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Cambridge Audio Evo high-end streaming amp comes out of the woods

Two new all-in-one streaming amps take on the Naim Uniti Atom with wooden panels and HDMI ARC connections.

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Ty Pendlebury Editor
Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.
Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has been writing about home entertainment since 2004. He majored in Cinema Studies when studying at RMIT. He is an avid record collector and streaming music enthusiast. Credentials
  • Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
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Ty Pendlebury
2 min read
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Cambridge Audio

Cambridge Audio has a history of doing things its own way -- Bluetooth turntables, anyone? -- so its new high-end streaming amp's quirks are perfectly on-brand. The Cambridge Audio Evo offers wooden trim, a "dual concentric dial" and a higher-power version aimed directly at the competition: the Naim Uniti Atom and the NAD M10. 

There are two Evo models with self-explanatory names and audiophile-worthy prices. The Evo 150 ($3,000, £2,249) is rated at 150 watts per channel, and the Evo 75 ($2,250, £1,799) at 75 watts per channel. 

Both models look as stunning as you'd expect for the price, with replaceable panels and large 6.8-inch LCD displays. They offer a wide range of wireless connectivity, too, including Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast built-in, Qobuz, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and internet radio.

The entry-level Evo 75 also includes an HDMI ARC port for TV connections, an RCA auxiliary input, and optical and coaxial digital inputs. Unlike the NAD M10 it also includes a headphone output in addition to subwoofer and preamp connections. The Evo 150 adds a hefty amount of connectivity to its hefty increase of power, including a phono input, USB DAC, XLR and another digital input. 

The company also makes an accompanying Evo CD player ($950, £799) and Evo S speakers for ($750, £649) for people who still listen to CDs and like matching sets.

Although they're definitely not cheap, all-in-one streaming amps like the Evo are great for apartments and smaller living spaces. They're compact and can still power decent-sized speakers, and the ability to connect a TV means they can double as an AV system as well. If you have some fancy speakers -- B&W 700s or Elac Carinas for example -- the Evo 150 in particular could be a good match.  

Australian availability and pricing is yet to be announced; £2,249 converts to about AU$4,060 for comparison.