Cambridge Audio G5 review

There's a good chance you'll be won over by this wireless speaker's detailed and balanced sound... Tested at £229

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The Cambridge Audio G5 is good; alone we have few complaints, it’s only against its competitors it loses a bit of ground

Pros

  • +

    Balanced sound

  • +

    Easily listenable

  • +

    Sleek design and well built

Cons

  • -

    Dynamics and cohesion are bettered by rivals

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Cambridge Audio knows how to build class-leading wireless speakers.

The Go, best sub-£150 speaker at last year's What Hi-Fi? Awards, is an entry-level yardstick, so we were eager to test the G5.

MORE: Cambridge Audio Go review

Design

The G5’s design isn't dissimilar to the Go; it’s larger, as you'd expect with the price jump, but still a thin, laid-back oblong.

On its scalp are buttons for power, volume, changing input and answering calls; on its lower back are ports for auxiliary input, USB charging (the G5 has a claimed 14-hour battery life at full volume), line out and A/B switch for pairing speakers to play your music simultaneously.

It's the unfussy, gimmick-free class we've come to expect from Cambridge Audio.

Sound

Being in an amorous mood, we begin with Father John Misty's I Love You, Honeybear. The G5 takes no issue, happily expressing the whimsical sway of acoustic guitar, piano, string section and drum kit with reasonable detail.

The vocals are clear, despite being awash with reverb and doubled lines, showcasing the content of Joshua Tillman's blunt witticisms.

That we find our way to the album’s third song, True Affection, before changing tack shows how easy it is to listen to this speaker. The G5 receives our strong recommendation on that count.

We move on to Sigur Rós's Sæglópur, and again it is a clean listen. Our interest is certainly held, though we aren't altogether moved.

The breadth of the soundscape is satisfactory – we certainly aren’t expecting this to sound like a live performance, and it isn’t exactly small sounding – but it’s also not quite as extensive as rival such as the Audio Pro Addon T3.

MORE: Best wireless speakers 2015

The build-up, continual through the first five minutes, is expressed clearly, as is the song’s slow death, but it isn’t as dynamically intricate as the Audio Pro or the JBL Xtreme.

To test its frequency range, we try the G5 with Beck's Go It Alone – a song anchored by the bass guitar. Where this speaker is comfortable, it is sure-footed, but almost everything else it omits.

We’ve heard too many products that try to squeeze in too much low end at the expense of balance, dynamics and detail, so we’re glad that Cambridge Audio has toed this side of the line.

That’s not to say there isn’t sufficient weight in kick drums and the like. Just be aware that this isn’t going to shake you off your deckchair.

MORE: JBL Xtreme review

Verdict

We like the G5. Though perhaps not such a standout performer as the Go in its price bracket, we’d happily take one home in the knowledge we’ll get a balanced, detailed and focused sound.

For a sub-£250, battery-powered wireless speaker, we can hardly say fairer than that.

See all our Cambridge audio reviews

See all our wireless speaker reviews

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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