CXN (V2)

NETWORK AUDIO STREAMER

• Stunning Sound Quality - Hear every detail in your digital files
• Connect Anything - USB, Coaxial and TOSLINK wired connections. AirPlay 2 and Chromecast built-in wireless connections
• Spotify Connect, TIDAL and Qobuz built in
• High-quality Internet Radio Streaming thanks to MPEG-DASH support
• Control in the palm of your hand, thanks to the dedicated StreamMagic app for iOS and Android
• What Hi-Fi? Best Buy Network Player 2018

网络音频流媒体播放器

• 令人惊叹的音质 - 聆听数字音乐文件中的所有细节
• 任意连接 - USB、Coaxial 和 TOSLINK 有线连接。AirPlay 2 和 Chromecast 内置无线连接
• 内置 Spotify Connect 和 TIDAL
• 凭借 MPEG-DASH 的支持带来高品质互联网广播
•  适用于 iOS 和安卓系统的专用 StreamMagic 应用程序
• What Hi-Fi? Best Buy Network Player 2018

CX SERIES 2. THE SOUND OF PROGRESS.

Half a decade after the CX range redefined performance at its price point, it’s time to reimagine, reengineer and reinvigorate. 

Now finished in Lunar Grey to match the rest of the CX Series 2 range, the award-winning CXN (V2) allows playback of multiple audio file-types from multiple sources. Enjoy your music, your way.

CX 系列 2。进步之声。

CX 系列以其卓越的性价比重新定义声音的呈现至今已有五年之久，是时候进行重新的演绎与设计，以焕发全新活力。 

屡获殊荣的 CXN (V2) 以 Lunar Grey 月光灰色焕新设计，搭配 CX 系列 2 的其他产品，可以播放多种来源的不同音频文件类型。以您的方式来享受音乐

CONVENIENCE. NOT COMPROMISE

Everyone loves the convenience of digital audio. Nobody enjoys the compromises digital audio playback sometimes involves. That’s why the CXN (V2) is designed to provide the effortless accessibility of digital audio, but with the uncompromised sonic excellence of Cambridge Audio’s 50-plus years of hi-fi experience. Ease of use meets quality of performance.

便捷性。无须妥协

每个人都深爱数字音频的便捷性。没有人喜欢数字音频播放时可能产生的不和谐音。这就是为何 CXN (V2) 可轻松播放数字音频，但同时也凭借 Cambridge Audio 50 多年的高保真经验确保卓越的音质。易用性与性能品质相结合。

THE WORLD’S MUSIC, ANY WAY YOU WANT IT

Digital audio is available from many sources - and the CXN (V2) is able to deliver from those you love most. Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Qobuz and Tidal offer a world’s-worth of content, there’s Chromecast built-in to make things even easier, and the CXN (V2) is Roon Tested which means your NAS and UPnP audio is at your fingertips too. Add digital optical and coaxial inputs, asynchronous USB socket, aptX Bluetooth (via adapter) and internet radio, and the CXN (V2) brings the planet’s music into your home.

随心所欲的世界音乐

数字音频拥有诸多来源 - CXN（V2）可以从您最喜欢的音源播放音乐。Spotify Connect、Apple AirPlay 2 和 Tidal 提供了数之不尽的音乐内容，内置的 Chromecast 使音乐体验变得更加轻松，CXN（V2）已获 Roon Tested 认证，这意味着 NAS 和 UPnP 音频唾手可得。加上数字光纤和同轴输入、异步 USB 插孔、aptX 蓝牙（通过适配器）和互联网广播，CXN（V2）将世界各地的音乐带入您的家中。

THE WHOLE STORY

Getting hold of the music you want is one thing. Being moved by the fidelity of its reproduction is quite another. That’s why the CXN (V2) is packing dual Wolfson WM8740 digital-to-analogue convertors - by upscaling any digital audio information to an information-packed 24bit/384kHz using Cambridge Audio’s unique ATF2 technology, music is delivered with the sort of warmth, depth, nuance and unity not automatically associated with digital audio.

完整的产品故事

听到想听的音乐是一回事。被出色真实再现的音乐打动又是另一回事。这就是 CXN（V2）配备双 Wolfson WM8740 数模转换器的原因 - 通过使用 Cambridge Audio 独特的 ATF2 技术将各种数字音频信息升级到包含各种信息的 24bit/384kHz 音频，让音乐呈现出数字音频向来缺乏的温度、深度、细腻和统一连贯性。

POWER IN YOUR HANDS

The CXN (V2) features prodigious processing power, quite unlike that of any nominal rival. Cambridge Audio’s renowned Stream Magic platform ensures a slick, seamless and stable listening experience from any source, and its out-of-the-box MPEG-DASH and HLS compatibility means live streams are equally consistent and of equally high quality.  

掌握在您手中

CXN（V2）具有强大的处理能力，这是其他名义上的竞争对手都无法媲美的。Cambridge Audio 的著名 Stream Magic 平台可确保各种音源流畅、无缝和稳定的聆听体验，其创新的 MPEG-DASH 和 HLS 兼容性意味着实时媒体流也能拥有同样的稳定性和高质量。  

CONTROL. PURE AND SIMPLE

Interacting with CXN (V2) couldn’t be simpler or more satisfying. The bespoke Cambridge Audio Stream Magic app allows straightforward, stable and intuitive control of all connected sources - curate playlists, set presets or browse albums conveniently and in comfort. Then allow the big, colourful and crisp fascia display to show your commands or the album artwork of the music you’re enjoying.

控制。纯粹而简单

CXN (V2) 的互动变得更简单，更令人满意。定制打造的 Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 应用程序让所有连接音源的控制变得直接、稳定和直观，让您轻松便捷地编辑播放列表、设置预设或浏览专辑。然后，让彩色和清晰的大型面板显示您的命令或您所聆听的音乐的专辑封面。

MAKING THE BEST EVEN BETTER

Four What Hi-Fi? awards in a row speaks volumes about how well-loved the CXN (v2) is - but Cambridge Audio is always searching for ways to improve. A constant programme of development, a constant desire to seek out marginal gains in performance, and the ability to update the CXN (v2) remotely, as and when it’s required, means the best network audio streamer around just keeps getting better.

精益求精

连续获得四项 What Hi-Fi? 大奖证明了 CXN (v2) 的受欢迎程度——但是 Cambridge Audio 从未固步自封，而是致力于不断改进。不断的开发计划、不断提升性能的渴望以及在需要时能够远程更新 CXN（v2）的能力，意味着这款最优秀的网络音频流媒体播放器前进的脚步从未停止。

DAC
Dual Wolfson WM8740 24-bit DACs
DIGITAL FILTER
2nd Generation ATF2 up-sampling to 24-bit/384khz
ANALOGUE FILTER
2-Pole Dual Differential Bessel
USB AUDIO INPUT
USB Type B conforms to USB Audio profile 1.0 or 2.0 (user selectable)
DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS
S/PDIF Coaxial and TOSLINK Optical)
ANALOGUE AUDIO OUTPUTS
Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analogue
DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUTS
S/PDIF Coaxial and TOSLINK Optical
COMPATIBILITY
UPnP, Local USB media, USB audio 1.0 and 2.0, S/PDIF Toslink and Coaxial, Airplay 2, Chromecast built-in , Internet radio, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Qobuz, Bluetooth aptX via BT100 Bluetooth receiver (not supplied)
AUDIO FORMATS
ALAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD (x64), WMA, MP3, AAC, HE AAC, AAC+, OGG Vorbis
ETHERNET
IEEE 802.3, 10 Base-T or 100 Base-T
WI-FI
IEEE 802.11 b/g or n (2.4GHz)
MAX POWER CONSUMPTION
30W
STANDBY POWER CONSUMPTION
<0.5W
REMOTE CONTROL
Yes
DIMENSIONS
85 x 430 x 305mm (3.4 x 16.9 x 12.2”)
WEIGHT
3.5Kg (7.7lbs)
BOX CONTENT
CXN (v2) Network Streamer, Power Cable, 3 x AAA Batteries, Remote Control, Control Bus Cable, Wi-Fi Dongle

Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2019 winner. A great streamer just got even better Tested at £700

By What Hi-Fi? October 08, 2018

OUR VERDICT

Making the best even better, the CXN (V2) is the best streamer out there at this price point

FOR

• Superb sound quality
• Sophisticated design
• Wide range of wireless connectivity

AGAINST

• Nothing of note

To improve on something that’s already pretty good, sometimes all you need is a light touch. That’s what Cambridge Audio has done with the second iteration of its CXN streamer – an update to the Award-winner we reviewed in 2015.

Now, alongside Tidal built-in and Spotify Connect, you can also stream music via Google’s Chromecast, on this, the Cambridge Audio CXN (V2).

Sound

The Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) has kept all of the great sonic characteristics of the original. That same vibrancy and enthusiasm that greeted us three years ago hasn’t changed much in the time since.

We play Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, and Stevie Nicks’ soulful, sweet singing is full bodied and beautifully conveyed. The way she shifts between notes is smooth, and the occasional words clipped to keep her rhythm are snappy and insightful. Even the odd vocalisation – the hums and aahs – are detailed and full of melancholy musings.

Most half-decent streamers could reproduce the basics of this song, but it takes something more talented to dig into the emotional core of this track and deliver it – and that’s what this Cambridge does.

With something more bouncy and upbeat, such as Warren Zevon’s Werewolf Of London, the CXN delivers both a punchy bass and a tinkling treble simultaneously. A good streamer, tackling those few opening bars, needs to balance both the deep drum and the piano – which the CXN (V2) does impressively. The bottom end is weighty, but lithe enough to give you a good kick, while the piano is light and airy without being overly bright.

The timing is tight and gets your foot tapping almost immediately. We described the original’s sound as ‘wonderfully entertaining’, and it’s nice to hear that Cambridge Audio has retained that quality in the V2.

We play Childish Gambino’s This Is America, a song which overlays a grumbling, rolling bass with the clicks and taps of percussion and a multitude of different voices. Some hi-fi will lose sounds in the turmoil, but the V2 manages to separate each element out and present it as a cohesive whole. No need to keep it simple here, the CXN (V2) will be able to keep the complex coherent.

Features

Top of the list of new features is the Chromecast capability that sets this version apart from the original. Following a firmware update in September 2018, the CXN (V2) now supports Chromecast Built-In, enabling users to stream content wirelessly from compatible apps. We set up the Chromecast with no problems, and in just a few moments are casting music and videos to other devices.

For those on Apple’s ecosystem, meanwhile, AirPlay is built into the streamer so you can send your music via your iPhone, iPad or other Apple device to your speakers. Although you’ll only get first generation AirPlay for the moment, Cambridge Audio says it’s working on a solution for implementing AirPlay 2 ready for later this year.

Spotify subscribers can also use Spotify Connect to send their music to the CXN directly from the app, while Tidal subscribers can search the streaming service’s database directly from the streamer, once you’ve logged into your account using the Cambridge Connect app. The app, available on iOS and Android, can also be used to control playback.

But as always, we’d recommend a wired connection for the best sound quality. This streamer is capable of playing high-resolution files of up to 24-bit/192kHz, upsampled to 384kHz, through the USB type B input for your computer, optical and coaxial inputs. Also included are a pair of RCA and balanced XLR outputs, along with two digital outputs.

The only other change to the CXN (V2) is a faster processor to handle the Chromecast functionality. Cambridge Audio claims the CXN will operate faster, and with the two streamers side by side, the newer one boots up faster and gets to our music notably quicker than the original.

Build

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it seems to have been Cambridge Audio’s motto here – and the build quality of the CXN (V2) seems exactly the same as the old CXN.

It’s a premium quality that’s reflected in the buttons and the recently redesigned remote control – both of which are easy to use and responsive – while the volume dial retains that signature weighted resistance that gives a satisfying sensation when moving through menus.

The 4.3in screen shows track, artist, album and sampling rate, with album artwork in full colour. It never feels cluttered and each bit of metadata is spaced nicely. Having input labels printed upside down is also a thoughtful touch – meaning you can easily read them when you’re looking down on the streamer.

Verdict

While we don’t believe in foregone conclusions, the Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) might be the closest we’ve come to one. The additional Chromecast technology only grants more functionality to an already great streamer.

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Features 5
• Build 5