The vast majority of music consumed today is delivered via streaming platforms, leaving traditional hi-fi setups struggling to stay relevant. Cambridge Audio has launched a powerful, multi-driver, all-in-one music streaming device that’s also compatible with older hardware.
Cambridge Audio says the Evo One takes the high-resolution streaming intelligence and musical substance of its award-winning Evo 75 and Evo 150 streaming amplifiers. But it’s built around a 700-watt Class D amplifier delivering 50W of power from each of four 1-inch dome tweeters, four 2.24-inch cone mid-range drivers, and six 2.75-inch long-throw woofers.
These drivers are positioned front, side and rear for optimum overall dispersion. And output is routed through “advanced Digital Signal Processing,” a combined effort that's said to result in “breathtaking clarity and deeply controlled bass that pushes the boundaries of the single-box form factor.”
Streaming content is delivered via the fourth generation of the company’s StreamMagic platform, which supports Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Deezer, Qobuz, Roon Ready, UPnP, and Internet Radio, and allows playback at up to 32-bit/192kHz resolution over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Listeners can also feed the system tunes via Bluetooth 5.1, AirPlay 2, and Google Cast, and the unit is multiroom ready.
Cambridge Audio
The front of the unit features nine buttons for controlling the show, while the StreamMagic mobile app includes a seven-band EQ for adjusting playback to personal taste, as well as a number of presets and room optimizations.
If wired hardware is still a part of your life, the Evo One offers HDMI eARC for connecting to a big-screen TV, a moving-magnet phono stage for vinyl lovers, and a line input for other analog sources. There's also an optical digital input (perhaps for your CD transporter) and a USB Type-A port.
All this audio beauty is wrapped in a stylish chassis with a walnut veneer top by award-winning designer Ged Martin, fabric-covered honeycomb grilles and a 6.8-inch colour display panel with a resolution of 1,280 x 480 pixels for displaying album covers, track information, clock faces or virtual VU meters.
The Evo One is currently on sale for $1,499, which puts it on par with Naim's excellent second-generation Mu-so unit. We've got more on that in the video below.
Introducing Evo One
Product page: Evo One