Envision taking your favorite dessert, but giving it a bit more flavor- an inferno-scallion base, but intensified, indelible. This is what Cambridge Audio has done to its renowned Evo150 streaming amplifier, introducing the Evo150 SE (Special Edition). Released in 2021, the original Evo 150 blew away music lovers with its streamlined design and its early ability to just add speakers and stream. At present, the SE variant brings minor but strong improvements. Wish to know why it counts? Let us tune in.
What is Evo 150 SE?
The Evo 150 SE is the latest development of the 2021 streaming integrated amplifier by Cambridge Audio. It retains the pure experience: streaming platform engine, and styling, and brings significant improvement to the areas of sound and build.
What is Special Edition all about?
SE is an abbreviation of Special Edition, and Cambridge Audio means it indeed. They have teamed with Hypex to develop new Class D amplifier modules, with an internal label of NCOREx Tuned by Cambridge, as a way of pushing detail, emotion and musicality marginally higher
Class D Power upgrade
The new Hypex modules are much more subtle and precise and have a brighter soundstage than the Evo 150, in particular utilizing 150 W per channel into 8 ohms. Consider it as doing some technology upgrade to your car, but not its color.
StreamMagic Gen 4 – Slimmer Streaming
The SE features StreamMagic Gen 4 on the inside which provides a more streamlined direction and cleaner app usage. It is compatible with Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz and with Chromecast, AirPlay 2, aptX HD Bluetooth, Roon Ready, as well as UPnP
Every input you could ever need
- Across streaming to analog, the Evo 150 SE serves as a connectivity hub.
- HDMI ARC connection for your TV
- Digital: USB, coaxial, optical
- Analog: RCA, balanced XLR
- Zoned audio gets two dedicated speaker outputs.
- Sub-out for an extra bass boost
Vinyl lovers rejoice: built‑in phono stage
Inside the amp is a moving-magnet phono stage, meaning you can simply connect a turntable and begin spinning music right out of the box.
Effective design flourishes that distinguish it from the rest
Cambridge’s designers have kept the chassis compact—12” × 12”—while leaving room for a 6.8” color display. That, however, has changed, with the control knob now sporting a Lunar Grey ring, and you receive two matching magnetic side panels—available in wood or brushed metal—to alter the look whenever you wish.
Meticulously tuned signal path
Immediately after the new amplifier stage, Cambridge did a head-to-toe overhaul of the signal path. Through hundreds of hours of acoustic scrutiny and component refinement, transparency, detail, and emotional engagement all gain further sparkle—yet every signal still channels through the dependable ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC.
Price, timing and availability
Priced at $3,299, the Evo 150 SE (equal to its present retail pricing) will be available for ordering in July 2025.
Who will fall in love with this amp?
- The amp is geared
- Audiophiles in pursuit of detailed, powerful sound.
- Streamers and vinyl enthusiasts looking for a single box to run it all
- Home theater users in pursuit of a hassle-free setup through HDMI ARC
- Style-sensitive owners who highly prioritize aesthetic customization.
Where it stands in the marketplace
Set against offerings such as the Naim Uniti Atom, NAD M33, and Bluesound Powernode, the Evo 150 SE distinguishes itself with its well-balanced blend of performance, streaming prowess, unobtrusive compact aesthetics, and Class D efficiency, all housed within an acclaimed chassis.
To compare: It is as though
Bear in mind your preferred vehicle with a well-furnished engine customization, superior suspension, and luxurious interior fittings, not modifying the typical outside. It looks the same, the drive still is new. The difference between the Evo 150 SE and its predecessor is that.
Possible downsides
- High price versus simpler amps
- The design aspects such as use of magnetic panels may seem superfluous when appearance does not matter
- There are those stereo lovers who like to use the heavy-duty stereo, who desire the old-fashioned Class A/B tone
Final take
It is not just a facelift; Evo 150 SE is an intelligent evolution. It smoothes sound, polish and the bending but still keeps the kind of thing that made the original a top shelf. If you are seeking a sleek, high-powered, all-encompassing amp, with that sense of timeless beauty and gorgeous performance, this amp needs some serious consideration.
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