Cambridge CXA81 bluetooth Vs Cambridge MXN10 streamer

[TK421]

So what's the difference between listening to Spotify via the bluetooth on my Cambridge Audio CXA81 amp and a Cambridge audio MXN10 streamer?

 

[nopiano]

Presumably, one less device if using the amp and listening on speakers. Are they both the same Bluetooth standards?

I’ve heard amazingly good Bluetooth on a high end system which astonished me, given it is usually frowned on in hifi circles. But personally it never occurs to me that I might use Bluetooth other than if the car chooses that rather than CarPlay to connect my phone when driving.

 

[Vincent Kars]

Had a quick glance at the product pages
Cambridge Audio CXA81 has a build-in Bluetooth receiver. You must use an external device e.g. mobile and it will send the audio to the amp using lossy compression. For best results your mobile must support APTX-HD ( 576kbps) othwerwise it will be SBC (320 kbs)

Cambridge audio MXN10 is a streamer. It connects to the WiFi/Ethernet so no lossy compression as far as the network protocol is concerned.

 

[TK421]

Had a quick glance at the product pages
Cambridge Audio CXA81 has a build-in Bluetooth receiver. You must use an external device e.g. mobile and it will send the audio to the amp using lossy compression. For best results your mobile must support APTX-HD ( 576kbps) othwerwise it will be SBC (320 kbs)

Cambridge audio MXN10 is a streamer. It connects to the WiFi/Ethernet so no lossy compression as far as the network protocol is concerned.

So the signal from the phone is lower quality than a streamer being connected directly to the Wifi?

 

[Vincent Kars]

Yes.
Bluetooth audio is limited to approximately 1000 kbs = 1Mbps
WiFi 802.11g (2003): Combined features of 802.11a and b, achieving speeds up to 54 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band.
For reference
CD =2x16x44.1=1411 kbs
Highres like a 2x24x192=9216 kbs

 

[manicm]

So what's the difference between listening to Spotify via the bluetooth on my Cambridge Audio CXA81 amp and a Cambridge audio MXN10 streamer?

You'll simply get better sound. Bluetooth is bandwidth restricted.

 

[TK421]

I'm hesitating between a Wiim Ultra, the Cambridge Audio MXN10 and a second hand Cambridge Audio CXN V2.
Any thoughts?

 

[record_spot]

I'm hesitating between a Wiim Ultra, the Cambridge Audio MXN10 and a second hand Cambridge Audio CXN V2.
Any thoughts?

As I understand it, the Wiim Ultra is an amp/streamer, the MXN10 is a mid-sized streamer-only and the CXN V2 is a higher specced streamer-only. Perhaps some reading up on their respective offerings and what you think you want?

 

[nopiano]

As I understand it, the Wiim Ultra is an amp/streamer, the MXN10 is a mid-sized streamer-only and the CXN V2 is a higher specced streamer-only. Perhaps some reading up on their respective offerings and what you think you want?

The Wiim Ultra is their top streamer cum preamp only, but the Wiim Amp and Amp Ultra have amps too. But it’s very complicated to decode some of their names!