Cambridge Audio MXN10 vs Bluesound Node: which budget music streamer is best?

Rising star takes on established class leader in the race for budget supremacy

Music streamers, or network audio players as they can be called, are ideal for anyone who wants to improve their digital music and streaming set-up's capabilities from one talented box. They offer wireless playback to your hi-fi, with a bucketload of streaming methods and supported music apps thrown in, bringing the convenience of music streaming into your set-up without sacrificing audio fidelity.

The Bluesound Node (2021) and Cambridge Audio MXN10 are two affordable music streamers designed to offer value for money to consumers who want to add network streaming to their hi-fi. They may be at the budget end of the market, but that doesn't mean they have skimped on features: these streamers have a plethora of playback options - both when it comes to streaming services and physical connections - plus support for a wide variety of hi-res file formats.

This particular match-up is a fascinating one. The Bluesound Node (2021) delivers admirably capable sound without a high price tag, with no rival able to better its combination of price, features and performance - until now.

A serious new contender in the form of the five-star Cambridge Audio MXN10 arrived last year, and we saw a changing of the guard at the top of the budget music streamer category, the Year award. Previous champ, the Bluesound is still a fine streamer though so which one should you choose?

Bluesound Node vs Cambridge Audio MXN10: price

The MXN10 and the Bluesound Node are at currently the same price, with the MXN10 and Bluesound Node's both carrying a £449 asking price.

Listen to either, however, and you will be impressed with how both sound far more premium than their price tags would indicate. These are what we would term "affordable" music streamers, yet both give you so much bang for your buck in terms of sound, features and even build quality.