Cambridge EVO 150 All-in-One Player

black

All-in-one streaming integrated amplifiers have arrived. It seems streaming amps are taking over the reign held by once ubiquitous AM/FM receivers as the anchor of everyday Hi-Fi systems. The Cambridge Audio EVO 150 All-in-One Player is not the first and certainly won’t be the last entrant in this rapidly proliferating market segment, but its smart looks and extensive features help it stand out. It’s an auspicious debut in the category from the venerable UK-based brand known for high quality yet attainable Class A/B integrated amplifiers. With a retail price of $3000, the EVO 150 represents a substantial outlay, especially for a first Hi-Fi system. However, if it can smoothly deliver all its promised functionality and sound great at the same time it could represent a high value just-add-speakers proposition. I sense an ongoing philosophical conflict among audiophiles when it comes to all-in-one amplifiers. I have even confessed my own gravitation toward separates simply for the audiophile credibility. Beyond the pretense that more boxes are better, one reason I hypothesized while using the EVO 150 is that it’s simply improbable for some audiophiles to embrace an amp that so closely resembles a computer. A mobile app may not replace the magic of analog buttons and knobs but for a more connected demographic an app is the default method of interaction with any electronic device. With the EVO 150 in particular I found children (yes, I share my listening space with them) were much more in tune with the EVO’s purpose than with any other audio equipment I’ve had in my living room simply because the LCD provides a constant visual reminder of what is playing. The music is coming from inside this box. By contrast, the way a boutique line stage or austere looking Class A power amp facilitates musical enjoyment requires a more nuanced explanation to the uninitiated. Streaming amps like the EVO 150 dangle a promise of musical enlightenment without the pretense the full experience requires a complex stack of gear. Is it possible to reach paradise and maintain one’s audiophile innocence? Design & Build Serious effort went into the industrial design and layout of the compact EVO 150. It’s relatively lightweight at around twelve pounds but it’s densely packed with components, unlike full width Class A/B designs whose mass is mostly attributed to a copper transformer. It feels solidly built which is impressive considering the variety of materials used in its construction. The EVO 150 has a great face as well. A sleek vertical column of buttons separate the large LCD screen from a nicely executed volume knob with an outer ring for input selection. The 3.5mm headphone jack hides in the lower right corner below the volume knob. That’s about it—very clean. My personal favorite design feature of the EVO 150 is the hidden ventilation scheme incorporated into its base. The underside of the case is shaped like a low profile truncated pyramid (technically, a frustrum—I had to look that one up) with vents along the sides. Cool air drawn in through the base can carry heat out through horizontal vents along the sides of the unit. The best part is the base design gives the illusion the amp is floating, especially in a dimly lit room. Features & Specifications Technical specifications for the EVO 150 ($3000) are refreshingly straightforward. Hypex Ncore modules provide 150 watts of power into 8 ohms. The DAC section features an ESS chip. What else is there to know? Cambridge Audio’s tidy product page is light on audiophile circuitry jargon and full of details about connectivity and compatibility. ANALOGUE AUDIO INPUTS

2 x TOSLINK optical, 1 x S/PDIF coaxial, 1 x TV ARC

IEEE 802.3, 10 Base-T or 100 Base-T

ALAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD (x256), WMA, MP3, AAC, HE AAC AAC+, OGG Vorbis

TOSLINK optical: 16/24bit 32-96kHz PCM only S/PDIF coaxial: 16/24bit 32-192kHz PCM only USB Audio Class 1: Up to 24-bit 96kHz (asynchronous) USB Audio Class 2: Up to 32-bit 384kHz (asynchronous) and up to DSD 256 Bluetooth: 4.2 A2DP/AVRCP supporting up to aptX HD (24bit 48kHz) UPnP, Local USB media, Airplay 2, Chromecast built-in, Internet Radio, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, MQA, Qobuz, Roon Ready.

Speakers A+B, 3.5mm headphone, Preamp Output, Subwoofer Output, Bluetooth: 4.2 A2DP/AVRCP supporting up to aptX HD

4.2 A2DP/AVRCP supporting SBC, aptX and aptX HD codecs

Dual Band 2.4/5gHz

317 x 89 x 352mm