Cambridge Audio ‘EX Series’ Amp and Streamer Overview

Late in 2024, Cambridge Audio has launched a new product line called the EX Series, comprising the EXA100 stereo integrated amplifier ($2,199) and EXN100 music streamer ($1,799). In terms of price, these products sit nicely between Cambridge’s more affordable CX Series and the top-of-the-line Edge products. The EX Series is reportedly the result of a three-year project, promising “a serious step up in performance and versatility,” according to the company. Cambridge tells us that the EX Series is the spiritual successor to the company’s venerable Azur 851 range, and that the EXA100 amp benefits from trickledown technology from Cambridge’s flagship Edge M monoblock power amp (which is a great amp, by the way). Let’s see what these new EX Series have to offer. 

Cambridge Audio EXA100 Integrated Amp

Rated to deliver 100 watts per channel into 8 Ohms (and 155 watts RMS into 4 Ohms), the EXA100 is a Class AB integrated with a sound that is “both muscular and refined… incredibly detailed (and) fabulously textured,” according to Cambridge. It offers impressive connectivity, a built-in DAC, and a dedicated Power Amp Mode — more on that later. At the heart of the amp is what Cambridge describes as “an advanced beast of a toroidal transformer,” which is said to be heavily shielded and super-quiet. 

Cambridge Audio Shaped the Heatsinks Around the Central Torodial Transformer - Very Slick!

On either side of the transformer, polished heavy-duty heatsinks can be seen through the grilles on the amp’s top panel. Cambridge says that the amp modules themselves are based on those in the Edge M power amp, and that the exact same power transistors used in the costlier Edge amps are used in the EXA100. The amp also features four-layer PCBs, and a proprietary CAP protection system. The latter uses four different methods to detect potential issues, according to Cambridge, enabling the amp to take preventive action in the event of power and temperature overloads. Grounding within the circuit design has been carefully considered at every stage, according to the company.

Inputs include one set of balanced XLRs, plus a set of RCA inputs that you can use instead if you don’t have a balanced source. There are another three unbalanced inputs on RCAs to round out the analog connectivity. Somewhat unusually these days, the EXA100 doesn’t have a phono input, but it does have a built-in DAC, with an array of digital inputs. HDMI eARC enables easy connection to a TV, and an asynchronous USB input allows for connection to a PC, Mac, or music server. One digital coax and two TOSLINK optical sockets provide plenty of wired options, alongside Bluetooth with aptX HD for convenient wireless connection, albeit with reduced audio quality. The DAC is based on an ESS Sabre ES9018K2M chip. On the output side, the EXA100 includes a stereo pre-out and a mono subwoofer pre-out, two sets of speaker outputs, and a 6.3mm headphone socket. An optional Power Amp Mode turns the main XLR/RCA input (Input 1) into a direct input to the EXA100’s power amp section, circumventing the preamp and all controls. This will come in handy for those needing a home theater bypass, or for anyone pairing the EXA100 with the matching EXN100 music streamer, and using the latter’s built-in digital Preamp Mode with volume control. It also allows the EXA100 to be paired with the analog preamp of your choice, should you decide to pursue the separates route down the line.

As part of an all-new series, the EXA100 boasts a new look for Cambridge, with styling features that include a milled aluminum front panel and a tactile knurled volume knob. Cambridge says that the amp “looks as powerful as it sounds,” and I do think it looks like it means business, with its Lunar Grey finish and full-height black center panel. The EXA100 comes with a newly-designed remote control, which Cambridge says is “reassuringly substantial… intuitive, (and) thoughtfully designed.”

We believe this is, pound for pound, the finest amplifier we’ve ever built. It exemplifies the new EX Series, overdelivering on performance and versatility in this category. EXA100 is a serious step up for anyone upgrading from our CX amps, and the perfect stepping stone to the Edge range.

— James Johnson-Flint, Owner and CEO of Cambridge Audio

Cambridge Audio EXN100 Music Streamer

The streaming brains of the new EX Series come in the form of the EXN100 streamer, which appears to be a thoroughly souped-up and improved version of the less expensive CXN100 streamer — itself a good value at its $1,100 price. Using the CXN100 as a starting point, Cambridge’s engineers reportedly “took the ESS Reference DAC… and drove it to new heights of excellence through meticulous tuning of the signal path. Every last drop of performance has been squeezed out to help it reach its full potential.” At the core of the EXN100 is an ESS ES9028Q2M SABRE32 Reference DAC, which is a meaningful upgrade over the chip used in the EXA100 amp. The 9028 boasts superb dynamic range and ultra-low distortion, according to Cambridge. Of course, a digital source component is more than just the DAC chip used — sound quality is also determined by the power supply and analog output stage. Compared to the CXN100, the new EXN100 benefits from “significant changes made to the post-DAC analog stage,” according to the company. These reportedly include the use of hand-picked signal path components, including super-premium Nisshinbo Muses Op Amps, which are said to increase clarity and separation while contributing to “an incredible soundstage.” External upgrades over the CXN100 include the addition of HDMI eARC in the EXN100, plus a 25% larger color display, and a new premium design with thicker casework. Like the EXA100 amp, the new streamer has a milled aluminum front panel and a knurled control knob. Cambridge says that these new components are “a tactile delight” to use.

Built around the 4th generation of Cambridge Audio’s home-grown StreamMagic streaming platform, the EXN100 offers Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Roon Ready certification, and access to countless streaming services (including Qobuz) from within the StreamMagic app. Interestingly, the EXN100 does not include a physical remote. If you purchase an EX Series stack, you can use the remote that comes with the amp. If you only buy the streamer but prefer to use a physical remote instead of an app to control your tunes, you can purchase the EX Series system remote separately.

On the back of the EXN100, digital connectivity includes USB, coaxial, TOSLINK, and HDMI eARC inputs, plus an ethernet jack for those who prefer to eschew WiFi. However you connect to your network, you can use Chromecast or Apple AirPlay 2 if the StreamMagic platform doesn’t do it for you. The EXN100 is also fully compatible with Google Home, according to Cambridge Audio. Analog outputs are provided on both RCA and XLR. Optical and coaxial digital outputs allow the use of an external DAC. If you do use the built-in DAC (which I think most EXN100 buyers will), you can activate the streamer’s Preamp Mode to make it a digital control hub, with volume controllable via the StreamMagic app, the EX Series remote control, or that lovely front-mounted rotary dial. Cambridge thinks that many buyers of the EX Series stack will go this route to keep the whole system controllable via the app.

We’ve spent 13 years developing and honing our StreamMagic platform, listening to customers to create a stable, great-sounding streaming experience. EXN100 is the perfect modern vehicle for that StreamMagic technology, and our best music streamer yet.

— Matt Dore, Chief Technical Officer of Cambridge Audio

Cambridge Audio EX Series Wrap-Up

Both the EXA100 and EXN100 are available now from the Cambridge website and from authorized retailers. The EX Series components look very promising, and while many buyers will take home the stack, the amp in particular is calling to me. We know from our recent experience with the Cambridge Audio MXN10 streamer and Cambridge Audio EVO 150 streaming amplifier that Cambridge is very capable of designing and engineering five-star products at a variety of price points. My only criticism is that buyers of the EX Series stack are paying twice for features that appear on both units. For some users, the fact that the amplifier has a built-in DAC with HDMI eARC and AptX HD Bluetooth will surely be a major selling point. But for others — those who plan to add the EXN100 streamer or some other digital source with its own connectivity — those features on the amplifier will feel like wasted money. Do you like having lots of features packed into an integrated amp, or do you prefer a more purist approach? What do you think of the EX Series from Cambridge Audio? Share your thoughts in the related forum thread below.

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