In the world of Audio components, all-in-one systems—intended to eliminate clutter—are abundant today. The problem is that few of these are as attractive as they are intelligently engineered. Cambridge Audio, founded in Cambridge, England in 1968, has always been keen on good design.
It’s a British audio tradition going back to the original Quad gear of the 1960s, benchmarks of coolness, just like an Eames lounge chair was the choice of pipe-smoking architects. Braun of Germany had iconic designs by Dieter Rams—still alive at 92—whose industrial aesthetic inspired early Apple products. Likewise, Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen has a rich history of audio classics, whose finest designs have stood the test of time.
With big shoes to fill, Cambridge Audio’s Evo One follows in the footsteps of the best-looking audio classics. Ged Martin, head of design at Cambridge Audio, has created an all-in-one system that could as easily be an architectural scale model as a piece of audio gear. “Evo One follows and evolves the design language of the Evo 150 and Evo 75 streaming amplifiers, which themselves were a nod to our first product, the P40 amplifier from 1968,” says Martin. “We tried to continue that understated, clean-lined aesthetic.”
Imagine something akin to architect Craig Ellwood’s ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., a perfectly proportioned floating form elevated on its foundation. Yet while its size is diminutive, the Evo One’s form has a rather monumental aspect about it. “Architecture had a big influence, including many buildings utilising cantilever elements,” says Martin regarding sources of inspiration he mined from.
As for many of the sustainable materials used in the component’s construction, including aluminium, FSC-certified walnut, and 50 per cent recycled plastic, their selection had a twofold purpose. “Material choices for Evo One were made for both aesthetic and functional reasons,” says Martin. “Because the design is so minimal, the wood was chosen not only for its excellent acoustic properties but also for the warmth it brings to the visual design, the opportunity for every Evo One to be unique, and that nod to the wooden side panels of our landmark first amplifier, the P40.”
What strikes one immediately is the colossal sound that comes from a low, rectangular box only 27 inches wide, 11 inches deep, and 8 inches high. Impossible in the days before DSP (Digital Signal Processing) and Class D amplification, it throws a consistent sound field over a wide space. It does so by using 14 speakers to deliver impressive bass response and evenly dispersed high frequencies.
Unlike a traditional, front-firing loudspeaker pair that concentrates sound in a perfect “sweet spot,” the Evo One’s configuration of side- and rear-mounted drivers, in conjunction with a front-mounted array, creates a broad, open soundstage and room-filling sound. The driver complement is comprised of four each of high- and mid-frequency transducers, plus six low-frequency cones. A total of 700 watts of amplification delivers 50 watts to each of the 14 drivers.
“The most significant technical challenge in designing Evo One was integrating high-performance audio components—the sheer volume of drivers—into a clean, understated design,” says Martin. “Balancing the technical requirements with the aesthetic requirements was complex but rewarding. Hopefully we achieved that.”
The sound filled our studio, a large space with high ceilings and reflective surfaces that can challenge more conventional systems. Some visitors initially questioned where the sound was coming from, so large was the sonic landscape relative to the small stature of the Cambridge Audio component.
Walnut veneer atop the unit contrasts with the 6.8-inch high-resolution front-panel display, which can be selected to show metadata or twin VU-style meters for a nostalgic twist. Decidedly non-retro is the connectivity: Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, and Qobuz, with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast built in, plus Roon, Internet Radio, and of course, Bluetooth. In addition, TV eARC allow for multiple sources.
On the rear are TV eARC, Aux (line level RCA), digital optical, USB-A Media, and Ethernet connections, as well as—fanfare!—a pair of MM Phono inputs. The challenge for vinyl lovers will be finding just the right turntable, from Cambridge Audio or elsewhere, to complement the sleek look of the $1,499 (RM6,520) Evo One.
