Cambridge Audio Announces the Evo One, a Walnut-Tinged Wireless Speaker with Midcentury Modern Aesthetics

As a seasoned gamer and audiophile with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the Cambridge Audio Evo One has truly caught my eye (and ear). Having grown up with a mix of retro and modern gaming systems, I’ve always appreciated equipment that seamlessly blends timeless aesthetics with cutting-edge technology.

Cambridge Audio has recently unveiled their newest wireless streaming speaker, the Evo One, which is nothing short of stunning.

Created by Red Dot Award-winning designer Ged Martin, Evo One is a versatile device that caters to contemporary listening requirements. It seamlessly works with widely used streaming platforms such as Tidal, Spotify, along with more specialized ones like Qobuz, Deezer, and Roon.

The Evo One speaker resembles a large cereal box lying on its side and boasts four mesh walls concealing a total of fourteen drivers. These drivers collectively offer 700 watts of amplification, immersing the room in 360-degree audio. This auditory armory comprises four one-inch silk dome tweeters, four 2.25-inch aluminum midrange cones, and six long-throw woofers (2.75 inches each). Each of these components has been meticulously adjusted to embody Cambridge Audio’s acclaimed sound quality, a legacy that the company has nurtured since its founding in 1968.

On the Evo One, Cambridge Audio employs a genuine walnut veneer, imparting an elegant, high-quality tactile experience. Due to variations in wood grain, each speaker is distinct, ensuring no two are identical. This unique quality makes the Evo One a striking, one-of-a-kind sight. It’s evident that the British brand has meticulously crafted this new product, aiming for its latest speaker to seamlessly blend with and enhance the aesthetic appeal of people’s homes.

On the face of the speaker, there’s a vibrant, 6.8-inch colored screen that blends traditional and contemporary designs. Users can customize this display to show various options such as a clock, changing album artwork with each song, or vintage virtual VU meters reminiscent of early home audio systems. The surrounding mesh, also mentioned earlier, is what Cambridge Audio calls “acoustically transparent fabric,” allowing music to flow freely throughout the room without obstruction. The nearly black dark grey material harmonizes well with the earthy brown walnut on top of the Evo One, creating a subtle color scheme that doesn’t distract from the main focus – the music itself.

Regarding music systems, the Evo One stands out with sophisticated digital signal processing, providing an exceptional level of clarity and bass depth that surpasses expectations for a one-box design, according to Cambridge Audio. If the sound isn’t quite to your taste, you can customize it using the built-in seven-band equalizer, which can be adjusted either through the remote control provided or via the StreamMagic app, available for both iOS and Android devices. Furthermore, Evo One is proficient at streaming uncompressed high-resolution audio, a feature accessible through the StreamMagic app as well. In addition to this, it offers standard connectivity options such as Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and Google Cast.

The Cambridge Audio Evo One wouldn’t be true to its brand if it didn’t accommodate audiophiles, and it does so by offering several wired connection options for those who prefer them over wireless. These include HDMI eARC for TV and home cinema setups, optical digital input, auxiliary-in, an ethernet port for a stable internet connection, USB, and even a built-in moving-magnet phono stage for turntables, including models like the Technics 1200 series without built-in preamps.

The Cambridge Audio Evo One can be purchased right away from their official site or certain authorized dealers, with a price tag of 1,299 GBP, 1,499 EUR, or 1,499 USD respectively.

2024-08-09 11:26

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