My streamer doesn't have a good fantom centerDSP

 

lanx0003

1,480 posts

12-01-2025 at 12:41am 

It just sounds like the Cambridge isn’t doing a good enough job filling in the soundstage.

Maybe the entire group of trustworthy reviewers including Stereophile and Tarun does not know what soundstage is and mistakenly judged Cambridge MXN10 as a class A, oustanding digital transporter, Mr. @audphile1.  Saying it ‘just sounds like’ something comes across like random street chatter.
 

Nothing random in that. Different levels of source components have different degree of capability when it comes to soundstage and locking in center image. 
There are many instances in which a speaker placement change is required when a new component, be a source or an amp, is introduced into the system. These speaker placement changes include moving speakers closer together or further apart or adjusting a toe in.

When you are dealing with analog and digital in the same system you are faced with a challenge where one type of source could be significantly better than the other and that can result in what the OP is struggling with. 

To level the playing field the OP would have to swap his vinyl rig for a basic Besr Buy pioneer or audio technica turntable with a $50 cartridge and a phono sect that’s built into the turntable. The sources have to be compatible to do a fair comparison. And I promise you the ability to produce soundstage with that vinyl rig will be about the same as with that $499 Cambridge streamer. 
Can he improve and fix that problem? Yes to a certain point. Move speakers much closer together and sit closer. It will improve but it will not be great. 
 

So…getting an external DAC that’s more capable than what’s in that Cambridge will address the issue. 

Hope this makes sense. 

Oh and one other thing…no $499 one box streamer DAC solution is outstanding. It may be rated as Class A in stereophile but you need to understand that it’s Class A rating is within that price category. It isn’t Class A rated amongst the likes of Mola Mola Tambaqui or Grimm MU2 to create competition with these high end components - it’s a low-fi entry level unit. If you thought otherwise, you’re living in an alternate reality.  One that’s your own. And this, my friend, with the $499 Cambridge, is your reality check. 
Alright Mr. @lanx0003 hope you understand now. 

You guys are harsh. It's a bit offensive to call my setup low-fi. Just because a unit is lower priced does not make it crap. I agree, that I might be asking too much from it, time to upgrade it is now. 

Pulled in my garage speakers KLH Model 5, have been messing around with them. Putting them closer, angled more towards me did not really help much. Now my other 2 sources do not sound as good. That is not a solution, as streaming is my least used source. 

Going to start looking for a new streamer/DAC in the sub $2k range. 

@mswale  I never said it was crap. And offending you was not my intent.
 

At $499 it’s an entry level streamer. The rest of your gear is nice and I am sure it sounds good. But in a digital world your one box front end is lo-fi. The proof is in a pudding with it struggling to lock in center image and produce a decent soundstage. 

I would recommend adding a good external DAC to Cambridge as a starting point. Then upgrade the streamer later on. There are many excellent DACs under $2,000 that can serve well with your Cambridge running as streamer only.