Joint Digital Source Component of the Year Finalist 2024 - Stereophile
Compact Size and Massive Choice in a Network Player
Cambridge Audio's powerful, compact MXN10 network player brings the world of hi-res music to much-loved hi-fi set-ups and other audio systems. Its half-width compact footprint offers flexibility of placement. MXN10 can access free music, including internet radio, as well as subscription services – many of which offer free trials, so you'll soon find your perfect streaming partner.
The MXN10 can play hi-res music from USB and NAS drives too. That's digital music from limitless sources routed through one compact unit – all conveniently controlled from your portable device with Cambridge Audio's StreamMagic app.
Award-Winning Performance
Stereophile chose the MXN10 as a Joint Digital Source Component of the Year Finalist for 2024.
According to Tom Fine in his May 2024 review, "The MXN10 is a thoughtfully considered, high-performance bridge to the future-present, at a price that's friendly to most budgets. Once you get your feet wet with streaming, you might find it's like the river of whiskey in the old blues tune: You'll dive to the bottom and never want to come up."
"One of the Best Options for a Streaming Network Bridge"
"The Cambridge MXN10 and AXA10 streamers bring the price of entry into the Stream Magic ecosystem to a more affordable level, but don’t compromise on the most useful features and quality of sound or build," reports audioappraisal.com, March 10, 2023.
"The MXN10 is my pick of the two. A condensed, half-sized Cambridge streamer is a product I’ve wanted to see for a long time. It makes a terrific standalone device and comes into its own as a streaming transport. If it ever becomes possible to get the highest resolution data out of it via USB into your external DAC, it would be one of, if not the best options for a streaming network bridge out there."
A Decade of Streaming Distilled
The MXN10 is powered by Cambridge Audio's latest StreamMagic Gen 4 module and software. It's a system Cambridge Audio developed in London for no-compromise hi-fi sound and rock-solid streaming performance. It's intuitive to use and can playback music with up to an incredible 768KHz 32bit PCM or DSD512 resolution to keep the most demanding listener happy.
"Now in its 4th generation, the StreamMagic module (a Quad core ARM Cortex-A53 1.8GHz) is constantly updated to support the latest advances in audio formats and streaming service features," notes Audio Xpress magazine. "StreamMagic has also seen 14,300 Android and 18,500 iOS app downloads in 2021."
Hi-Res Heaven for Streaming Fans
Streamed music once offered convenience in place of hi-fi sound quality. Fortunately, things have changed thanks to faster broadband speeds, newer audio CODECs, and many more services to choose from. And now the MXN10 takes Cambridge Audio's celebrated StreamMagic platform and makes it available to even more people.
The MXN10 can access both subscription and free hi-res streaming services, including internet radio, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz – all integrated for best possible sound quality. With Apple Airplay2 and Chromecast built-in as well, you can access Apple Music and more, including BBC Sounds. And because MXN10 is Roon Ready, you can collate your digital music listening, regardless of origin, into a single magazine-style service.
Internet radio stations are at your fingertips, too. They are just like traditional radio, but they arrive via the internet rather than the airwaves. You can listen to your favorite broadcast stations, specialist internet-only channels, plus many more from around the globe – all for free. Who knows what discoveries you'll make on that specialist station from Tasmania?
The Gift of Music
If a friend visits, who doesn't use the StreamMagic app (yet), they can play their favorite tracks wirelessly from their mobile with Bluetooth. Also, if they've any Hi-Res FLAC files on a USB drive, you can both listen in full hi-fi quality, just by inserting the drive into MXN10's USB port.
There comes a time for us music fans when storage space becomes a problem. Then there's the price you've got to pay to hear a handful of 'previously unreleased' tracks exclusive to bulky limited-edition box sets. The compact MXN10 gives you the best of both worlds: hear the songs in incredible hi-res quality, without the worry of the impact on your shelves or wallet.
Easy to Use
Using the MXN10 couldn't be easier. The StreamMagic app gives intuitive control of connected sources – to set presets, browse albums or curate playlists, all conveniently from your portable device. Alternatively, there's a row of neat buttons on MXN10's sleek fascia that you can program for direct access to internet radio stations and your favorite playlists.
Turn MXN10 around to see a pair of analog RCA outputs, digital coax and optical out, USB in, a pair of wi-fi antenna sockets for wireless network connection – or a LAN cable input if you prefer. The analog and digital outputs can work simultaneously, meaning your hi-fi can also play nicely as a source in a multiroom set-up.
Good Looks Run in the Family
The MXN10 gets its sleek timeless looks from Cambridge Audio's signature Lunar Grey aluminum fascia and black 'floating' base. The 8.5" half-width steel cabinet matches Cambridge's DacMagic200M and Alva Duo, and it also offers flexibility of placement and breathes new life into any hi-fi set-up – including that old amp in storage. Thanks to over-the-air updates, MXN10 will be a crowd-pleaser for many years to come.