomenal streaming efficiency
• Functions well with TVs
• Fantastic preamp

One of one of the most crucial points that the EXN 100 does is symbolize something that a couple of extremely skilled digital gadgets I have heard over the last few years do. This is an extremely clever and sophisticated piece of set but, when you sit down and pay attention to it, none of the brains makes its way into the audio. Instead, the EXN 100 just appears best in a manner that’s rather difficult to explain.

What the Cambridge Audio does remarkably is avoid putting any emphasis on any type of specific part of the frequency feedback and this implies that it sounds regularly unforced and natural regardless of what you happen to be listening to at the time. The amazing percussion workout of Svanenborg Kardyb’s Vakler is a correctly potent and visceral experience with real depth and effect to the drumming however enough concentrate provided to the little melody that goes along with the impressive drumming the detail it needs.

You can then change tack completely and request for the Sean Khan ensemble cover of John Martyn’s Solid Air and the focus is all on the outstanding vocal and critical work in the midrange and up … but this moment the plucked dual bass still appears definitely unmatched. Budget friendly digital sources are tremendously great these days however after a couple of hours with the EXN 100 you’ll miss the amazingly also handed ease it offers across so many various opus.

There’s something else too. This luster is not conditional on providing the EXN a nonstop feed of well recorded product. You can give it the period pressed confusion of Feeder’s Echo Park and the Cambridge Audio will certainly supply the anthemic intensity of We Can’t Rewind without advising you that it has the dynamic range of a phone ringtone. That trademark Cambridge Sound capacity to collaborate with the material you intend to play is integral to what the EXN 100 does. It’s easy listening but done completely right.

The addition of that HDMI outlet works an appeal too. I rewatched Star Expedition Into Darkness (something I need few excuses to do in fairness) by means of the EXN 100 and the Cambridge Sound is able to take care of the exciting selection of room based explosions while maintaining Benedict Cumberbatch sounding like Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s superbly well balanced and an exceptional method of getting your TV talking to your audio system.

As to what that audio system may appear like is intriguing one. I did a fair amount of screening with the matching EXA 100 amplifier however the EXN does instead feel like excessive for the job. Operate on its very own with a portable Chord Electronic devices TToby power amplifier into a pair of Wharfedale Super Linton speakers sounded really phenomenal and seems like a more practical use the EXN 100 s capacities. The reason why this is so effective is that the Cambridge Sound is a great preamplifier. The quantity ramp is beautifully evaluated and the sheer transparency of what it can it do ways you will certainly hear your amp and audio speakers with extremely little embellishment.

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