Cambridge Audio Launches L/R Series Active Stereo Speakers With Built-In Streaming and Up to 800 Watts

Cambridge Audio’s L/R project reads less like a lifestyle pivot and more like an attempt to collapse a traditional rack into two resonant objects. Several sources highlight how the company treats these as true left/right transducers rather than a master–slave convenience system, which has implications for clocking, channel separation and internal signal routing. The decision to integrate StreamMagic at the speaker level suggests a distributed digital architecture, where conversion and amplification happen locally instead of being shuttled over a proprietary interlink. That approach aligns with recent forum chatter favoring shorter analog paths and tighter DSP control, especially in active designs aimed at replacing classic integrated amps.

The flagship cabinet engineering is where Cambridge’s intent becomes clearer. By opposing the passive radiators on the side walls, the enclosure actively manages mechanical recoil, reducing cabinet walk without resorting to excessive mass or internal bracing. This mirrors techniques seen in high-end subwoofers rather than bookshelf formats, and it hints at a tuning philosophy focused on maintaining transient integrity under high excursion. The use of the same toroidal-profile tweeter across the upper models also points to an effort at tonal consistency, allowing users to scale output without re-learning a new top-end character—an aspect often overlooked when brands diversify active ranges too quickly.

Perspectives differ slightly on whether L/R should be read as a minimalist system or a hub-centric one. Some sources frame the speakers as an antidote to cable clutter, while others emphasize how the input topology effectively replaces a preamp, DAC, and TV interface in one stroke. What emerges is a hybrid proposition: not purist in the passive sense, but clearly voiced for listeners who value coherence over tweakability. In that light, L/R feels less like Cambridge Audio chasing fashion, and more like the company stress-testing how far a modern active stereo can go before it stops needing anything else.