Cambridge has unveiled three active bookshelf speakers at CES and its not
hard to see the KEF resemblance

Date:
Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Description:
Ill take a set in orange: Cambridges new active bookshelf speakers are so thoroughly un-Cambridge in the best way

FULL STORY ======================================================================Meet Cambridge's new L/R active bookshelf speakers:L/R X,L/R MandL/R S 6 finishes: Blue, Green, Orange, Black, White, or a premium Real Walnut veneer Prices start at 399/$549 for the L/R S, up to $2,299/1,799 for the L/R X

Plenty of the TechRadar team are at CES 2026 in Las Vegas (not me, you understand, but some of us) and one of the most surprising and assertive hi-fi releases at the big tech event comes from UK hi-fi legend, Cambridge.

What you're looking at is something altogether new for the company and for which Cambridge isn't famous: a trio of active speakers available in some pretty strong finishes including my favorite, a vaguely 1970's groovy orange hue. However, I'll tell you which UK audio outfit I am used to seeing this kind of thing from: KEF, with its excellent five-star KEF LSX II LT, or newer KEF Coda W .

And it seems Cambridge wants a slice of that pie. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 2 (Image credit: Future) Cambridge L/R S, L/R M and L/R S: key features and pricing

So as you've probably gathered, the L/R Series comprises three models L/R X, L/R M and L/R S. The largest two options (L/R X and L/R M) both integrate Cambridge Audios StreamMagic Gen 4 platform, promising seamless hi-res Wi-Fi streaming, multi-room functionality and direct access to leading music services, including Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer, ROON Ready, UPnP and Internet Radio, as well as multi-room use through Google Cast or Apple AirPlay 2. These two also introduce Cambridge's new and innovative Torus tweeter, plus a novel 2.5-way acoustic design.

The smaller (and much cheaper) L/R S offers similar looks in a Bluetooth-focused design that Cambridge suggests would be perfect for desks, bedrooms, or kitchen counters.

L/R X is the flagship model in the series, and one I was lucky enough to hear at a special pre-CES briefing in London. And let me tell you, it is more full-bodied, meaty, energetic, and yet delightfully detailed when listening
to Prince than I had expected, given its dimensions and drivers. (Image credit: Future)

Perhaps the star of the show here is Cambridge's newly developed 28mm Torus tweeter, paired in the L/R X with dual 5-inch woofers and dual 6-inch force-cancelling passive radiators (see them on the sides there watching
them vibrate during use is part of the fun). This, says Cambridge, is driven by 800W of amplification a full 1 horsepower per system, 400W per speaker.

You also get Bluetooth, HDMI eARC, a moving-magnet phono stage, analog and digital inputs, plus flexible speaker-to-speaker linking via USB-C or
wireless WiSA HT, so this flagship L/R X really can be used in pretty much
any hi-fi or home theater setup I can think of, including turntables, TVs,
and anything in-between. You also get Cambridge's proprietary DynamEQ the same EQ optimization you'll find in the Special Edition Melomania P100 headphones, but, says Cambridge, it's very much "tuned on a
product-by-product basis".

This flagship model will be available from summer 2026 for $2,299/1,799/1999 (or $100/100 more for the Real Walnut finish).

For a bit of clarity on where that puts these speakers in the market, the aforementioned KEF LSX II LT (still sitting pretty in our best stereo
speakers guide) can be yours for $999/899/AU$1,699 although the also-excellent KEF LS 50 Wireless II (which are proudly living their best
life in our best wireless speakers guide ) were pricier upon their release in 2020, at a similar $2,499 / 2,250 / AU$4,295 (you might find a few discounts now, if you're lucky). So there's some tough competition out there, but Cambridge is very much backing itself to beat 'em all and given the firm's track record, you can blame the UK hi-fi specialist. (Image credit: Future) Were covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays
to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. And dont forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

The mid-size L/R M (still with StreamMagic built in) is designed for slightly smaller spaces, but it shares the same 2.5-way acoustic design and 28mm Torus tweeter, just packing 300W of system power 150W per speaker and similarly comprehensive connectivity, including HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, moving-magnet phono stage, USB Audio, TOSLINK, and subwoofer out. It'll be available from "late summer 2026" for $1,599/1199/1399 (or a little more, if you want that Real Walnut finish).

The L/R S is powered by 100W of amplification 50W per speaker and supports Bluetooth aptX HD and an array of physical connections, including USB Audio support for your laptop or desktop. It'll be available from spring 2026 for $549/399/499 (or $599/449/549 for Real Walnut).

It's not hard to see the appeal, although they're priced pretty hot and heavy to reflect the new acoustic architecture and comprehensive connectivity stuffed into, especially, the two larger options. How will they match up to current class-leaders in this category (read: KEF) in direct testing? We'd absolutely love to find out.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tech-events/cambridge-has-unveiled-three-active-book shelf-speakers-at-ces-and-its-not-hard-to-see-the-kef-resemblance


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