If you want better Small-room suitability
Choose Edifier S880DB MKII. It scores 4.9 vs 2.5 for Small-room suitability, with a 4.5 overall score.
Cambridge Audio L/R X Review
Bottom Line
Choose the L/R X for big, energetic stereo sound and a complete streaming, TV, and vinyl system. Skip it if you need effortless neutrality, native multiroom grouping, or full-range movie rumble without a subwoofer.
Best for
Music lovers seeking substantial living-room stereo sound with streaming, TV, and turntable connections in one pair of speakers.
Not for
Listeners wanting strict neutrality without adjustment, native Cambridge multiroom grouping, or deep surround-system movie bass from the speakers alone.
Verdict
The L/R X earns its strongest praise by sounding much bigger than its cabinets while replacing several separate components. Bass has real weight and control, dynamics stay lively, and the StreamMagic app makes streaming and sound adjustment approachable. TV and turntable connections broaden its usefulness beyond music. The tradeoff is that its assertive presentation is sensitive to placement and room settings: some listeners hear excessive bass or bright treble, while others enjoy smooth, fatigue-free sessions. Manual room correction helps but does not replace measurement or careful positioning. High-volume protection can soften impacts, and deep cinematic bass still benefits from a subwoofer. The premium price makes most sense for someone who values a complete, flexible system as much as powerful sound.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
54 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.023 (43%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.422 (41%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.49 (17%)
Pros highlights
-
Clean lines, a floating base, colorful finishes, and walnut veneer make the speakers distinctive living-room objects. Enthusiasm for the look is broad, though taste and household preferences differ.
-
The dominant impression is big, clear, energetic sound from compact cabinets. Most enthusiasm comes with caveats about tuning, midrange refinement, or the deepest loudest bass.
-
Bass delivers unusual weight, punch, and control for compact speakers. Wall placement can make it overpowering, and the deepest movie rumble or loudest passages may still call for a subwoofer.
-
Treble ranges from airy and natural to bright or hard at volume, depending on the room and material. App adjustments improve comfort, while one extended listening test found it consistently fatigue-free.
-
The complete package draws strong recommendations for combining serious sound with everyday convenience. Even the preliminary and promotional accounts emphasize its unusually comprehensive design.
-
The speakers can play remarkably loudly for their size while staying composed. Available output is ample for normal room listening, though party-level extremes have limits.
Cons highlights
-
The two-box format saves space compared with separates, but these substantial speakers need clearance and supportive surfaces. Stands are often the more practical choice than desks or shallow shelves.
-
Vocals can sound warm and substantial, but dense guitars and acoustic recordings sometimes lose texture or clarity. Positioning helps, although some fullness remains.
-
Basic playback and volume controls are accessible on the main cabinet. Track skipping and radio-station navigation remain shortcomings.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Bookshelf Speakers, this product is above average in Cable management, Smart features, HDMI ARC, near average in Design and aesthetics, Music performance, below average in Small-room suitability, Bluetooth connectivity, Weight convenience.
Comparison summary
41 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher12 (29%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts19 (46%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower10 (24%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable management | 4.5 | 2.4 | +2.1 |
| Small-room suitability | 2.5 | 4.5 | -2.0 |
| Bluetooth connectivity | 3.0 | 4.6 | -1.6 |
| Weight convenience | 2.5 | 4.0 | -1.5 |
| Bluetooth codec support | 2.5 | 3.9 | -1.4 |
| Smart features | 4.8 | 3.6 | +1.2 |
| Midrange performance | 3.4 | 4.5 | -1.1 |
| HDMI ARC | 4.6 | 3.6 | +1.0 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Bluetooth connectivity
Choose Cambridge L/R S. It scores 4.7 vs 3.0 for Bluetooth connectivity, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better Bluetooth codec support
Choose KEF Coda W. It scores 4.2 vs 2.5 for Bluetooth codec support, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better Midrange performance
Choose Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i. It scores 4.8 vs 3.4 for Midrange performance, with a 4.7 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- More expensive: price and phono input Cambridge is described as undercutting KEF while adding a phono stage.
- Compared: bass authority and default refinement Cambridge sounds more demonstrative and authoritative; KEF favors consistency and midrange texture.
- Compared: sound and small-room suitability Cambridge is favored for bass and dynamics, while KEF offers better depth and very-small-room suitability.
- Worse: styling The reviewer prefers Cambridge’s styling.
A10
- Compared: scale, neutrality, and bass Cambridge offers more scale and integration, while the A10 has more precise deepest bass and neutrality.
FAQ
Do they need a separate amplifier?
No. Amplification is built into both speakers, reducing the need for separate components.
Will I need a subwoofer?
Many listeners find the bass sufficient for music. Deep movie rumble and the loudest full-range playback still benefit from a subwoofer.
Can they connect to a TV?
Yes, through HDMI eARC, with TV-remote volume control. The system accepts stereo PCM rather than decoding multichannel Dolby or DTS sound.
Is room correction automatic?
The supplied accounts describe manual room-size, boundary, and damping settings rather than microphone measurement. These settings and EQ can improve bass control and treble comfort.
Do the speakers need a cable between them?
Wireless inter-speaker linking is available, and a wired link is included as an alternative. Each speaker still needs power.
Are they suitable for shelves?
They need clearance for their radiators and strong support for their weight. Several accounts favor stands, and one warns that the downfiring woofer can cause surface rattles.
Can StreamMagic group several rooms?
Native StreamMagic grouping is absent in the supplied accounts. Multiroom playback relies on AirPlay, Google Cast, or Roon instead.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Erin's Audio Corner
- Review score
- 4.0
YouTube - Richer Sounds
- Review score
- 4.6
Article Reviews
tomsguide.com
The Cambridge Audio L/R X pack big sound, bags of features and a plethora of connectivity options into a sleek package. They're rather...
- Review score
- 4.3
avstore.ro
Cambridge Audio L/R X la AVstore.ro Dragă cititorule, mă aflu astăzi în fața unui produs neașteptat. Aceste boxe vin de la Cambridge Audio...
- Review score
- 4.3
soundstagesimplifi.com
- Review score
- 4.2
blog.son-video.com
Check out our review of the Cambridge Audio L/R X smart speakers, a true all-in-one solution featuring HDMI eARC, 5 drivers, and streaming.
- Review score
- 4.2
stereoguide.com
Cambridge Audio L/R X Review: Compact active speakers with StreamMagic, HDMI-eARC, MM phono input, and surprisingly powerful bass.
- Review score
- 4.2
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