Little Wonder - Cambridge Audio's MXN10 is a Baby Streamer with Grown-Up Performance! 

You're very welcome. Hope you're having better weather than us, across the pond!

Thanks Peter.

“Mike & Dave’s Hifi Riff: by far the best thing to come out of a Monday”.

Let us know how you get along. I suspect you're already getting quite a decent sound from your Pro-Ject/Chord already.

@@MrVinylista Hi David, managed to audition the MXN10 in my system, a chum brought his over. I’ll keep this short. He had already set it up commenting that it was a joy to do so and took no time at all. Well built nice bit of kit, very handy size but made my Project bridge look tiny. WiFi connection to my hub dead easy, this is some thing my Ultra refused to do. Several phone calls to dealer failed to resolve issue so I installed a 30ft LAN then the Ultra worked fine with out any dropout’s. Back to the MXN10 connected to my Quad Artera Pre/Power amps playing into PMC TwentyFive.23 speakers. Found the sound quality to be very good on all sample rates and very musical. Must say it sounded a little “safe” (for me). Interesting to hear a ESS DAC in my system, it being well rounded. I very much liked the Cambridge’s App, it makes the Project one look some what creaky. We also tried the MXN Via the LAN input which showed better dynamics, then tried it through a Chord Qutest which made the MXN sound much more transparent and dynamic in all areas. The bottom line is basic MXN sounds very good for its price. I for one would be happy to live with it. Nothing to dislike in any way,plus with the addition of a good stand alone DAC it elevates MXN performance several steps. Note for Mike: I use a Longdog linear PSU into the Qutest and yes it does lower the noise floor very noticeably with the Quads and Exposure 3020S2D amps. Note for David: Cheers for your article in Russ Andrews Connected mag regarding HiFi World closure. I think Noel is a stalwart of our hobby and his unstinting efforts should be acknowledged.

@@stevehollingbery9744 Thanks Steve, really value your thoughts.

If you finally do decide to venture into digital audio, this is as good as any toe in the water, I would say. If you don't like it, you can sell it, and you'll not lose much money. But I suspect you'll keep it and like it - along with a Qobuz subscription, ideally. Then you can invest in a better DAC at a later date.

@@MrVinylista Thanks David, good advice. I recently purchased a new SMSL DAC at half price so the plan would be to use a streamer with that.

Really? From a 4000 dollar proper hifi device to a tiny starter kit type thing?

Completely agree. Mike

Please tell us how you get on.

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Interesting comments, thanks.

Completely agree on the lack of usb, and I’d argue this is also overpriced compared to the WiiM Pro for £150.

@@doifeellucky Yeah OK, the best buy is that but one has to consider origin, build and model of distribution. That one offers also more software features (like multiform and Amazon HD cast) but also lacks usb output and its dac should be recognisably worse.

@@razisn Absolutely. And what's sauce for the goose is often not sauce for the gander!

@@MrVinylista True, but the idea of super expensive, 'high-end' dac-less streamers is fast becoming as good as super expensive cable or audiophile network switches..

Thanks Tom.

Too kind!

I haven't heard one yet, but have read the rave reviews. Not sure if DP has... but if not I'm sure we can get one to play with. Mike

It's a bargain! Mike

@@Hi-FiRiff That’s what I’m looking for. A Bargain. Value. I just got the Cambridge Audio CXA61 in March. Should be a good pairing. Thanks bro 👍🏼😎🎶

Nothing gets past us! 🙄

I think I'm turned off by the rear panels of hi-fi equipment because I've spent a lot of my life staring at them - time that I'll never get back. Worrying news though, that Mike isn't the only 'socket botherer'!

@@MrVinylista Even as a child I would like to peep round the back of peoples systems (would also love to look inside if I was armed with a screwdriver)!

@@dean6816 Too much information!

@@MrVinylista I know, I sound like an Audio System Perv. 🤣

It's certainly a nice entry into the breed, not least because of the Stream Magic app. I think you might find the Linn sounds a lot better, but you can always get a better DAC at a later date. Good luck!

@@MrVinylista thanks for the advice 👍

I’ve been listening to CDs for 20 years and streamed music for 2 years. In the last 12 months I’ve bought a 1990 vintage LP12 and upgraded the base, arm cable, power supply, sub-chassis, bearing and cartridge. I love it so much I’ve bought 180 albums. I can’t believe the sound quality and my engagement with the music is total. I’ve become obsessed with vinyl again when I swore I never would. Buy the streamer if you want to sample music before buying the record, but I guarantee it will sound flat and crude next to your LP12.

Just remember that almost all vinyl is digitally mastered. No vinyl can be better than it's digital source.

@@amazoidal that would be true for new or remastered albums. Not albums produced before the digital era

That’s what I’m thinking too so it would match my other components. How’s it been for you? Are you glad you got it? Thanks, I’m still deciding on a streamer, and I like Cambridge Audio gear.

I am very biased towards Roon. It handles multiple products, whereas streammagic is only for Cambridge products. The ability to show the artwork on a TV screen in Roon is so cool, the multi room and general setup is a breeze, and ARC is excellent. However, stream magic is the best in house app I have used. If you only plan on using Cambridge product(s) then it's also free 👍 Mike

To get a significant improvement on the CXN V2's analogue output, you're looking at Chord's Qutest at £1,395. That's a really nice DAC and hard to better until you're into £5,000 territory, in my view. You'll get a lot more focus, better timing, greater dynamics and stereo sound staging. Audition it if you can!

@@MrVinylista David, thank you for the recommendation and I will audition prior to buying. The only two items I purchased blind were in my office and that was my iFi Zen dac and Sennheiser HD600 which is a great combination for the money. Keep the great content going. Many thanks.

@@Stuart-85 You're very welcome. The Zen/HD600 is a nice combination, as the latter warms up the former somewhat. Good synergy there. The Qutest will be a big improvement on the Hip DAC and the CXN V2's DAC/analogue output stage, though.

The Cambridge CXN V2 already has a exceptionally great dac built in. You will be spending £2000 plus to beat it hands down. The Chord is certainly not head and shoulders above it. I concentrate on your amp and speakers before assuming it's the CXN that's lacking.

I really want to say yes, but I would hate you to be disappointed.. if you can get a listen first then do, but my gut feeling is that it would be a significant improvement. If you do, please can you report back? Mike

As pure streamers go, it's the dCS Network Bridge without a doubt. Superb quality and value. In terms of streaming DAC preamps, the current flagship dCS, Linn and Naim solutions are all superb - but bloody expensive of course.

Bound to be expensive! 😂

Yup... Thought so 💰💰😂

Excellent question! I have the streamer hard wired and streammagic still controls it... No idea how that works! Mike

@@Hi-FiRiff Thx for the reply. One of lifes great mysteries :)

LOL

But you'll need a better DAC. Watch "The Cheap Audio Man"

Price has to be considered in these instances, if you want linear PSU then buy a streamer that has one

@@jdekong3945 My comment was in relation to review which claims MXN10 is better equiped with eight type inlet unlike some other streamers that have external smps and 2.5 inlets. In truth there is no difference since there is still smps inside so no benefit of eight type inlet since power supply type is the real limitation not the inlet type. Just saying the commet is irrelevant . Besides if Cambridge decided to put external smps power supply end user could at leat play with option of replacing it with linear power supply but since it is integrated in the chasis Cambridge chose deliberately to limit its capabilities unless one decides to completely redesign it by opening it and hence voiding warranty.

@@andrejzupan3777 I don`t think it was a deliberate attempt by Cambridge to make a unit where the PSU is in the cabinet purely to stop people from upgrading the supply, but more that they wanted to create a product that would give good performace for the price

Anything can be corrected with a soldering iron.

Tidal Connect works brilliantly, either via the Streammagic app or the Tidal App. In stream magic you can add it as a source and have everything in one place. Mike

@@Hi-FiRiff gapless playback?

Novice here: Why not just plug the Wiim Pro into the receiver? Why do you need a DAC?

Novice here: Why buy a DAC for the Wiim Pro? Why not just purchase it $150 and plug it into the back of my receiver?