Cambridge Audio Minx XL Flagship Bookshelf Speakers, Black

These speakers are solid, heavy, and nice looking with quality input connectors. They sound really nice for my purposes: using a reliable old CD player that I've replaced in my main system, along with a simple decent little amp. Detail is nice, crisp highs and lows, clear and clean, plenty of bass for their size. I enjoy the sound at both high and low volumes. All that and I haven't really broken them in yet. At around $200/pr, these things were a steal.The Minx XLs fall into a weird spot. Kinda big for desktop/computer speakers, kinda small for full bookshelf speakers. They work well in my upstairs workspace, which doesn't have great acoustics from the start. Would be perfect as main speakers in a small space, or when you're not using them in a primary system and you don't need to fill a large space.

First off, this is a budget speaker as many are under $600 price points which do some things better but overall are a very decent product. These Minx XLs are especially at their current price. Originally retailing at $300 I think there are a few better options but you would get a larger cabinet and lower sensitivity for more bass to mid bass output for a more balanced presentation.This speaker now at $169 is at the top of its' game in that it is more important in what you get than what you are missing. If you use these in a 2 channel application in a mid size or larger room you find the presentation lacking a bottom end but midrange and highs are essentially well balanced enough at reasonable sound levels so that adding a subwoofer should help alleviate that.For its' current price, even higher, detail and resolution are good, there is good enough musicality to avoid a boring sound even if it isn't the most euphonic in comparison to some others I have heard, there are worse also.As stated, without a sub, the speaker can appear a bit bright to some. That is what is good about the tweeter in being a soft dome it gives good detail and resolution without sounding outright harsh or unnatural...mostly. The sound quality can compress at higher volumes.These would make a good choice for many people who value sufficient clarity (resolution) and transparency (detail with good tone) for a small room, and particularly for desktop applications where more bass will stand out as it decreases in larger rooms and as you move away from the speakers. Close up, the center image is good, there is more balance due to a bit more support from lower octaves. There is a bit of sharpness in more sibilant passages I notice from time to time but acceptable for under a couple of hundred. To get rid of that you lose out of both detail and resolution, IMO.Finish is nice in either black (mine) or white. I liked both and was on the fence so I asked someone which she preferred. Real scientific eh? I like speakers to not attract undue attention to itself so black fits that bill. The white however adds some pop in its' display and it is currently the only color remaining.Soundstage is small and anemic in comparison to larger speakers but the tone is decent. Like I said, they would be nice desktop or small room speakers unless you add a sub (which I didn't). The overall presentation is acceptable at lower volumes, they are not the most dynamic speakers in their presentation (adding bass might help that a bit) but not soft/dark or laid back either.These aren't meant to play real loud but I think most people will find them sufficient. Not a party speaker.For streaming music/movies, podcasts, vinyl, cd, etc., they fit the bill at the price. Buy them now before they are gone or spend more.Cheapaudioman favorably compared them to Dali Spektor 1s which are similarly small with a smaller woofer. I think the Dalis are abit warmer across the frequency range, have a more pronounced bass but are much less sensitive so more power will be needed to achieve a similar loudness. The Minx XL does better for watching movies IMO.These speakers would pair best with a warmer to neutral amp, perhaps a tube amp as well. A good price new as I think used they should go for $150 give or take when all that is left are used ones. They still sell for $300 other places and about $250 in their home market (GB).There are some better speakers over $300 prices but what's not to like now discounted? A solid 4 overall for an under $200 price point regarding build, SQ, finish.If you need a small, low cost but good quality set of speakers for desktop, kitchen, bedroom, etc...there you go.In comparison my other speakers originally retailed for $500+ and $1600 (years ago), so I am used to better SQ. The MinX don't compete with either but they aren't expected to. What they do give they give well enough.Addendum:I am really, really liking these speakers the more I listen to them. for the current price they are a solid 5 stars. Four stars at $300 sure but at under $200, these are the real deal. Maybe they changed a bit after breakin, but I go back and forth between these and my Triangle Zetas and I can prefer one aspect of the sound over another, maybe I prefer how these sound with this, or prefer that speaker with that....all in all, they are both very nice. Note the Zetas are discontinued and you can't find them anywhere.I believe these CA Minx XL are like that, while available right now, once they are gone, you're not going to get them for this price unless you want used, if you can find them at all once they are gone. Buy them now!

Wanted to utilize a Luxman R-117 receiver I've kept since purchasing it in 1989. Been in storage since 1999. Now it's considered Retro and I found a place in the home to set it up in -- The R-117 was considered one of the best in the day, still sought after, rated at 160 watts/channel. Powerfully and flawlessly delivered beautiful music to $2K speakers for years. However, this is a small project, and I just couldn't justify putting $1K into speakers for it. Still craved hearing quality sound though-- WORST thing is to have a phenomenal receiver with its capabilities blocked by limited speakers. What to do... LOTS of research, and these Cambridge deliver...they truly do. While listening to them I get lost in the sense they sound like something for $800 or more. I'm impressed. For fun I hooked them up to an old Carver 100w amp, no tone controls, just a straight line from source to amp to speakers. They certainly still sounded pretty good. It was clear these speakers like to be pushed to deliver what they are capable of - not the kind of power by simply cranking up the volume from a lower watt amp. No, these are recommended 50w-100w of driving power, and that recommendation is solid. Hooked back up to the Luxman 160W with some minor tonal adjustments and the speakers came alive even more, sounding nice at low and higher volumes. They certainly will seem limited to someone lacking driving force and tone adjustment options...These Cambridges made it possible to hear my first Audio purchase back in action in nice splendor...

Cambridge audio really out did themselves with these speakers. Let them break in well and you will be rewarded with a very clear, revealing, and very musical speaker. These speakers do not seem to accentuate any certain frequency of the music. They can surprise you with delicate highs, great vocals, and even very good bass. With tubes the sound is very three dimensional and instruments seem to appear outside the enclosures. Very non fatiguing and easy to listen to for long periods of time. I have been an audiophile for 30 years and these speakers just seem to get it right if you don't ask too much of them, and use high quality equipment.

I was pleasantly surprised by replacing larger bookshelf speakers with these little beauties. They don't have quite as deep bass, but what is there is much better defined. Tighter. I am using them near-field as desktop audio speakers, and can run them without EQ, unlike every other desktop speaker I have tried.Too bad they're being discontinued! But a great deal on close out. Presumably Cambridge has other even better plans.

Like nearly all speakers this size, deep Bass is lacking. Since I have amost a dozen speakers of similar size, based on price and performance this rates near the top when on Sale. It is a very neutral speaker. No unusual highs or muffled mid-range. Rated by many as a speaker that gives you back what it gets.

Like always Cambridge Audio shows their quality. Really great sound for a speaker this size. Mine are mounted on the 36 inch Everstlyle black stands, used some Blu Tack to hold them down. nice projection in my average sized living area. If your looking for a solid bookshelf speaker, stop shopping and just add these to your cart, you won't be sorry!

I use them as surround speakers in a 7.1 set up. Really good and clear sound.