12/9/2023 0 Comments Tidal hifi review![]() Read the full review: Cambridge Audio MXN10 Best premium music streamerĪlthough the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning ND5 XS 2 might be entry-level by Naim's standards, the sound it produces most definitely isn't. The physical controls are somewhat basic, and the lack of a display might put some people off, but this little thing has sonic chops that belie both its size and its price. A seriously impressive piece of kit for this affordable mid-range price. ![]() It’s a brilliant all-round sonic performance that you’ll want to immerse yourself in again and again. While the lack of native MQA support is disappointing for some, the MXN10 combines the strengths of the five-star Audiolab’s 6000N Play and Bluesound Node (2021), while adding a dose of dynamic expression and rhythmic coherence that they can’t match. The strikingly minimalist streamer doesn’t come with a remote, nor are many physical connections on the back – an RCA line level analogue output, one coaxial and one optical are all you get – yet this tiny titan still offers everything you need by delivering truly five-star levels of performance.Ĭontrolled via Cambridge Audio’s StreamMagic app, the MXN10 hosts a plethora of streaming methods and services, including Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz and internet radio, as well as support for Bluetooth 5.0 and playback of files stored elsewhere on your local network. It still remains great value, however, and delivers so much performance out of its dinky stature and for what we think is still a very affordable price tag. Until we reviewed the WiiM Pro Plus (above), the Cambridge Audio MXN10 was the most affordable music streamer to pass our test rooms. Read our full WiiM Pro Plus review Best mid-price music streamer WiiM has delivered a well-executed streamer that's easy to use, sounds accomplished and is packed with features. We certainly found ourselves enjoying every minute of it. It's not quite as muscular or as richly textured as its pricier alternatives, but there's plenty of attack that keeps a song's natural rhythm flowing. This is particularly apparent in the midrange, where the vocal is brimming with character and attitude. Feed it high-quality source files, and you'll be rewarded with a big soundstage with instruments all relayed in an assured and confident manner. On the audio quality front, the Pro Plus delivers a sound that's clear, detailed and even quite dynamically adept. It's ideal for adding streaming powers cheaply and easily to an older hi-fi system, but can also be used as a way of creating a multi-room system with existing kit. That's more versatile than we'd expect at this budget end. It also has line level RCA, coaxial and optical connections, and can handle digital audio files at a resolution of up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512. Through the app, you get access to all other streaming apps and music stored on the same network. The WiiM control app is its crowning glory – set up is swift and fuss-free, everything is logically laid out, and it's that user-friendliness we can see will win many over. It's as feature-packed as any of its pricier alternatives, with AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect and both wi-fi and ethernet connections available. The WiiM Pro Plus is less than half the price of the budget music streamers we'd previously reviewed (see Cambridge Audio MXN10, below), and this tiny, extremely affordable unit impressed us so much that we knew it was worthy of a 2023 Award win. Read the full review: Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) Best budget music streamer It's no wonder that it retained the What Hi-Fi? Award for best music streamer priced between £750-£1000 for multiple years in a row now. So, the same winning sound quality as the original with even more features to play with. All of these can be controlled through Cambridge's Connect app for iOS and Android. It also boasts Apple AirPlay, Tidal, Spotify Connect and Roon support. It works very well - we were up and running in a matter of moments.īut that's far from the only feature available. So what sets it apart from its predecessor? The main new skill is built-in Chromecast, which lets you stream content from compatible apps. ![]() We described the original CXN as "wonderfully entertaining", and it's heartening to see this second-generation model retaining that character. The sound quality is fantastic, with an enthusiastic, driven delivery that combines snappy timing with subtle levels of detail. But it's not just a looker - it has it where it counts, too.
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