Cambridge Audio L/R Series Active Streaming Speakers announced

[kharan]

I've just seen a review of the 'S' model which states that all analogue and digital inputs are digitized to 24bit/48kHz in the DSP. IMO that's pretty disappointing for a $950 AU speaker in 2026. Not sure if it will be the same case for the higher models.

What's the issue? That's the proper way to do it.

 

[Matias]

AFAIK all Neumann monitors are also sampled at 24/48 on its inputs.

 

[pieterv1]

The large models have audio pass through from the main speaker to the other over USB C or even WISA for the "X" version, specified at 24/96 kHz.

The analog inputs themselves might be capped at 24/48 as well - which I'm totally fine with. 24 bit resolution is great actually. What matters a lot more is the tonal character and quality of the phono preamp.

 

[kharan]

For that matter the 25k AU$ D&D 8C also resamples to 24:48.

 

[DazST]

What's the issue? That's the proper way to do it.

I'm still learning about all this stuff, but wouldn't that make it redundant to use a higher specced external dac/preamp?

 

[pieterv1]

Indeed it doesn't make a lot of sense to add a higher end DAC to their analog input.
Although a DAC could of course provide a cleaner signal than the headphone output of your phone, computer..

But then again, it makes a lot more sense to connect those through USB and have it use the internal DAC

 

[Head_Unit]

This thread is an interesting illustration of the power of marketing ... We are a Science oriented forum, yet we are discussing a speaker line for which , on the website there is not (no?) much mentions of measurements of these speakers

I think the excitement is having another entry in the less-boring-looking category, and for me with a large tweeter waveguide. As a loudspeaker engineer I have wondered for literally decades why those have not found wider use, considering the minimal cost upgrade for essentially deepening a plastic front faceplate. Maybe the lack of knowledge of horn/waveguide design has made it too intimidating to most designers, I dunno. Or the marketing/sales folks are too scared to have echoes of long-ago raspy horns pollute their customers' perceptions.

I'm curious to see measurements...though at $2300 a pair for the top model (the only one I might consider, 2x5" is like my minimum) not sure how excited I am. Spending that much I'd probably stretch up to my JBL CBT 70J-1 plan, or the alternative of Genelec 8040b.

 

[Matias]

10K views · 169 reactions | Demo time with the @cambridgeaudio L/R X at AXPONA with @fidelityimportsusa These things are a crazy amount of fun! Stylish design, punchy sound and no additional electronics needed, just plug them in and go! Check the

Demo time with the @cambridgeaudio L/R X at AXPONA with @fidelityimportsusa These things are a crazy amount of fun! Stylish design, punchy sound and no additional electronics needed, just plug them...

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