Latest news with #streamingamplifier
Forbes
27-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Cambridge Audio Reveals Award-Winning Evo 150 Special Edition Streaming Amplifier
The new Cambridge Audio Evo 150SE is a special edition of the company's award-winning mini streaming ... More amplifier. It's been a busy month for the classic British brand Cambridge Audio. Not only has the company launched a brand-new pair of wireless earbuds and a smart corporate rebrand, but it's also announced a major update to its highly regarded Evo all-in-one streaming amplifier. The new and enhanced special edition of the award-winning Evo 150 has been designed and engineered in London. The Evo 150SE offers powerful amplification and runs on the StreamMagic platform. The whole caboodle is contained in an elegant and customizable case. All users need to do is add a pair of speakers. 'Evo 150 has been a very special product for Cambridge, merging true hi-fi sound with lifestyle-friendly aesthetics and convenience in a way that has really resonated with listeners. For this special edition, we've pushed the boundaries of what to expect from Class D amplification – an even more musical, emotive listening experience in a design that has been further refined,' says Matt Dore, Chief Technical Officer of Cambridge Audio. All the Cambridge Audio Evo 150SE needs is a pair of speakers. Half-Century Of Heritage Cambridge Audio started as a boutique audio business based in London. Its first product was the groundbreaking P40 amplifier, which was unveiled way back in 1968. Since then, Cambridge Audio has been making hi-fi separates and the Evo 150 SE is the latest to join the range. Designed, engineered at the company's London HQ, the Evo 150SE is tuned to deliver an emotive sound, with clarity, resolution and a sense of rhythm. To create the amplification, Cambridge Audio worked closely with Hypex to produce the NCOREx 'Tuned by Cambridge' Class D amplifier technology. The amplifier is highly efficient and compact, but still manages to maintain the signature sound that Cambridge Audio is known for. The new NCOREx 'Tuned by Cambridge' module delivers 150W per channel into 8Ω, which means it can drive all but the most demanding of speakers. The Evo 150SE from Cambridge Audio has Hypex NCOREx Class D amplification officially 'Tuned by ... More Cambridge" and offering 150W per channel into 8Ω. With this special edition, improvements have been made to the entire audio signal path to tweak the sound further. After hundreds of hours auditioning many different component variations, as well as improving the quality of the vital components, Cambridge Audio has made the Evo 150 SE sound more detailed, open and engaging. Comprehensive Connections The new Evo 150 SE is built around Cambridge Audio's 4th generation StreamMagic platform for seamless and stable streaming across a wide range of music streaming services, radio stations and digital audio file formats. The new StreamMagic can stream Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Roon Ready, UPnP and Internet Radio using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Cambridge owns and develops the StreamMagic platform and develops new features and services in-house so that the ecosystem is regularly improved with extended functionality. The Evo 150SE may be small, but it is bristling with inputs and outputs. For maximum wireless flexibility, the Evo 150 SE also has options to stream wirelessly with Bluetooth aptX HD, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. To share music across devices all around the home, the unit is fully compatible with Google Home, Apple AirPlay and Roon multi room systems. All The Right Connections As well as wireless connectivity, the Evo 150SE has plenty of wired inputs. There is HDMI ARC for connecting to a TV, a moving-magnet (MM) phono stage for a hi-fi turntable, plus RCA line input and balanced XLR inputs for handling the analog sources. In addition, there are two optical digital inputs, a coaxial digital input, USB Audio and USB Media sockets for further digital options that are passed to an ESS SABRE ES9018k2m DAC. Adding a subwoofer to the Evo 150Se is simple thanks to a dedicated sub out. There are also pre-outs for using the Evo 150 SE as a pre-amp to feed a power amp such as the Cambridge Audio Edge. Two pairs of speaker outputs enable the use of dual listening zones, for a secondary set of speakers in another room or even an outside area. There is a matching Evo CD transport to go with the Evo 150SE. The Evo 150 SE can be paired with the Evo CD, a dedicated compact disc transport that's designed to match the build and sonic quality of the main unit. The Evo CD integrates with the Evo 150 SE, making it easy and convenient to breathe life back into a CD library. While all the functionality of the Evo 150SE can be accessed using the StreamMagic app and the HDMI ARC connection enables simple volume control through a TV remote, there is a dedicated remote control supplied for ease of use for anyone in the room. A Timeless Look The original Evo 150 won a Red Dot Design Award for its timeless look and clean lines, as well as its minimalist retro-modern look from designer Ged Martin. The Evo 150 SE refines the design with enhancements and an update. The Evo 150SE has the bold new Cambridge branding and ships with two swappable side panels including ... More the wood version shown here. The compact footprint of this all-in-one streaming amplifier is 12 inches square, which is the same size as the sleeve for a vinyl LP. However, despite its small size, the unit still manages to house a 6.8-inch color screen, which can be switched between a purely functional look or one with a dash of retro-chic style. Other options include a clock display, album artwork, info on the current track or even a pair of virtual VU meters. There are two side-panel designs with the Evo 150 SE and they magnetically attach to the casing and are easy to swap over. There's a choice of classic real wood or modern industrial chic, so users can switch things around to match their mood or décor. The Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE is available from July 2025 at as well as approved retailers. The price will be $3,299 / £1,999 / €2.399.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WiiM Boosts Amplifier Lineup With New 100W Model With Elegant Screen And Streamer
The new WiiM Amp Ultra is being launched at High-End Munich and offers 100W pr channel with the ... More latest WiiM streamer technology. It's that time of year again when the world's hi-fi buffs descend on the Bavarian capital of Munich for the High-End Show, where some of the world's most expensive and newest audio equipment is on show. Launching at High-End Munich is the new WiiM Amp Ultra, WiiM's most powerful and refined streaming amplifier to date. Housed in an aluminum chassis and with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, the WiiM Amp Ultra offers 100W per channel output and an ultra-low distortion sound. Designed following feedback from WiiM's community of users, the WiiM Amp Ultra builds on the streaming power of the WiiM Amp Pro and combines it with the premium display used in the WiiM Ultra. Like all the brand's products, the WiiM Amp Ultra connects via the WiiM Home app, enabling whole-home control, automatic room correction, multi-room grouping and access to dozens of streaming platforms. Users can control their entire setup using the app, voice assistants or the WiiM Voice Remote 2 which comes with the Amp Ultra. Regular firmware updates ensure the Amp Ultra gets new features and improvements over time. The new WiiM Amp Ultra combines streamer and amplifier in one device. 'The WiiM Amp Ultra reflects the voice of our community,' says Dr. Lifeng Zhao, CEO of WiiM. 'Our users wanted more power, refinement, and connectivity, without losing the high-fidelity audio, and we listened. This amplifier was designed for discerning listeners who want to elevate their setups with precision, clarity, and smarter connectivity.' The WiiM Amp Ultra can drive up to four passive speakers, making it suitable for creating immersive sound in one large room or across multiple zones around the home. Whether connecting to a TV for theater-quality audio, streaming playlists or upgrading vintage stereo gear, the Amp Ultra has many uses. With 100W per channel at 8Ω and the ability to drive up to four speakers, the WiiM Amp Ultra offers Dolby Digital decoding, HDMI ARC and a dedicated subwoofer output for creating a home theater sound. Designed with flexible input and out options, the device uses 32-bit/384kHz ESS ES9039Q2M SABRE DAC, dual TI TPA3255 Class-D amp chips and six TI OPA1612 op-amps for low distortion and detailed sound. WiiM Amp Ultra is a small and neat all-one streamer and amplifier. The display on the new WiiM Amp Ultra is a touchscreen and measures 3.5 inches. The glass-covered screen has playback controls, input switching, EQ settings, queue view, custom wallpapers, VU meters, Smart Preset, Recently Played, Internet Radio and more. Other features include post-filter feedback technology for stable, load-independent performance across all speaker types, serving up clean sound and improved amplifier control. With Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and dual antennas, WiiM says its new amp offers fast and reliable wireless streaming. Automatic Room Correction is included with the WiiM Amp Ultra and can correct sound using precise acoustic measurements of a room, creating customized corrections. The WiiM Amp Ultra supports Google Cast, Alexa Cast, DLNA, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect, with seamless access to top music services like Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, and more via the WiiM Home App. It also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and the WiiM Voice Remote for hands-free control. It pairs with the WiiM Sound and WiiM streamers for a complete setup, working within the broader WiiM Ecosystem. However, like the WiiM Amp Pro, it has no support for Apple AirPlay, which might put some people off. The two other WiiM products being launched at High-End Munich are the WiiM Sound portable speaker and the WiiM Sub Pro. The WiiM Sound and WiiM Sub Pro are the first smart speaker and subwoofer from WiiM. This launch marks a turning point in the WiiM ecosystem, expanding its reach with more connected audio products. The little WiiM Sound speakers is a standalone wireless speaker designed to compete with Sonos. The WiiM Sound is a compact and powerful speaker that can be placed on a shelf, counter or wall mounted. It offers 100W of output through a 4-inch woofer and dual-balanced mode radiator tweeters. There is support for up to 192 kHz/32-bit high-resolution streaming. With the WiiM Sound, users can quickly switch playlists, adjust the volume or move the music to another room by using the WiiM app on a smartphone. Multiple WiiM Sound speakers can be added throughout a home for multi-room operation, with music playing in every space and controlled using the WiiM Home App or by asking Google or Alexa. The new WiiM Sound is the first all-in-one speaks from the brand. Users can also control playback directly via the speaker's 1.8-inch touchscreen, while the WiiM Home App enables automatic room correction, EQ customization, and preset management for a personalized listening experience. The new Sound speaker is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and 100 Mbps Ethernet for reliable streaming. Advanced sound customization provides 24 preset EQ profiles and a 10-band graphic and parametric EQ for even more precise adjustments. Room Correction takes precise acoustic measurements of a room, creating a customized correction. Two WiiM Sound speakers can be paired to create a left/right stereo setup for a wider soundstage. There new WiiM Sub Pro has 250W of output and automatic room correction. As well as being used as a standalone speaker, the WiiM Sound can also function as a surround or center channel speaker in a Dolby 5.1 setup for home cinema use. The speaker also supports direct streaming from Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA or Alexa Cast. No support for AirPlay, though. The last of the trio of new products from WiiM is a 250W subwoofer designed to amplify home audio with deep bass. Engineered with an 8-inch driver and Class-D amplifier, the new WiiM Sub Pro has a frequency range from 30Hz to 200Hz, making it suitable for music, movies and games. The Sub Pro also has automatic room correction, an RCA input for flexible connectivity, plus support for audio streaming via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth using the WiiM Home app. The WiiM Amp Ultra, including the Voice Remote 2, will be available in Q3 2025 through Amazon and select retail partners. WiiM Sound and Sub Pro will be available in Q3 2025 on Amazon and at select retailers. No pricing info has been released yet. For more information, visit
