In case you’re after a well-featured, high-performing music streamer underneath £1000, it is possible the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 will not solely have made your shortlist however is sitting on the high of it. It is a a number of What Hello-Fi? Awards winner, in any case – it has simply received its sixth consecutive award at its worth degree, in reality, and earlier than its time the streamer sitting in that spot was the unique (V1!) CXN. So sure, Cambridge Audio’s mid-range streamer is fairly particular, to the purpose the place I selected it to stream-savvy up my hi-fi system at dwelling for a number of years.
What’s additionally fairly particular is its present Black Friday low cost, which brings the worth from £799 down to simply £599 at Cambridge Audio, Amazon and (when you signal as much as the retailer’s free VIP program) Richer Sounds. I do not recall seeing it fall beneath £699 earlier than, so this actually is a superb worth – and I would be shocked if it fell any decrease.
OK so I could not assist myself – I trawled via the What Hello-Fi? Awards archives and located that the mid-series CXN mannequin has been a winner since 2015. That the present V2 iteration has dropped in worth so closely for Black Friday 2023, and is one of the best a part of six years previous, makes me assume a third-generation CXN or one other mid-range mannequin altogether from Cambridge is on its manner quickly, however that should not put you off if you’re certainly searching for a cut price across the £600 worth level.
The CXN V2’s spec sheet actually does not let on its age, with AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Join, Tidal Join and UPnP a part of its characteristic record, as is entry to the principle streaming companies. (Our Cambridge CXN V2 overview goes into extra element about its (many) has and (only a few) hasn’ts.) And whereas we do not know Cambridge Audio’s firmware replace roadmap, we think about the CXN V2 shall be aware of the updates for its proprietary StreamMagic platform for some time to return.
Naturally, it sounds terrific – class-leadingly so beneath the £1000. And one of many causes I loved residing with the CXN V2 a lot is that the Cambridge app is dependable and simple to get together with.
Only in the near past we included the CXN V2 in a dream mid-range streaming hi-fi system builder alongside Cambridge amplification and Bowers & Wilkins audio system, although the CXN V2 may additionally associate with electronics and audio system a bit of above its worth level with out being a weak hyperlink. In case you had been questioning, sure it might be an excellent match for the corporate’s CXA81 amplifier (additionally £200 off!)
All in all, the CXN V2 is an outstanding purchase – particularly with a £200 Black Friday low cost. In case you’re after a streamer round this cash (or perhaps a bit larger), there actually is not a greater all-round performer obtainable proper now.
MORE:
Learn our Cambridge Audio CXN V2 overview
Try the best way to add a streamer to your hi-fi system
See the very finest music streamers available on the market
