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For the most balanced sound from Cambridge Audio L/R X, connect the primary speaker to your network, finish setup in the StreamMagic app, link the second speaker by WiSA HT or the supplied USB-C cable, and place both speakers as free-standing units before changing EQ. Then use Room Acoustics, Balance, and small EQ adjustments to match your room and listening level. A subwoofer is optional: with subwoofer output disabled, the pair operates full range.
What you need before starting
Set aside both L/R X speakers, their power cables, the supplied 5 m USB-C speaker-link cable, your router details, and a phone or tablet running the StreamMagic app. Decide whether the primary speaker will use Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Ethernet is usually the more predictable choice if the router is nearby; Wi-Fi gives you more freedom to position the primary speaker.
The speakers are designed as an active stereo pair. One unit is the primary speaker, handling the network connection and app control, while the second receives the stereo channel over the selected speaker link. During setup, choose which physical speaker is left and which is right. That assignment matters more than the labels on the cartons: the app’s setting must match the way you are sitting in front of the pair.
Key specifications and setup implications
| Item | Published specification or guidance | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Amplifier output | 2 × 400 W, Cambridge Audio manufacturer specification (2026) | Use this as an amplifier-output figure, not as a guaranteed loudness level or room-size rating. |
| Frequency response | 35 Hz–24 kHz ±3 dB, Cambridge Audio user manual (2026) | The pair is intended to cover the normal full-range listening band without requiring a subwoofer. |
| Dimensions per speaker | 200 × 330 × 260 mm on the current UK product page | Check the documentation for your market before finalizing furniture or shelf clearances. |
| Listed weight per speaker | 10.4 kg on the current UK product page | Use the applicable local documentation when planning stands, shelving, or shipping. |
| UK price at access | £1,799 per pair on the Cambridge Audio UK product page | Price and availability can change; verify them before purchase. |
The manual lists a different height/depth and a different primary-speaker weight from the UK product page. Do not combine those figures for an installation plan. If exact fit, stand loading, or freight weight matters, use the current documentation for the region where you bought the speakers.
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Step 1: Connect the primary speaker to your network
Ethernet setup
- Place the primary speaker near the router temporarily.
- Before powering the speaker, connect a Category 5 or Category 5e straight-through network cable from the router to the primary speaker’s Ethernet port.
- Connect power and switch the speaker on.
- Open StreamMagic and follow the new-product setup flow.
A wired connection avoids many of the dropouts associated with weak wireless coverage. Once setup is complete, you can test whether the primary speaker remains stable at its intended position before deciding whether to keep Ethernet permanently connected.
Wi-Fi setup
- Put the primary speaker within reliable range of your normal router location.
- Disconnect Ethernet if a network cable is attached; the manual’s Wi-Fi procedure assumes no wired connection is present.
- Power the speaker, open StreamMagic, and select the new-product setup instructions.
- Choose your home network and enter its password when prompted.
L/R X does not support captive-portal networks, such as the sign-in pages commonly used by hotels, dormitories, and some guest networks. The manual also advises avoiding powerline adapters and Wi-Fi extenders where possible because they can reduce connection reliability. If your router’s signal is marginal, Ethernet is the first troubleshooting option; changing EQ will not fix a network problem.
Give the system a clear name
When StreamMagic asks for a name, use something distinctive such as Living Room Stereo. A unique name makes the pair easier to identify in the app, on your home network, and in services that expose network playback or smart-home device lists. Avoid a name that duplicates another speaker or room.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchStep 2: Link the two speakers
L/R X supports two speaker-link methods:
- Wireless WiSA HT: useful when you need the speakers separated without a cable running between them.
- Wired USB-C: generally the safer choice in a difficult wireless environment. Cambridge Audio includes a 5 m USB-C speaker-link cable with the pair.
Wireless WiSA HT
Use the StreamMagic setup instructions to select wireless speaker linking and follow the pairing prompts. Keep both speakers powered while the link is established. Wireless linking gives you more placement flexibility, but the result still depends on the local radio environment, distance, and obstructions. If the second speaker disappears, clicks, or repeatedly reconnects, temporarily move the units closer together and retest. If the fault follows the wireless link, use the supplied USB-C cable instead.
Wired USB-C
- Power down both speakers if the app instructs you to do so.
- Connect the supplied USB-C speaker-link cable between the designated link ports.
- Power the pair and complete or repeat the linking step in StreamMagic.
- Play a stereo track and confirm that both speakers produce sound from their assigned channels.
Do not assume you need to buy a second cable: a 5 m link cable is listed as included. If the supplied cable is lost or damaged, verify the required cable type and length with Cambridge Audio documentation before ordering a replacement.
Step 3: Set the primary side and verify stereo orientation
In StreamMagic, choose whether the primary speaker is the left or right channel. Select the side that matches the physical layout as you face the speakers from the listening position. Then play a recording with a stable center vocal or use a familiar left/right test track.
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Correct an image that pulls to one side
- Check that the app’s primary-side setting agrees with the speakers’ physical positions.
- Check that the USB-C or WiSA link is fully established and that both units are producing audio.
- In StreamMagic, open the Balance control.
- Move the balance only a small amount toward the quieter side, then listen again.
Balance is a level correction, not a replacement for correcting a wiring or channel-assignment error. If the image remains off-center with Balance at its neutral position, inspect source settings and speaker placement before applying a large offset.
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Step 4: Place the speakers for a stable stereo image
Cambridge Audio’s manual says, “L/R X is tuned for large rooms with free-standing speakers.” Start with both speakers on stable, rigid surfaces and clear of furniture that blocks their front panels. Keep the left and right units at similar heights and distances from your listening position. The manual does not prescribe a universal wall clearance, stereo-triangle dimension, or toe-in angle, so there is no single official measurement to copy into every room.
A practical placement sequence
- Place the speakers symmetrically around the position where you normally listen.
- Make sure each speaker has comparable nearby surfaces. A speaker close to a side wall while the other is in open space will not behave as a balanced pair.
- Start with both cabinets facing forward. Play a center-focused vocal recording.
- Move the pair in small increments if the center image is vague, bass is uneven, or one side sounds noticeably brighter.
- Only after the physical arrangement is stable should you use Room Acoustics, Balance, or EQ.
These are incremental listening adjustments rather than a measured optimization procedure. Keep notes of each move so you can return to the position that sounded better. A change in distance from a wall can alter bass and lower-mid energy; a change in angle can alter apparent high-frequency balance and the width of the center image.
Step 5: Match the room with Room Acoustics
Open the L/R X controls in StreamMagic and enable Room Acoustics. The manual instructs you to adjust the room-size and speaker-placement sliders so they describe your actual room and the way the speakers are positioned. Treat those settings as compensation for the installation, not as a universal “best” preset.
Use the room-size and placement sliders
- Select the room-size setting that most closely reflects the space in which the pair is installed.
- Set the placement control to describe whether the speakers are free-standing or affected by nearby boundaries.
- Listen to a recording with sustained bass, a centered voice, and cymbals or strings.
- Move one slider at a time and make small changes. Keep the setting that produces the most even bass and the most stable center image.
Compensate for a bright or dull room
Room Acoustics also includes a room-surface compensation control. If the room sounds too bright, adjust toward the setting intended for a more reflective environment; if it sounds too dull, use the alternative compensation. Make the change after you have settled placement, because a large rug, curtains, bare flooring, glass, and open shelving can all change the balance you hear.
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Step 6: Fine-tune Balance, EQ, and DynamEQ
Balance
Use Balance only for a small level mismatch after checking channel assignment and placement. A slight correction can compensate for an asymmetrical room or seating position. Large corrections are a warning that the installation or source configuration needs attention.
Seven-band EQ
L/R X provides a seven-band equalizer and presets. Start with EQ flat or with the least processed preset that suits your source. Then change one band at a time in modest increments:
- Reduce excessive bass rather than immediately raising treble when the room sounds boomy.
- If voices are recessed, undo a previous bass boost before adding upper-mid energy.
- If cymbals or sibilants are aggressive, reduce the relevant upper bands instead of turning down the entire system.
- Compare every change at the same volume; a louder setting often sounds subjectively “better” even when it is less balanced.
EQ is a listening control, not an independent measurement of accuracy. Save or note a setting that works for one room and listening position, but expect to revisit it after moving furniture or speakers.
DynamEQ for quiet listening
The manual describes DynamEQ as compensation for the reduced perception of bass and treble at lower volume. Its intensity is adjustable. If you listen quietly and the presentation loses weight or sparkle, increase DynamEQ gradually and compare it with the control off. At normal or high levels, too much compensation can make the sound overly heavy or bright, so use the lowest intensity that solves the problem.
Step 7: Connect your sources correctly
Television over eARC
Use the TV’s eARC connection where available. Follow the TV and StreamMagic setup prompts, then select the Cambridge Audio system as the television’s audio output. eARC is the preferred connection when both devices support it because it is designed for modern TV audio return.
Television over optical
- Connect the TV’s optical output to the speaker’s optical input.
- Open the TV’s digital-audio settings.
- Set the output format to PCM.
- Play a stereo program and confirm that both speakers operate.
L/R X does not support multichannel audio. The manual documents optical PCM operation and notes that TOSLINK is not recommended at 192 kHz. If you get silence or intermittent sound, PCM is the first setting to check; surround or bitstream output is not an appropriate format for this connection.
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Turntable with an MM cartridge
A turntable using a moving-magnet cartridge without an integrated phono stage can connect to the L/R X MM Phono input. Attach the turntable’s ground wire to the speaker’s ground tab before raising the volume. The ground connection helps prevent hum.
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Turntable with a built-in phono stage
If the turntable has an integrated phono preamp, set its output to line level and connect it to a line-level input on L/R X. Do not route an already-amplified phono signal into the MM Phono input, because the extra gain and equalization can overload the input.
Network streaming
After network setup, StreamMagic documents access to Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer, and Amazon Music, along with Google Cast and AirPlay. Availability varies by territory and can change as services update their support. If a service is missing, confirm that the app, account region, speaker firmware, and phone are using compatible versions before treating it as a speaker fault.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need a subwoofer?
No. With subwoofer output switched off, the L/R X pair plays its full frequency range. The manual’s stated response is 35 Hz–24 kHz ±3 dB, so many rooms and music collections will not require additional bass hardware.
When a subwoofer can help
Consider an active subwoofer with an RCA input when you need more low-frequency output, want to reduce bass load on the main speakers at higher playback levels, or have a room that produces a more useful result with a separately positioned bass source. This is an optional room decision, not a requirement created by the speaker design.
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- Connect the active subwoofer to the L/R X subwoofer output.
- Enable subwoofer output in the app.
- Adjust the subwoofer level until bass integrates with the mains instead of sounding detached.
- If bass becomes thin or hollow around the crossover region, try phase inversion on the subwoofer and listen again.
- Enable the main-speaker high-pass filter if the subwoofer should handle frequencies below the chosen crossover.
- Set the crossover in the app from 20 to 250 Hz, matching the setting to the subwoofer’s capabilities and the way it is positioned.
Make changes at a moderate, repeatable volume. Excessive subwoofer level can disguise a placement problem and make the whole system seem slower or less defined.
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Troubleshooting by symptom
The primary speaker will not join Wi-Fi
- Disconnect Ethernet and restart the Wi-Fi setup in StreamMagic.
- Confirm that the speaker is within dependable router range.
- Check that the network does not require a captive-portal sign-in.
- Remove powerline adapters or Wi-Fi extenders from the path temporarily and test the router’s direct signal.
- If reliability remains poor and the router is close enough, switch to Ethernet.
The second speaker is silent or keeps disconnecting
- Confirm that both speakers are powered.
- Verify that the app shows the intended WiSA HT link or that the USB-C cable is fully seated.
- For wireless linking, move the speakers closer together during pairing and remove obvious obstructions.
- For wired linking, test the supplied 5 m cable and check the link ports before buying a replacement.
The stereo image is reversed
Return to the primary-side setting in StreamMagic and select the side that matches the physical layout. Then replay a recording with a known center vocal and left/right cues. Do not try to fix a reversed image with Balance.
The sound is too bright or too dull
Check placement and nearby surfaces first, then use the Room Acoustics surface compensation control. Leave the seven-band EQ for smaller, intentional adjustments after that.
Bass is weak after adding a subwoofer
Check the subwoofer level, try phase inversion, and verify that the crossover and high-pass settings are sensible for the subwoofer. A hollow sound around the crossover often points to phase or placement rather than a need for more level.
The TV has no sound
For optical, set the TV to PCM and confirm that the selected input is optical. L/R X does not decode multichannel audio. For eARC, check that the TV’s audio output is set to its eARC device and that HDMI control settings required by the TV are enabled.
A final listening and setup checklist
- The primary speaker has a stable Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection.
- The system has a unique name in StreamMagic.
- The second speaker is linked by WiSA HT or USB-C and both channels play.
- The primary-side setting matches the physical left/right arrangement.
- Balance is centered or changed only by a small, intentional amount.
- The pair is on stable, comparable free-standing surfaces with a symmetrical listening arrangement.
- Room Acoustics reflects the room size and speaker placement.
- Room-surface compensation matches whether the room sounds reflective, bright, absorbent, or dull.
- EQ changes are modest and evaluated at the same volume.
- DynamEQ is used only when its low-volume compensation suits your listening level.
- TV optical output is PCM, and an MM turntable’s ground wire is attached.
- A subwoofer is enabled only when it addresses a specific bass or room need, with level, phase, and crossover checked.
What “best” means with L/R X
There is no universal toe-in angle, wall distance, or EQ curve for these speakers. The official setup guidance is more useful when treated as a sequence: establish a reliable network, make the stereo link dependable, place the pair as free-standing speakers, match Room Acoustics to the installation, and only then adjust Balance, EQ, or DynamEQ. That order prevents app controls from masking a channel, placement, or connection error.
The manufacturer’s 2 × 400 W output specification and the manual’s 35 Hz–24 kHz ±3 dB response describe the hardware; they do not guarantee a particular sound level or bass response in every room. Your final setting should therefore be the one that produces a centered image, even tonal balance, and stable bass from your normal listening position at the volume you actually use.
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