REDISCOVER MUSIC WITH EDGE

 

The UK’s leading hi-fi company celebrate their 50th anniversary with the introduction of Edge, a pioneering hi-fi system that sets a new standard for sound and design from the brand.

 

The new series builds on Cambridge Audio’s driving principles of creating products that bring the ‘Great British Sound’ – a pure, unfiltered audio experience – into the home, offering the company’s most accomplished system to date.

 

Five decades of engineering expertise has inspired the development of Edge, which features some of Cambridge Audio’s most innovative audio engineering to date:

 

• Short signal paths across the series. Edge W has just 14 components in the signal path.

 

• Unique Class XA amplification technology shifts the crossover point out of audible range, offering the sound quality of Class A but with more efficient performance.

 

• An opposing symmetry twin toroidal transformer design cancels out stray electromagnetic interference.

 

• Cambridge’s proprietary streaming platform, StreamMagic, has been updated to offer improved compatibility, meaning customers will be able to stream audio from a host of sources, including over AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Chromecast built-in, which allows streaming from a wealth of apps, including TIDAL. Additionally, Edge supports Bluetooth aptX HD.

 

These technologies come together to produce the best example of the pure, unfiltered ‘British Sound’ for which Cambridge Audio are renowned.

 

The new series is named for Professor Gordon Edge, one of Cambridge Audio’s founders, an entrepreneurial force of the Cambridge technology cluster and inventor of the company’s first product, the P40 integrated amplifier.

 

The Edge series will be available from 1 November 2018 at Bowers & Wilkins Showroom Millenia Walk #01-108 and will consist of three units: Edge A, the integrated amplifier; Edge NQ, the preamplifier and network player; and Edge W, the power amplifier.

 

“Edge has been a project of passion for Cambridge Audio. With our 50th anniversary approaching we saw an opportunity to push the boundaries of our abilities to create something truly unique, something truly inspirational. We removed all limitations during development of Edge – anything goes so long as it’s in pursuit of the best system we’ve ever made. The results speak for themselves. Edge is sublime.” Stuart George, Managing Director, Cambridge Audio.

 

ENGINEERING PHILOSOPHY

The separate units that make up the Edge series are connected by a shared engineering and design philosophy. Three simple principles are true to each unit.

 

Firstly, components within Edge were chosen for their ‘sonic merit’ alone. Price, specs, measurements, etc. were all disregarded in favour of what genuinely sounds best. This listen first, measure later approach resulted in the best possible sound.

 

Secondly, Cambridge Audio’s engineers were fanatical in their efforts to keep the signal path short. Doing so has ensured the final sound is as pure and unfiltered as possible, staying true to Cambridge Audio’s mantra of developing products with ‘Great British Sound’: nothing added, nothing taken away.

 

Finally, it was imperative Edge featured a beautifully simple exterior. This was achieved through a ‘ground-up’ design process, resulting in hi-fi separates with a unique look, perfect to take centre stage in any living space.

 

A HISTORY OF INNOVATION

Edge has been named in honour of one of Cambridge Audio’s founders, Professor Gordon Edge. Professor Edge was responsible for the company’s iconic P40 integrated amplifier, the product that would propel Cambridge Audio on its journey to the forefront of the home audio market.

 

The P40 broke the mould, pioneering the use of toroidal transformers in amplifiers. When compared to similar products using EI transformers, the P40 offered less distortion and created a cleaner sound that more accurately reflected the original studio recording: nothing added, nothing taken away.

 

In the 50 years that followed, Cambridge Audio continued to innovate and, with Edge, they deliver their best products to-date featuring, some of their most significant engineering achievements:

 

StreamMagic

Cambridge Audio’s proprietary streaming platform, StreamMagic, has provided the brains for their network players since 2011 and has been the recipient of multiple What Hi-Fi? awards. The platform has been updated for Edge and allows playback from virtually any digital source: AirPlay, Chromecast built- in, UPnP, ARC (Audio Return Channel), USB, S/PDIF, Spotify Connect and more.

 

Class XA Amplification

This unique amplification technology offers the performance of Class A amplification but with significantly improved efficiency.

 

Twin Opposing Symmetry Toroidal Transformers

Cambridge Audio pioneered the use of toroidal transformers in amplifiers, which lead to improved performance. In Edge, Cambridge take this one step further and use opposing symmetry twin toroidal transformers to cancel out electromagnetic interference whilst offering outstanding power.

 

Bespoke Printed Circuit Board

Cambridge Audio removed conventional capacitors from the printed circuit boards In Edge, replacing them with a DC coupled topology. This reduces distortion. Additionally, a solid-state volume control ensures channels are perfectly balanced.

 

Extremely Short Signal Paths

Across the Edge series, Cambridge Audio have endeavoured to keep the signal path – the components between the music source and output – as short as possible. In the case of Edge W, there are only 14 components in the signal path, where similar products might have 30-40. This lowers interference and ensures a pure, untainted sound is produced.

 

 

 

 

 

THE EDGE SERIES

 

Edge A, the integrated amplifier, offers incredibly detailed sound with the effortless power to match. Its sound is wonderfully balanced with clarity audible with every note. Listening to Edge A feels like the band are playing right in front of you.

RRP: SGD$8,500 (Including GST)

 

 

 

Edge NQ offers new levels of versatility for a pre- amplifier and network player. StreamMagic, the streaming module that powers NQ, has been improved, allowing Edge to play music from virtually any source. And Edge NQ’s printed circuit board and meticulous engineering reduces interference to ensure a clean sound.

RRP: SGD$6,500 (Including GST)

 

 

 

Edge W is the best power amplifier Cambridge Audio have ever made. With just 14 components in the signal path (where other similar products may have 30-40), Edge W delivers breath-taking, pure, unfiltered British Sound with incredible power: nothing added, nothing taken away. RRP: SGD$5,000 (Including GST)

 

 

 

EDGE A SPECIFICATION
Continuous power output	100W  RMS into 8 Ohms  | 200W  RMS into 4 Ohms
THD (unweighted)	<0.002% 1kHz  at rated  power  (8 Ohms) | <0/02% 20Hz  – 20kHz  at rated power  (8 Ohms)
Frequency Response	<3Hz – > 80kHz  +/- 1dB
S/N ratio (ref full power)	>103 dB
Crosstalk @ 1kHz	<-100dB
Input sensitivity	Input A1-A2  (unbalanced) 380mV  RMS
Input impedances	Input A3 (balanced) 47k Ohm | Input A1-A2 (unbalanced) 47k Ohm
Inputs	Balanced, Coax SPDIF, TOSLINK, USB Audio, Unbalanced, Bluetooth, Audio Return  Channel  (ARC)
Outputs	Speakers, Preamplifier, Headphones (impedance of between  12 and 600 Ohms  are recommended)

 

 

USB audio input	USB Audio Class 2.0 supporting up to 32-bit 384kHz pCM, or up to DSD256
Bluetooth	4.1 (Smart/BLE enabled) A2DP/AVRCP supporting formats  up to aptX HD
TOSLINK input	16/24 bits, 32-96kHz
Coax SPDIF  input	16/24 bits, 32-96kHz
Max power consumption	1000W
Standby  power consumption	<0.5W
Dimensions	150 x 460 x 405mm (5.9 x 18.1 x 15.9”)
Weight	24.4kg

 

 

 

EDGE NQ SPECIFICATION
D/A Converter	THD <0.0008%, 20Hz – 20kHz,  24-bit,  1Vrms  output
THD Analog  Sources	<0/0008%, 20Hz – 20kHz  1Vrms  output
Frequency Response	20Hz – 20kHz  +/- 0.1bB
S/N ratio (ref 1V output)	>103 dB
Crosstalk @ 1kHz	<-100dB
Max preamp  output	6Vrms  single ended or 6Vrms  + 6Vrms  balanced.
USB audio input	USB Audio Class 2.0 supporting up to 32-bit 384kHz PCM, or up to DSD256
USB drive input	1 x USB 2.0 current limited to 1A, FAT32 / NTFS / HFS / HFS+
Bluetooth	4.1 (Smart/BLE enabled) A2DP/AVRCP supporting SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX HD
TOSLINK input	16/24-bit 32-96kHz
Coax SPDIF  input	16/24-bit 32-96kHz
Wi-Fi	IEEE 802.11 b/g or n (2.4GHz). Encryption WEP, WPA, WPA2
Max power consumption	100W
Standby  power consumption	<0.5W
Dimensions	120 x 460 x 405mm (4.7 x 18.1 x 15.9”)
Weight	10.2kg

 

 

 

 

EDGE W SPECIFICATION
Continuous power output	100W  RMS into 8 Ohms  | 200W  RMS into 4 Ohms
THD (unweighted)	<0.002% 1kHz  at rated  power  (8 Ohms) | <0.02% 20Hz  – 20kHz  at rated power  (8 Ohms)
Frequency Response	<3Hz – > 80kHz  +/- 1dB
S/N ratio (ref 1Q into 8Ohms)	>93 dB
Crosstalk @ 1kHz	<-100dB
S/N ratio (ref full power)	>113 dB
Input sensitivity	Input A1-A2 (unbalanced) 1.09V RMS
Input impedances	Input  A3 (balanced) 47k Ohm  | Input  A1-A2 (unbalanced) 47k Ohm
Inputs	Balanced, Unbalanced
Outputs	Speakers, Loop out
USB audio input	USB Audio  Class 2.0 supporting up to 32-bit 384kHz  pCM, or up to DSD256
Max power consumption	1000W
Standby  power consumption	<0.5W
Dimensions	150 x 460 x 405mm (5.9 x 18.1 x 15.9”)
Weight	23.6kg