The Cambridge Audio Edge S: A Listening Journey Worth the Wait

Aug 30, 2025

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They say if your son owns a high-end stereo shop, it’s the best thing that can happen to an audiophile—and the worst.

 

As a guy who’s been chasing sound for over 50 years, I can confirm both. The best part? I get to listen to gear from all over the world—much of it rare, much of it extraordinary. The worst? Every time a new component lands at House of Stereo, I find myself wondering, “Should I own this one too?” It’s an addiction with really good acoustics.

 

Still, there’s nothing like the fun of being able to take home something new, plug it into a familiar system, and let it breathe in a real room. Not some crowded audio show floor where half the people are talking and the other half are pretending not to notice. The best listening—the only listening, in my view—is in your own environment, or at least one you know intimately.

House of Stereo in Jacksonville, FL

 

Joe, my son (and the heart behind House of Stereo), often asks my opinion on new gear. I’m always happy to oblige. But I need to state this clearly: I’m not a professional reviewer. I’m not someone who’s going to dissect frequency response curves or decode capacitor specs. What I am is a guy who’s owned a lot of great equipment, heard even more of it, and attended more concerts than I can count. I know what real music sounds like, and I know when a system delivers that same emotional punch.

 

These days, when I’m asked to listen, I don’t evaluate gear for myself. I listen for the customer. The guy or gal who’s looking to build the best possible system for their budget. Some of them are seasoned audiophiles, and others are just beginning their journeys into the Hi-Fi world. I hold a soft spot for those just starting out. I remember when I bought my first “serious” turntable—a humble AR XA for $85. My boss at the time told everyone my priorities were screwed up. But that little turntable sparked a journey I didn’t know I was on. Truth is, a lot of audiophiles don’t realize they are audiophiles until it’s too late to turn back.

The arrival of the Edge S

That brings me to the Cambridge Audio Edge S. When I first heard about it, I perked up—not just because it was new, or beautiful, or a limited-edition (only 68 pairs made worldwide)—but because it was designed as a tribute to the Mordaunt-Short Performance 6, a speaker I’d long admired but never heard in person. Mordaunt-Short, as I wrote in my earlier blog, was a legend in British loudspeaker design—known for their aspirated tweeters, composite cabinets, and pure musicality.

 

Cambridge Audio and Mordaunt-Short, for those who don’t know, now share the same corporate parent. Their philosophies and design DNA have slowly merged, and the Edge S is the first speaker I’ve heard that truly feels like the spiritual successor to Mordaunt-Short’s glory days.

The Setup

When I walked into our high-end room at the shop, I saw the Edge S connected to a full Cambridge Audio Edge system—the Edge W power amplifier and the Edge NQ network player. Three other amps from high-end brands sat nearby, practically begging for a swap-in. But I held off. I wanted to hear the speakers in their native ecosystem first.

 

As usual, I let the system warm up while I answered emails and read the news on my tablet. I’ve developed a personal litmus test over the years: if the music pulls me away from whatever I’m doing—if I put the tablet down and start paying attention—then the gear is doing something right. And that’s exactly what happened.

The Listening

I started with The Wailin’ Jennys—specifically Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House and 40 Days. These are beautifully recorded albums in intimate spaces, and on the Edge S, they felt downright haunting. “Bold Riley” was particularly stunning—clear, dimensional, with that “they’re in the room” presence you always hope for but rarely get.

 

Next up was Van Morrison’s Three Chords and the Truth, a modern recording with rich vocals and dense arrangements. On “Fame Will Eat the Soul,” Van’s voice sat perfectly in the soundstage. “You Don’t Understand” brought a saxophone so holographic it felt like I could walk around it. And the background vocals? Just as tangible as Van’s own.

 

Then came Eric Clapton’s Old Sock, where “Still Got the Blues” gave me exactly what I hoped for—tight, defined bass with real presence and musical cohesion. The impact, the balance, the ease… it just clicked.

Finally, I cued up Hilary Hahn’s Paris and lost myself in “Violin Concerto No. 1 – Andantino.” That’s when the gear truly disappeared. I was no longer evaluating speakers. I was sitting in a concert hall, alone, wrapped in music. Hahn’s violin had breath and bite, sweetness and soul. It was one of those moments where the room vanishes and the performance becomes everything.

Final Thoughts

I’ve heard a lot of speakers in my time. Some impressive. Some disappointing. The Cambridge Audio Edge S belongs in a rare category: it disappears and lets the music speak. And paired with the Edge electronics, it performs with grace, presence, and authority that far exceeds what you’d expect—especially from a system that costs a fraction of some six-figure alternatives.

 

I’ll be spending more time with the Edge S in the coming weeks, pairing it with other components and setups. As always, I’ll report back. Not in charts or math, but in moments—the kind where the music takes over and you forget what you were doing.

 

If you’re even remotely curious, I’d suggest coming to House of Stereo and hearing them for yourself. You may not realize it yet, but this could be the beginning of your audiophile journey. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker

Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker

$8,000.00
$8,000.00

REDEFINING CLASSIC

When we designed a pair of speakers for Edge, we took inspiration from our sister British brand Mordaunt Short. Their Performance 6 speakers set a high standard to beat, but to carry the Edge name our new speakers had to be even more special. Edge is for people who don’t accept compromise, and our engineers in London took their responsibilities very seriously when developing Edge S.

Our Edge philosophy is simply:
“Listen first, measure later. Forget cost and forget limitation.”

Read More At House of Stereo Blogs!

True Limited Edition

Edge S speakers are handmade to exacting standards. They’re so special that we’ll only ever make 68 pairs – to celebrate our foundation year of 1968. Edge was introduced to commemorate Cambridge Audio’s 50 years in business, Edge S continues in that tradition. Over half a century in the pursuit of audio perfection is something special. 

Inner Beauty

An acoustically inert polyurethane resin chassis made internal radical sculpting possible. Modern engineering principles and components helped us push Edge S to the limit of technology and acoustics. Internal wiring, external drive units, driver planar alignment and crossover redesign were all refined. Resulting in the design efficiency and enhanced audio performance demanded by Edge. 

New British Icon

The ported cabinet eschews the parallel surfaces of conventional speakers, delivering a beautifully sculpted form. The breathtaking shape eliminates colouration and has unsurpassed inherent mechanical strength, dramatically improving sound quality. This is enhanced by CNC milled aluminium driver rings and a heavy die-cast base with spiked feet. 

Aluminium Plinth

With Edge, form and function go hand-in-hand. Edge S sits on a solid aluminium base, that visually anchors its place in the Edge family. It also adds all-important structural stability, so that no energy is wasted through vibration and high performance sound output is assured. 

Aspirated Tweeter

Edge S uses Aspirated Tweeter Technology (ATT). This elongated metal diffuser (with form defined by complex acoustic principles) floats freely in a discrete enclosure. Strategically positioned vents eliminate the colouration which can affect traditional closed-back designs. This unique system means that the high frequency drivers of Edge S literally ‘breathe’, resulting in an open yet detailed sound. 

New Crossover

In a radical move, true to the Edge philosophy of ‘less is more’ and thanks to modern engineering techniques, we reduced the component count inside the crossovers to just 16. This keeps the signal path as short and clean as possible. We paid close attention to the internal cabling to ensure maximum efficiency and minimal interference with the audio reproduction. 

Driver Arrangement

New Continuous Profile Cone (CPC) mid-range drivers are surrounded by CNC machined aluminium rings. This aids efficient dispersion of audio waves, unhindered by the cabinet. It gives engaging mid-range and layers of bass detail previously unheard. As well as the drivers being better supported from the front, internal bracing hold them perfectly in place. 

5 Year Warranty

Each pair of Edge S loudspeakers comes with a limited edition certificate. That’s in addition to a 5 year parts & labour warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. We made Edge S to be special, and we know that you’ll want to keep them that way. 

 

Technical specification


Drive units

1x 25mm (1”) ATT tweeter, 1 x 10cm (4”) CPC mid/bass driver, 2 x 16.5cm (6.5”) CPC woofers

Binding posts

Copper-plated, single-wirable

Frequency response

35Hz-30kHz

Sensitivity

89dB / 2.83V / 1m

Nominal impedance

4-8 Ohms

Power rating

15-250 Watts

Dimensions (w x h x d)

240 x 1144 x 397mm (9.4 x 45 x 15.6”)

Weight

30kg (66lbs)

Finish

Lunar Grey
Color
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Experience the Edge S at House of Stereo

As the exclusive U.S. showroom for the Cambridge Audio Edge S, House of Stereo offers you the rare opportunity to:

 

Hear them in real space, in one of our six immersive sound rooms.

 

Speak with our audiophile-savvy staff, who can guide your listening journey.

 

Order them directly in-store or via our website—smart, secure, and backed by our legendary service.

 

Whether you’re an existing Edge owner, a discriminating audiophile, or someone seeking your dream speaker, the Edge S awaits—and so do we.

Interested in the Cambridge Audio Limited Edition Edge S Floorstanding Speakers?

Visit us in Jacksonville or online and discover why these speakers are as rare in performance as they are in number. Your music deserves no less.

 

Need help choosing the right equipment for your system? Contact House of Stereo—we’re here to match you with the perfect gear for your environment and listening style.

Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker
Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker

Cambridge Edge S Loudspeaker

$8,000.00
$8,000.00
Color
Quantity
Title