Owners of older Cambridge Audio network players just got a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade. Thanks to a new software update, a wide range of second- and third-generation StreamMagic devices now support Qobuz Connect, letting you control hi-res streaming straight from the Qobuz app instead of juggling multiple interfaces.

The update targets StreamMagic Gen 2 and Gen 3 hardware, pulling a long list of legacy products into line with the current Gen 4 range.

Supported models now include:

• StreamMagic 6 V2
• CXN (like the Cambridge Audio CXN100, priced at $1,099 at Crutchfield)
• CXN (V2)
• Azur 851N
• Edge NQ
• CXR receivers

These products already had access to Qobuz through the StreamMagic app, but playback was handled inside Cambridge’s own interface. With the new firmware, you can bypass StreamMagic entirely for Qobuz listening and drive everything from the native Qobuz app instead.

Gen 4 StreamMagic devices, such as the Evo series, gained Qobuz Connect support back in October, so this latest rollout mainly exists to bring older models up to the same streaming feature set. According to Cambridge Audio, only its very first generation of network streamers is still without Qobuz Connect.

The update is available now and installs via the StreamMagic platform in the usual way.

Qobuz Connect launched in 2025 and works in a similar way to Spotify Connect or Tidal Connect. Rather than sending audio over Bluetooth or AirPlay from your phone, the Qobuz app simply hands off playback to your hi-fi component over your home network.

In practice, that means:

• Your phone or tablet becomes a remote control, not the audio source.
• Music is streamed directly from Qobuz’s servers to your Cambridge streamer.
• You can switch between control devices – say, from your phone to a tablet – without the music cutting out.
• Notifications, calls, and other phone interruptions won’t break the audio stream.

You still have the option to use the StreamMagic app if you prefer a single control point for multiple services. Qobuz Connect just adds another route that many listeners find more straightforward: open the Qobuz app, pick your album or playlist, tap the output device, and go.

From a hardware point of view, nothing about your streamer changes with this update. The DAC, amplification, and physical inputs are all the same as before. The difference is in how you control and access music, and that’s increasingly where long-term value lives for streaming products.

Being able to use the native Qobuz app brings a few practical benefits:

• You get full access to Qobuz’s own features, layouts, and navigation rather than a simplified in-app version.
• Any editorial content, curated playlists, and discovery tools inside Qobuz are available in their intended environment.
• You don’t have to learn or maintain a second app just for one service.

For many people, that reduces the pressure to upgrade hardware just to keep up with service features. As long as the streaming platform keeps receiving meaningful software updates, an older streamer can stay relevant in a modern system.

Qobuz itself now offers a catalogue of over 100 million tracks, with streaming options ranging from standard CD quality to 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution audio. Qobuz Connect is also not exclusive to Cambridge Audio. It’s already available on devices from brands including Denon, WiiM, Naim, Lumin, and Marantz, which helps standardize the experience across mixed systems.

For Cambridge specifically, Qobuz Connect is one piece of a broader streaming roadmap. Recent StreamMagic updates have:

• Prepared Gen 2, 3, and 4 models for Spotify’s Lossless tier, with support for FLAC streams up to 24-bit/44.1kHz where available.
• Added Amazon Music integration.
• Brought in QPlay support for certain markets.

The overall direction is clear: keep StreamMagic compatible with the major music services and connection standards, rather than tying owners to a narrow set of platforms.

If you own one of the supported StreamMagic Gen 2 or Gen 3 products, you don’t need to send anything back or plug in a computer. The firmware rolls out over the air via the StreamMagic app:

1. Open the StreamMagic app on your phone or tablet.
2. Check for available updates for your device.
3. Install the update and allow the unit to restart.
4. Open the Qobuz app, look for the output selector, and choose your Cambridge streamer.

From there, your older network player should behave much like a current model when it comes to Qobuz. For anyone already paying for the service, it’s a straightforward way to make everyday listening a bit less fiddly and a reminder that in the streaming era, software support can be just as important as what’s inside the box.

Related Reading:

• Cambridge Audio Expands Streaming Options With Qobuz Connect Support
• I Tried Qobuz Connect on My Hi-Fi System — Here’s Why I Might Never Go Back to Spotify
• Streaming Hi-Res Music Just Got Way Simpler—Qobuz Connect Lands on BluOS
• Cambridge Audio Just Launched a Speaker Trio That Breaks the Rules
• Hi-Fi in Your Pocket: Cambridge Audio’s Melomania A100 Surprised Me