Cambridge Audio’s New ‘black Edition’ Dac & Streamer

Ultimate
spring, Cambridge Audio introduced a limited-run “Black Version” of the corporate’s
well-liked CX Collection, together with the CXA81 and CXA61 built-in amplifiers, the CXN
V2 community participant, and the CXC CD shipping.
Those stealthy parts swapped out the Lunar Grey aluminum faceplates from
the originals with new, matte-black anodized aluminum entrance plates trimmed with
discreet gloss-black branding and lettering. This dual-texture impact allowed
the Black Version merchandise to face out simply sufficient to make a remark in a
sea of silver and same old black audio electronics. Cambridge known as it “a
marriage of understated magnificence and head-turning brilliance.” I believe they appear
completely slick. If Batman had a HiFi device in his cave, that is what he’d have.
Because of the luck of this limited-edition release, the oldsters at Cambridge
Audio at the moment are giving the Black Version remedy to their desktop-friendly DacMagic
200M digital-to-analog converter and MXN10 community streamer.

As
with the CX Collection Black Version merchandise, the new Black Version DacMagic 200M
and MXN10 can have the similar capability and function as their grey
doppelgängers, however they’ll game matte-black anodized faceplates with
gloss-black spot branding. A stack of those pint-sized Black Version parts
would glance proper at domestic on any table or nightstand, although they may simply as
simply be deployed as a part of a bigger device. In what turns out like a
strangely beneficiant transfer on Cambridge’s phase, the Black Version DacMagic 200M
and MXN10 will promote for a similar costs as their Lunar Grey opposite numbers,
regardless of their limited-edition standing. I’ll be doing a complete overview of each gadgets
in a while, however for now, right here’s a handy guide a rough rundown on what they have got to supply.

Cambridge
Audio MXN10 Community Streamer ($499)

The
MXN10 is a reasonably easy community streamer: ethernet or Wi-Fi in; analog or
electronic audio out. On its clean-looking entrance panel, which measures about 8.5
inches vast and a pair of inches tall, you’ll discover a energy button, a small gentle
indicating Wi-Fi connection standing, and 4 preset buttons. 

Round again,
there’s the ethernet port, a collection of RCA analog outputs, one coaxial electronic
output on RCA, and one optical electronic output by the use of Toslink. Along with
accommodating Spotify Attach, Tidal Attach, Google Chromecast, and Apple
AirPlay 2, the MXN10 makes use of Cambridge Audio’s home-brewed StreamMagic Gen 4 module
and keep watch over app to serve up Qobuz, Web radio, and a lot more. The MXN10 is
additionally Roon Able. Within, a high-performance DAC chip (the ESS Sabre ES9033Q, to be exact) is helping dish out
high-res audio.

DacMagic
200M ($549)

You
can improve the audio output of the MXN10 — or any electronic supply — by way of
connecting the DacMagic 200M by the use of an optical or coaxial electronic cable. The DacMagic
200M additionally has a USB enter supporting 24-bit high-res PCM recordsdata with pattern
charges as much as (a frankly ridiculous) 768kHz. The DacMagic 200M additionally helps DSD
as much as DSD512, and is the primary Cambridge Audio DAC to reinforce MQA. Bluetooth
with aptX is on board for comfort. On the other hand you get your electronic audio, it
might be routed although the DacMagic’s Twin ESS ES9028Q2M chips on its technique to the unit’s analog
outputs. 

Along with the usual RCA outputs, the totally balanced DacMagic
200M sports activities balanced XLR outputs, making it a really perfect fit for pro-level
studio screens, which might lack RCA inputs. The Dynaudio Core
7 and Adam Audio S2V are
simply two examples of great-sounding screens which might be XLR-only. (If I had been
the usage of the Black Version DacMagic 200 on a small table, I would possibly opt for the matte
black Genelec G Two audio system. On a larger table, the shapely Genelec G 3 or
monolithic ATC SCM20ASL
Professional would are compatible the invoice properly.) Balanced XLR outputs are a perfect function no longer
steadily noticed on DACs at this value. Kudos to Cambridge Audio for together with them
at the 200M. Additionally a will have to for desktop use is the DacMagic’s integrated quantity
keep watch over and top of the range headphone amplifier.

The
Black Version MXN10 and DacMagic 200M will to be had this November from
licensed Cambridge Audio sellers, like our pals at Audio Recommendation, and at cambridgeaudio.com.