- The new Cambridge Audio EVO One is described as the first All-in-One audio system from the English HiFi manufacturer Cambridge Audio.
The new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker is a solution that presents itself as a modern interpretation of an All-in-One system, as the English HiFi manufacturer Cambridge Audio emphasises. The company says it has created a product that can act as the centrepiece of a home entertainment system, with access to a wide range of services such as Spotify, TIDAL and Deezer, the ability to connect to a wide range of sources including TVs, and the ability to be easily integrated into any living environment.
In addition, and this is not insignificant, the new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker is said to be able to deliver a dynamic, room-filling sound, thus continuing the tradition of Cambridge Audio, which is known for always delivering Great British Sound.
Retro design
Yes, it is fair to say that the developers at Cambridge Audio have based the new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker on a concept from the 1950s and 1960s, when All-in-one systems were the order of the day. These were solutions that looked more like furniture than classic HiFi solutions.
The new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker can be understood in the same way, albeit in a more modern form. However, a certain retro touch in terms of design cannot be denied and suits the new product from England very well.
This solution measures 675 x 129 x 290 mm, so it is quite impressive to look at, but still compact enough to fit seamlessly into any living environment. After all, the new Cambridge Audio EVO One weighs 14,5 kg, which is a guarantee of solid workmanship.
While the top side features a finish with a fine real wood veneer in walnut, the side surfaces are covered with an attractive textile fabric, behind which the numerous speakers with which the Cambridge Audio EVO One is equipped are also concealed.
The front is adorned with a generously sized 6.8-inch IPS TFT display with 1,280 x 480 pixels, which displays all relevant information, a clearly structured user interface and, when streaming, also cover artwork. A VU meter can also be displayed during playback and the time is displayed here in standby mode.
A number of buttons are located directly below the display, providing direct access to the most important functions, such as volume and playback control.
It should also be mentioned that a matching infrared remote control is included in the scope of delivery.
A wide range of interfaces for analogue and digital sources
The new Cambridge Audio EVO has everything it needs to function as a flexible audio system. And that includes, above all, a sufficient number of interfaces for analogue and digital sources.
For analogue sources, there is a pair of RCA sockets, but there is also an integrated phono preamplifier designed for turntables with MM pick-up systems.
For digital sources, the system initially offers an optical S/PDIF interface and a USB port to which the corresponding storage media can be connected as a source.
Particularly noteworthy is an eARC-compatible HDMI port that allows a TV to be directly integrated as a source and that also allows both components to be centrally controlled with just one remote control via HDMI CEC.
The Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker is equipped with Bluetooth 5.1, but unfortunately only the Bluetooth codecs SBC and AAC are supported in addition to AD2DP and AVRCP.
The speaker can be integrated into the network either via an RJ45 Ethernet interface or the integrated WiFi module according to IEEE 802.11ac.
Cambridge Audio StreamMagic of the fourth generation
As you would expect, the developers of the new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker have once again placed their trust in the tried and tested Cambridge Audio StreamMagic technology, which is now in its fourth generation.
This ensures that streaming is supported in all relevant formats and that convenient control is guaranteed.
For example, you can use UPnP to play your own content over the network, for example from a NAS. Internet radio is also available, of course, and the platform supports Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2, as well as TIDAL Connect and Spotify Connect. In addition, the new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker will soon be certified as Roon Ready, as the manufacturer promises.
With the help of the corresponding app, the Cambridge Audio StreamMagic app for Apple iOS and Google Android, you can also access services such as Qobuz, Deezer and Amazon Music.
Incidentally, the signal processing of the new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker supports audio signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, as well as DSD up to and including DSD128.
Room-filling, rich sound for the Great British Sound
At the heart of the signal processing of the new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker is a DSP that allows for sound control, a 7-band equaliser and room correction.
The Class D amplifier modules, which drive no fewer than 14 speakers, provide a total output of 700 watts, making this a stereo system in a three-way configuration.
This means that four 1-inch silk dome tweeters are used in conjunction with four 2.25-inch aluminium mid-range drivers and six 2.75-inch long-throw woofers. The frequency response that can be reproduced with this system is specified by the manufacturer as 38 Hz to 20 kHz.
“Our goal was to combine our decades of experience in sound and streaming into a user-friendly device. The Evo One is the perfect solution for anyone who appreciates the sound quality and functionality of a high-end system, but only wants to place a single component. It is a real asset to any room, both in terms of aesthetics and sound and functionality.”
Matt Dore, Chief Technical Officer of Cambridge Audio
Prices and availability
According to the manufacturer, the new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker will be available in specialist stores in the next few weeks. The recommended retail price is € 1.499,-.
Getting to the point
With the new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker, the English HiFi manufacturer Cambridge Audio is presenting a solution that can be described as a modern interpretation of a design HiFi system. Yes, it is based on solutions that graced living rooms in the 1950s and 1960s, and it also relies on a retro touch with its extremely elegantly designed, compact housing, while of course relying on the latest technologies to offer all the possibilities that can be expected from an All-in-One system today. The new Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker is also designed to impress with its fine sound, once again delivering the Great British Sound.
| PRODUCT | Cambridge Audio EVO One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker |
|---|---|
| Price | € 1.499,- |
| Brand | CAMBRIDGE AUDIO |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Cambridge Audio |
| Distribution Austria | Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
| Distribution Germany | Cambridge Audio |
| Distribution Switzerland | Lakeside Audio SA |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
