← The components

Cambridge Audio Edge NQ

Preamplifier

Relative price

typical

Among the 29 preamplifiers in the catalogue, this one is typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

Built-in network streaming (Roon Ready, AirPlay, Chromecast, Bluetooth aptX HD, Tidal/Qobuz native), ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M DAC. Effectively a streaming preamp with both line-level analogue and extensive digital connectivity.

Competition record

Assessed against 8 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 45 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • quietness at rest ×31
  • vocal presence ×12
  • midrange truth ×3
  • low-level clarity ×2

Who it comes up against

Music First Audio Baby Reference V2

10 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Cambridge Audio Edge NQ is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

Edge series flagship preamp/streamerCambridge Edge NQ + What HiFi reviews
Edge series flagship preamp/streamerCambridge Edge NQ + What HiFi reviews

Audiolab 9000Q

9 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Anchored brief, the Audiolab 9000Q keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Cambridge Audio Edge NQ is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

Edge series flagship preamp/streamerCambridge Edge NQ + What HiFi reviews

NVA P50 MKII

9 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50 MKII keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audiolab 9000P, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Cambridge Audio Edge NQ is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audiolab 9000P gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.

Edge series flagship preamp/streamerCambridge Edge NQ + What HiFi reviews
Edge series flagship preamp/streamerCambridge Edge NQ + What HiFi reviews

NVA P50SA MKII

8 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference

Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50SA MKII keeps the slot clearly.

With the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Cambridge Audio Edge NQ is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.

Edge series flagship preamp/streamerCambridge Edge NQ + What HiFi reviews
Edge series flagship preamp/streamerCambridge Edge NQ + What HiFi reviews

Leema Neutron

4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic

Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Neutron keeps the slot clearly.

With the Leema Hydra II, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.

On its own merits the Cambridge Audio Edge NQ is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

instruments well organised with spaceWhat Hi-Fi? 2018

EAR Yoshino 868L (Line)

2 lost · Intimate

Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) keeps the slot clearly.

With the EAR Yoshino 890, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the Cambridge Audio Edge NQ is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

868L line preamp, Tim de Paravicini valve designEAR Yoshino 868L + multi-decade Stereophile heritage

Exposure 3510 Preamplifier

2 lost · Artisan, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier keeps the slot clearly.

With the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.

On its own merits the Cambridge Audio Edge NQ is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.

instruments well organised with spaceWhat Hi-Fi? 2018

Audio Note M2 Phono

1 lost · Intimate

Against the Intimate brief, the Audio Note M2 Phono keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the Cambridge Audio Edge NQ is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.

Audio Note pre with onboard phono, classic SET-friendly voicingAudio Note M2 Phono + Stereophile heritage

What the reviewers said

Edge series flagship preamp/streamer Cambridge Edge NQ + What HiFi reviews· Electrical noise floor
rich in detail, full of rhythm What Hi-Fi? 2018· Micro-dynamic resolution
instruments well organised with space What Hi-Fi? 2018· Presence & articulation
treble... brighter side of neutral What Hi-Fi? 2018· Spatial resolution

How it scores

Clarity

  • Electrical noise floor 71 from listening evidence
  • Spatial resolution 70 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Presence & articulation 76 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Micro-dynamic resolution 76 from listening evidence

Specifications

is balanced internalTrue
is dual monoFalse
has built in phonoFalse
rca inputs2
xlr inputs1
line input impedance kohm47.0
line input sensitivity mv380.0
rca outputs1
xlr outputs1
din outputs0
output impedance ohm100
output max v6.0
headphone outTrue
internal bass managementnone
gain db12.0
notes