Cambridge Audio Evolves with New Evo 150 SE Edition

StereoNET’s Jay Garrett attended the press reveal at Cambridge Audio HQ in London and came away impressed by the Evo 150 SE’s sonic capabilities and thoughtful design refinements—describing it as a meaningful evolution of the original Evo concept. With enhanced circuitry, upgraded components, and a further-refined industrial design, the British brand says the Evo 150 SE pushes the boundaries of what a lifestyle-friendly hi-fi system can deliver.

Launching globally in July 2025, the Evo 150 SE is positioned as both a sonic and visual upgrade to the original Evo 150, which won critical and commercial praise for its compact form factor and musical performance.

Cambridge Audio Chief Technology Officer, Matt Dore, told StereoNET: 

For this special edition, we’ve pushed the boundaries of what to expect from Class D amplification. The result is an even more musical, emotive listening experience in a design that has been further refined.

Powering the Evo 150 SE is a pair of Hypex NCOREx Class D amplifier modules, delivering 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms. Cambridge says these have been “Tuned by Cambridge” following a close collaboration with Hypex, and further refined through hundreds of hours of component testing and listening. While Class D amplification is typically praised for its efficiency and compact footprint, some audiophiles argue it lacks the warmth and character of Class AB designs. Cambridge appears confident it has bridged that gap here, promising a more musical and emotionally engaging presentation, supported by an ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC to maximise detail and stereo image clarity.

The company’s fourth-generation StreamMagic platform handles streaming duties, and it remains one of the more mature and stable in-house systems in the hi-fi market. Built entirely by Cambridge Audio’s development team, StreamMagic enables native streaming from platforms including Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, and Roon Ready functionality via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. As a proprietary platform, it benefits from continuous updates and integrations, helping the Evo 150 SE stay current with evolving listener needs.

The Evo 150 SE also supports Bluetooth aptX HD, AirPlay 2, and Google Cast, and integrates with Google Home, Apple AirPlay, and Roon for multiroom playback. Whether wireless or hardwired, connectivity options are broad. HDMI ARC allows a simple TV hookup, while a moving magnet phono stage welcomes turntables directly into the mix. Other inputs include balanced XLR, RCA line-in, USB Audio, USB Media, and multiple digital options — all feeding the onboard DAC. A subwoofer output, pre-outs, and dual speaker terminals for secondary zone playback are included.

The unit’s 12” x 12” chassis mirrors the size of a vinyl sleeve, and the design cues continue the minimalist, retro-modern look that earned the original Evo a Red Dot Design Award. The updated 6.8-inch full-colour screen cycles between album art, a clock, or virtual VU meters, offering practicality and visual flair. A newly updated dual-concentric volume control, finished in Cambridge’s Lunar Grey, adds a tactile highlight to the fascia. The Evo 150 SE ships with interchangeable real wood and textured black side panels, magnetically attached and easily swapped to suit different environments or tastes.

While all core functionality is accessible via the refreshed StreamMagic app, a traditional IR remote is also included. HDMI ARC allows users to control volume with a standard TV remote.

The Evo 150 SE also pairs seamlessly with the Evo CD transport, designed to visually and sonically match the Evo ecosystem. For those still enjoying physical media, it’s a tidy way to reintroduce a CD collection into a modern system.

Together with the simultaneous launch of the Melomania A100 wireless earbuds and a redesigned brand platform, the Evo 150 SE marks a new chapter for Cambridge Audio. While much has changed visually, the company remains focused on its core mission — connecting people to the power of music.

The Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE will be available from July 2025 via authorised retailers, priced at £1999 | €2399 | US$3299. 

For More Information Visit Cambridge Audio