Head to head
Cambridge Audio L/R S vs L/R M
Cambridge Audio's compact Bluetooth pair against the step-up model with HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi streaming, and a phono stage. The deciding factor is whether the speakers need to run your TV.
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The L/R S and L/R M share Cambridge Audio's even, unfatiguing voicing, but they are built for different jobs. The L/R S is a compact music pair for a desk or a narrow shelf, with optical and Bluetooth. The L/R M is where the range becomes a full television system, with HDMI eARC, three times the power, Wi-Fi streaming, and a moving-magnet phono stage. The one question that decides it: will these sit under a TV?
| Spec | Cambridge Audio L/R S Ultra Compact Active Stereo Speakers A music-first compact pair with a tidy input set View on Amazon | Cambridge Audio L/R M Versatile Active Stereo Streaming Speakers One pair that does hi-fi and television equally well View at The Listening Room |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A music-first compact pair with a tidy input set | One pair that does hi-fi and television equally well |
| Price tier | Budget | Mid-range |
| TV connection | Optical only, no HDMI | HDMI eARC, plus optical |
| Amplifier power | 100 W total (2 x 50 W) | 300 W total (2 x 150 W) |
| Drivers | Two-way active | 2.5-way with side-firing passive radiators |
| Streaming | Bluetooth aptX HD, no Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi with StreamMagic, plus Bluetooth |
| Phono input | No | Yes, moving magnet |
| Subwoofer out | Yes, RCA | Yes, RCA |
| Size (each) | 226 x 134 x 180 mm | Not published |
| Where to buy | In stock | Pre-order at The Listening Room |
Pick the Cambridge Audio L/R if
- The speakers go on a desk, in a bedroom, or on a shelf too narrow for anything bigger.
- Music comes from your phone or computer, so Bluetooth and USB-C cover it.
- You want the Cambridge sound at about a third of the L/R M's price.
Pick the Cambridge Audio L/R if
- The speakers replace a soundbar, so you want HDMI eARC and TV remote volume control.
- You have a turntable and want to plug it straight in.
- You want Wi-Fi streaming rather than Bluetooth, and enough power for a living room.
Verdict
Buy the L/R S for a desk or a bedroom where music is the job; it is the refined Cambridge voicing in a small box, and the subwoofer output lets it grow. Buy the L/R M if the pair has to run a television, because without HDMI the L/R S cannot answer the TV remote and that alone makes it the wrong choice for a living room. The exception is timing: the L/R M is still a pre-order, so confirm the ship date before paying.
Common questions
- Can the L/R S connect to a TV?
- Yes, through optical. It works, but without HDMI CEC the TV remote cannot change the volume, so you will be using the speaker's own remote or app.
- Do they sound the same?
- They share the same house voicing, but the L/R M has three times the amplifier power and a 2.5-way array with passive radiators, so it plays louder and goes deeper.
- Is there a step above the L/R M?
- Yes, the L/R X, with 800 watts, larger cabinets, and Roon Ready streaming, aimed at a full main room.