14 Speakers in ONE Soundbar?! Gamers Stunned by Cambridge Audio's Evo One!

Cambridge Audio's Evo One wouldn't typically land on my desk, truth be told. But the tantalizing suggestion of "gaming" capabilities in this undeniably stylish £999/$1499 all-in-one music system definitely grabbed my attention. It's more high-end hi-fi than dedicated gaming soundbar, but with 14 internal speakers and compatibility with modern, high-spec gaming TVs, it presents a surprisingly compelling option that deserves a closer look.

14 Speakers in ONE Soundbar?! Gamers Stunned by Ca...

This unit really is an all-in-one wonder, blending aesthetics and sonic muscle. Sure, it seamlessly integrates with Spotify Connect and UPnP, but the real star of the show is its Google Cast integration. And here's a little secret I've recently stumbled upon: you can now create a proper multi-room audio setup over Wi-Fi using *any* two (or more!) Google Cast-enabled speakers via the Google Home app. Forget being locked into a single ecosystem like Sonos! Just create a speaker group within the app, assign each speaker to its respective room, and boom – unified multi-room audio with a few taps. I've been using a Naim Mu-So Qb 2 in the living room paired with the Evo One in the dining room, and it works flawlessly.

Controlling the Evo One is a breeze, thanks to the Streammagic app. It mirrors the display's functionality and neatly integrates those streaming services into a sleek interface. But it goes beyond just basic control. You get access to advanced settings like room compensation, speaker placement adjustments, and even a seven-band EQ for fine-tuning the audio to your liking. The app also handles the initial setup, providing on-screen instructions for Wi-Fi connection and over-the-air firmware updates. Getting everything up and running took mere minutes.

Now, let's talk about those 14 speakers. Seriously! I think this might be the highest driver count I've seen in a single unit. They're powered by over 700W of amplification, further enhanced by digital signal processing. Cambridge claims this allows the Evo One to produce deep, controlled bass, and from what I can tell, it holds up. You've got four 25mm silk dome tweeters, four 57mm aluminum cone mid-range units, and six 70mm woofers, all engineered to deliver a soundstage wide enough to fill even larger rooms.

With that impressive array of drivers and the promise of versatile applications, my expectations were admittedly high. Running my standard tests with Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" and Rush's "2112," the first thing that struck me was the sheer breadth and scope of the audio. The sound extends well beyond the physical boundaries of the unit, and there's exceptional precision and space, allowing you to pick out individual elements like the distant bongos in "September" or the flowing water in the "Discovery" section of "2112."

The Evo One's bass definitely lives up to the hype, offering commendable depth and control. I did notice that it occasionally encroaches slightly on the mid-range, resulting in a slightly more assertive sound, but this is easily tweaked using the EQ settings. Listening to Marillion's "The Invisible Man," the track's deep, brooding bassline, coupled with Steve Hogarth's atmospheric vocals, really showcased both the system's extension and power, as well as the depth and body that complements darker, more complex songs. It's a powerful unit, alright. It's impressive in its range and clarity. I'm not sure if I'd call it perfect for gaming without some serious tweaking, but the potential is definitely there.