Cambridge Audio MXN10

The Cambridge Audio MXN10 is a network player designed to connect an amplifier or a pair of active speakers to digital audio sources: locally stored files, USB stick, external hard drive or online streaming services. It positions itself as a central gateway between the home network and a classic hi-fi setup, with no disc player or tuner built in.

The heart of the unit is an ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC, responsible for converting digital signals into analogue. It supports a wide range of formats: WAV, ALAC, FLAC, AIFF, WMA, MP3, AAC, HE AAC, AAC+ and OGG Vorbis, with PCM resolution up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, as well as DSD files up to DSD512. This high-resolution playback capability allows dematerialised audio files to be reproduced with a level of detail close to studio masters, provided sources of equivalent quality are used.

Connectivity covers several use cases: network playback via UPnP or Roon, a USB-A port for connecting a stick or hard drive, and wireless streaming via AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Bluetooth 5.0 from a smartphone, tablet or computer. The MXN10 also provides access to the leading streaming services, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal and Qobuz, as well as numerous international web radio stations.

On the output side, the unit offers a coaxial output, an optical output and an analogue RCA output, in addition to an RJ45 Ethernet port for a wired network connection. The metal chassis ensures a compact build, with dimensions of 215 x 52 x 191 mm and a weight of 1.2 kg.

This type of network player is aimed at a user who already owns an amplifier or active speakers and wishes to add streaming and network playback functions, without starting over with a complete system. It suits both everyday listening via streaming services and more demanding use with Hi-Res files stored locally or played via Roon.