Cambridge Audio EVO One at Capital Audio Fest

Cambridge Audio EVO One

Hello and welcome back to Sound Approach, I am Trevor and today we’ll be talking about the fantastical, phenomenal, unbeatable, Cambridge Audio EVO One, which represents the company’s next evolution in premium streaming all-in-one units. Designed as a fully modern, lifestyle-friendly hi-fi component, it blends high-performance amplification with a unique and modern design and cutting-edge streaming options. At Capital Audio Fest 2025, our team experienced a guided demonstration from Steve Novakoski, of Cambridge Audio, allowing us to evaluate the EVO One’s real-world performance, usability, and customer appeal first-hand!

It delivers in spades high-fidelity sound, extreme bass, and user-friendly control without sacrificing quality or design!

Brand Positioning & Design Philosophy

Cambridge Audio developed the EVO series to deliver high-end sound in an elegant, compact form without the complexity of traditional separate units. This is a true all-in-one unit designed to work as a stand-alone piece or as the center piece of your vinyl setup.

  • It features an Intuitive front-panel user interface with a large, crisp, color display
  • A strong lifestyle focus: small footprint, low heat, aesthetically modern (with a vintage lean)
  • Premium build quality consistent with Cambridge’s British hi-fi heritage

This design direction resonates strongly with customers who want audiophile performance in a system that integrates seamlessly with their living spaces and occupies a small footprint.

Key Features & Technology Overview

  • Precision 14 Speaker Array (some on every side, a true surround sound unit)
  • 700 Watts Class D total amplification (50W/speaker)
  • 7-band Equalizer with Room Optimization via the StreamMagic App
  • Full support for Internet Radio, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Deezer, Amazon Music, Google Cast, Airplay 2, Roon Ready. Seamless connectivity via WIFI, Ethernet, BT, or Internet Radio
  • High resolution streaming
  • Fast, responsive 6.8” display interface suitable for both beginners and experienced audiophiles
  • An actually sensible volume control from 0-100, and it goes all the way up! No maxing out at mid-volume levels because the amplifier can’t handle the speakers!

Amplification & Audio Performance

  • Exceptionally low noise floor and high linearity even at low volumes via the 4x 1” Silk dome tweeters, 4x Aluminum Cone mid-range drivers, and 6x 2.75” long-throw woofers
  • Effortless presentation with strong stereo imaging and extremely powerful bass, like surprisingly powerful, rattle in your chest, kind of bass…
  • The demo at CAF showed incredibly impressive room-filling sound despite its compact size and small drivers

DAC & Input Flexibility

  • Class D amplification
  • High-resolution DAC architecture up to 32 bits
  • Multiple digital and analog inputs including: RCA (line-level), RCA (MM PhonoStage), HDMI eARC, USB-A; Toslink, BT & Wi-FI and Ethernet
  • Designed to integrate seamlessly with TV audio setups for exception sound performance on your favorite movies, shows, and video games.

Ease of Use

  • Simple control via the StreamMagic (Gen4) app
  • Quick setup and immediate pairing with streaming services
  • Clear advantages for customers looking to simplify their systems

Highlights from Capital Audio Fest Demo

During the CAF demonstration, several performance attributes stood out:

Sound Quality

  • Clarity & Resolution: Exceptionally clean midrange and refined treble for 3-dimensional soundstage and distinct imaging
  • Separation: Strong sense of space; the instruments and vocals were clearly identifiable
  • Bass Response: Impressive…that’s it, it’s freaking impressive!
  • Dynamic Drive: Responsive and quick

User Interface & Experience

  • Representative showcased the intuitive StreamMagic OS and playlist management
  • Switching between sources and services is seamless: Roon-ready for your music management
  • The large front display stands out compared to other streamers in its category.

Miscellaneous Features

  • The design makes it a “living room friendly” audiophile piece; my first thought was something like this could be placed on a coffee table for an immersive sound experience during a party. Probably not all the time, given the power cable, but definitely for friend or family gatherings.
  • Ideal for modern listeners seeking premium sound without stacked components or cluttered systems
  • Strong performance-to-size ratio makes it appealing for smaller spaces, offices, and other living spaces, although it’s enough of a beast to fill much larger spaces too

Ideal Customer Profiles

  • Audiophiles seeking high performance sound-quality with an all-in-one solution
  • Customers upgrading from soundbars or similar systems and/or those with eARC on their TV
  • Vinyl listeners wanting a modern digital hub with a built-in phono stage
  • Lifestyle buyers who want a beautiful, intuitive system
  • First-time hi-fi buyers wanting a premium entry point

Conclusion

The Cambridge Audio EVO One delivers a rare blend of performance, simplicity, and aesthetic appeal. Our interaction with Steve at Capital Audio Fest reaffirmed its strengths—clean power, outstanding streaming experience, and an elegant design that resonates with modern consumers. As a versatile all-in-one wireless streaming device, it is exceptionally well-positioned for Sound Approach customers looking for high-value and a high-impact audio solution.