Cambridge Audio Evo One review: a stunning first streaming speaker

Introduction

Cambridge Audio knows plenty about hi-fi separates, but it’s a relative newcomer to all in one wireless speaker streamers. The Evo One is a heck of a first attempt, though. This minimal monolith squeezes 14 speakers inside its real walnut-topped chassis, and has all the hi-res streaming support you’d expect from a brand as laser-focused on sound quality as this one.

If $1499/£1299 sounds like a lot for a single box streaming system, keep in mind this actually undercuts the firm’s own EVO 75 – which, don’t forget, asked you to supply your own speakers. It’s seemingly priced to take on the wooden wonder that is the Ruark R410, as well as long-running premium wireless speakers from the likes of Naim. Can it possibly shunt them to second place at the first time of asking?

Design & build: simple meets stylish

No, it’s not a pricey-looking chopping board – and considering how much the Cambridge Audio Evo One costs, slicing and dicing your veggies on one probably isn’t the smartest idea. That top panel is made from genuine walnut wood, so each one already has a unique look without you scratching it up with your kitchen knives. You’re looking at an all-in-one hi-fi system, not an over-engineered cooking utensil.

I think it’s quite the imposing thing, with acoustic fabric wrapped around all four sides to disguise the speaker drivers. A sizeable 6.8in screen takes pride of place up front, while all the wired connectivity is found around back. It takes up more countertop space than a Ruark R410 and weighs several kilos more, so you’ll want to pick a permanent home and leave it there.

The row of illuminated buttons underneath the screen, which handle power, playback, volume and inputs, don’t necessarily need to be in arms’ reach, as there’s a remote control included in the box. It’s pretty plasticky, though, and not nearly as distinctive as Ruark’s rotary dial remote. The speaker itself has the materials and build quality you’d expect given the asking price.

Features: get connected

Setup can be as easy as plugging in the power cord and joining your Wi-Fi network, using the StreamMagic smartphone companion app. From there you can stream via AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect or Bluetooth, get hi-res music with Tidal Connect, Deezer or Qobuz, and add the Cambridge Audio Evo One into a Room multi-room setup. There’s internet radio, too, but no DAB or FM.

The speed at which it resumed playback after being powered down, and started streaming from new online sources was very impressive. It was a world away from the struggles the Stuff team has had recently with Sonos kit, following the disastrous app update.

Want to hook up a turntable or other audio gear? There are phono, digital optical and auxiliary inputs at the rear, along with a USB port for playing media from external storage. Ethernet is also on board in case your Wi-Fi isn’t up to snuff. An HDMI port with eARC means you can turn this into a rather chunky soundbar underneath your TV if you wish. There’s no second port for passthrough, though, and no subwoofer out either. While this system can deliver a good whack of low-end oomph (more on that in the sound quality section further down the page), it won’t rattle your furniture like a dedicated home cinema subwoofer placed behind your sofa will.

I’m a big fan of screens on streaming speakers, as it saves you having to reach for your phone to work out what’s playing. As much as the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition is a statement piece, the Evo One’s glanceable display is a lot more convenient. It has a superbly sharp and detailed 1,280×480 resolution, giving much better clarity than the Ruark R410’s more basic LCD display. Naturally it’ll show off album artwork and rattle off track information, but I’ve stuck with the retro VU meters that mesmerically tick along to your tunes. I’m glad it’s not a touchscreen, too, as there’s no danger of covering the glass with fingerprint smudges, and you can turn it off completely if you like.

Interface: stream on

The screen and remote combo let you control the basics, but you’ll want to download Cambridge’s StreamMagic smartphone app to get the most out of the Evo One’s extensive selection of streaming services. Not every input is selectable on the unit itself unless you toggle them on – handy if you have no intention of wiring up a turntable or are an Apple-only household, so have no use for Google Cast. Being able to set individual volume limits for each source is really useful if there’s a big variance between them, too.

You can set up an extensive number of playlist, radio station and streaming source shortcuts, with three available via the remote control and the others through the app. There’s also a seven-band equaliser with six presets, but no way to save different custom EQs or have them apply only to specific inputs.

The speaker placement and room compensation settings are well worth digging into, as they can elevate the Evo One’s sound to another level. You’ve still got to be somewhat sensible with where you stick the speaker in a room, but it made a big difference in my home office. Bass was a little more controlled, and the rest of the frequency range was that little bit cleaner.

Sound quality: box of brilliance

Cambridge has crammed 14 speakers behind the Evo One’s fabric grille: four 1in tweeters, four 2.25in mid-range drivers and six 2.75in long-throw woofers, all fuelled by 700W of Class D amplification. On numbers alone it makes this a potent single-box system, and I can confirm it absolutely backs that up with its sonic performance.

This is a seriously loud speaker, with a much wider soundstage than you’d expect given its size. It doesn’t have a narrow listening sweet spot like some wireless speakers do, so does a fantastic job at filling rooms with music. I rarely needed to go beyond 25% when I was listening alone just a few feet away, and 50% was approaching the point my neighbours would be able to hear lyrics just as well as I could.

Its composure only falters at the very upper limit of the volume range, where the low-end becomes a little too dominant and intrudes on the mid-range – though I honestly don’t think the majority of owners will notice, seeing how you’ve got to be listening at truly anti-social levels. It stays strong at higher volumes than some of its closest rivals can, and everywhere else the Cambridge Audio Evo One delivers punchy yet nuanced sound.

The deep vocals and squelching bass on Bou’s Wicked & Dark have fantastic presence, without compromising the rest of the frequency spectrum. There’s a warmth and tonality to the mid-range and smoothness to the high-end that makes this a very easy system to listen to, if lacking just the tiniest bit of treble precision. The custom EQ can more than make up for this if you like your rock and electronic tracks to have a little extra bite. It comfortably handles more nuanced tracks, too. The vocals on Fable by Gigi Perez are wonderfully delicate, while given room to breathe above the acoustic guitar backing.

Cambridge Audio Evo One verdict

With clean, sophisticated styling, a sharp screen, extensive streaming support and a comprehensive companion app, the Cambridge Audio Evo One is everything you could want from a wireless speaker system. It pumps out loud, impactful audio that belies its dimensions, and has just enough wired connections for your analogue kit.

It’s hardly a class of one, and the similarly-priced competition is incredibly strong. Ruark has the slight edge for retro charm, and the the gracefully ageing Naim Mu-So 2nd gen has somehow now become the value option. Yet neither quite nail the user experience like Cambridge Audio has here, and the Evo One shouts louder too.

The Evo One’s size might restrict its appeal, and the beefiest of bass notes at extreme volumes reveal its upper limits. But ultimately these are minor quibbles about what is otherwise a superb one-box streamer.

Cambridge Audio Evo One technical specifications

Drivers	14 (4x 1in tweeters, 4x 2.25in mid-range drivers, 6x 2.75in woofers)
Amplification	700W (Class D)
Connectivity	HDMI eARC, Digital Optical, Phono, USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Streaming	Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Chromecast, Internet radio, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Cambridge StreamMagic (Gen 4)
Dimensions	675x129x290mm, 14.5kg