Combining Award-winning kit from two fantastic British hi-fi companies
The other three systems in this high-performing quartet are multifaceted – in that they each have at least two sources on offer. It makes sense, though, to have a system in this group that is more streamlined in outlook. This set-up keeps things as simple as possible by dealing with streaming music in its many forms – and leaves it at that.
Network streamer: Cambridge Audio CXN V2
You, as the end user, should know that this trio of Award-winning products can form the basis of a far expanded set-up easily enough: just add CD player, turntable (with a phono stage), even a tape deck if that’s your thing, at a later date and it will be a system that will serve you wonderfully. But not everyone has need of any extra fripperies in their music listening. If you have young kids or unruly pets, pretty much the last thing you would need exposed in your home is a valuable turntable and fragile, vulnerable 12-inch vinyl records. No, a couple of well-built pieces of kit married to a solid pair of loudspeakers will serve you very well indeed.
Which is what we have here. The Cambridge Audio pairing are long time favourites of ours here at What Hi-Fi?, and they work brilliantly together, not surprisingly. And the original B&W 606 certainly wasn’t broken when the S2 Anniversary Edition was introduced – it won What Hi-Fi? Best Buy Awards itself – but the new model is an undeniable step up, and will suit any number of set-ups.
We’ll start with the source, as it is a real superstar of its type. Most importantly it sounds really vibrant and enthusiastic, whatever type of music you throw at it. As we describe in our review of the Cambridge Audio CXN (V2): “We play Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, and Stevie Nicks’ soulful, sweet singing is full bodied and beautifully conveyed. The way she shifts between notes is smooth, and the occasional words clipped to keep her rhythm are snappy and insightful. Even the odd vocalisation – the hums and aahs – are detailed and full of melancholy musings.”
As our review points out: “Most half-decent streamers could reproduce the basics of this song, but it takes something more talented to dig into the emotional core of this track and deliver it – and that’s what this Cambridge does.”
The Cambridge streamer is wonderfully even across the range as well, delivering hard-hitting bass with a light-stepping, twinkling treble – all of which helps convey a tune with tight timing and provide a sound t
