The Cambridge Audio Evo 150 DeLorean Edition: This is Heavy, Doc!

Alongside active streaming loudspeakers like the recently-reviewed Sonus faber Duetto, all-in-one streaming amplifiers are the future of high-end audio, at least for those audiophiles who seek great sound but don’t aspire to own stacks of old-school separates. There are numerous products currently available in this popular category, from familiar brands like NAD, Marantz, and NAIM. For my money, the most visually attractive entrant is surely the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 ($3K). Now the British brand is upping that model’s cool-factor even further with the introduction of the Evo 150 DeLorean Edition ($3,199), the first product to celebrate Cambridge Audio’s official partnership with the DeLorean Motor Company, Inc. In 2022, it was announced that Cambridge would develop an in-car sound system for a new generation of electric vehicles under the legendary DeLorean name.

From Day One, the relationship between our two brands has been fueled by a bold attitude and an emotional connection to the music we all love. DeLorean evokes genuine passion, and mirrors Cambridge’s approach to music in everything it does. This special edition of one of our most loved products reveals the bare bones of the Evo 150 in all its glory and reflects the design attributes that have made DeLorean iconic.

— James Johnson-Flint, owner of Cambridge Audio

Inside the DeLorean Edition, you’ll find the same all-in-one integrated amplifier and network player featuring 150 watts per channel (into 8 ohms) of Hypex NCore Class D power. Since this amp is fully stable into 4 ohms, a user can plug in two pairs of 8 ohm nominally rated loudspeakers if they want more sound output or coverage. The integrated MM phono stage accommodates a wide variety of turntables, and a balanced XLR input allows for pairing with other high-quality electronics. On the digital side of things, the DeLorean Edition shares the award-winning original’s use of a high-quality ESS SABRE ES9018k2m Reference DAC chip, for “highly accurate and detailed musical performance,” according to Cambridge. This DAC is fed from either the built-in StreamMagic Gen 4 streaming platform, or from the matching Evo CD transport. The Evo DeLorean Edition also offers Bluetooth aptX HD for (relatively) high-quality playback from and to compatible Bluetooth devices. Finally, the Evo is compatible with Google Home, Apple Airplay, and the all-important audiophile favorite, Roon. So far, so similar to the original. What sets the DeLorean Edition apart? You guessed it: style.

The way I see it, if you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?

— Dr. Emmett Brown, Inventor of Time Travel

We are super excited to continue our partnership with Cambridge. Both our brands have put their stamp on the past and are still committed to defining the future. Motoring and music have always gone hand in hand. This DeLorean Edition is the perfect way to show your love of both, even when you’re not enjoying the open road.

— Cameron Wynne, Chief Brand Officer for DeLorean

The Cambridge Audio Evo 150 DeLorean Edition: Style

The high-performance chassis of the DeLorean Edition is stripped down to bare metal, with “meticulously crafted, brushed bodywork and sumptuous silver detailing that pay homage to the iconic DeLorean DMC-12,” according to Cambridge audio. Its interchangeable magnetic side panels allow you to customize the look of the amp, “celebrating both the past and future of DeLorean Motor Company.” The first DeLorean-themed body kit takes you on a nostalgia trip to the 1980s, with a look that evokes the front grille and classic logo of the original DMC-12, as seen and immortalized in Back to the Future. Within just a few seconds, you can swap out the magnetic side panels to show off the next chapter for DeLorean. The brushed metal panels feature an all-new logo from the forthcoming DeLorean ultra-luxury electric sports car. The Evo’s acclaimed dual-concentric rotary dial and large 6.8-inch LCD panel complete the look. As on the original Evo, the LCD display can show album artwork in full color, but now there’s another way to take advantage of all that liquid crystal real estate. New to the DeLorean Edition is the option to view VU meters on the unit’s large high-resolution display. This much-requested feature shows the live signal levels of audio equipment in “volume units.” VU meters have become a must-have retro aesthetic feature on new amps that harken back to a golden era of analog audio amplification. (We’ve seen and admired VU meters on recent amps from Yamaha and NAD, for example.) And owners of the original Evo 75 and Evo 150 models are in luck, as Cambridge will be introducing VU meters to its existing Evo lineup via an over-the-air (OTA) software update in May 2024.

This update shows our ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation in the Evo range – those out there with listeners, as well as those Evo products yet to come. Watch out for further exciting developments coming to Evo!

— James Johnson-Flint

Cambridge reminds us that the acoustically-matched Cambridge Audio Evo S bookshelf speakers can be added for $799 to form “a cutting-edge network hi-fi system.” The Evo 150 DeLorean Edition is available now in North America and Asia via cambridgeaudio.com and from select retailers, like our friends at Audio Advice. Cambridge fans in the EU can expect the Evo 150 DeLorean Edition to land on European shores this April. 

More information: Cambridge Audio

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.