The Cambridge Audio L/R S is a pair of active powered stereo speakers, which means the amplifier that drives them is built right inside the cabinets. You buy them as a matched set of two speakers (a left and a right), and together they form a complete sound system on their own. That is the big idea here. With traditional hi-fi, you often need a separate amplifier, a set of passive speakers, speaker cables, and sometimes a streamer to connect them all. The L/R S folds most of that into the two speakers themselves, so setup is far simpler for someone just getting started.
If you are new to high-end audio, think of it this way: one speaker (called the primary) contains the brains and the power. The other (the secondary) connects to it and completes the stereo pair. You plug in your music source, connect the two speakers together, and you are listening.
Where does it fit in a system?
The L/R S sits at the heart of a small, tidy system rather than being one piece among many. Because the amplification is built in, you do not add a separate amp. You simply feed it music from a source, whether that is your phone over Bluetooth, a turntable with its own phono stage, a TV, or a computer. It is ideal for a desktop, a bookshelf, a bedroom, or a living area where you want real hi-fi sound without a rack of components. If you later want deeper bass, there is a dedicated output for adding a subwoofer, which we will explain below.
The Sound and the Amplifier
How loud and powerful is it?
Each speaker delivers 50 watts, for a combined 100 watts total across the pair. In everyday terms, that is plenty of power to fill a bedroom, a study, or a normal-sized living room with clear, room-filling sound. Wattage is roughly a measure of how much muscle the amplifier has to drive the speakers cleanly, especially when the music gets loud or busy. With 100 watts total, the L/R S has headroom to stay composed at comfortable listening levels without straining.
What does Class D amplification mean for me?
Class D is a modern, highly efficient type of amplifier, and for you it means the speakers run cool and make good use of their power in a compact cabinet. Older amplifier designs tend to waste a lot of energy as heat and take up more space. Class D lets Cambridge Audio pack real power into small speakers that do not need bulky cooling. In daily listening, you get clean, controlled sound from a set of speakers small enough to sit on a desk or shelf.
What are the drivers and why do two matter?
Each speaker has two drivers, which are the cones and domes that actually move air to make sound. There is a 21mm aluminum tweeter for high frequencies (cymbals, vocals, detail and sparkle) and a 3 inch woofer for the midrange and bass (voices, guitars, drums, the body of the music). Splitting the work between two specialized drivers lets each one do its job well, which produces cleaner, more detailed sound than a single driver trying to cover everything. Each speaker also has a rear reflex port, which is an opening on the back that helps the small woofer produce fuller, deeper bass than its size alone would suggest.
What does the frequency response spec tell me?
The frequency response is 55 Hz to 24 kHz +/- 3 dB, which describes the range of sound the speakers reproduce, from the low bass notes up to the highest treble. The 55 Hz figure means you get solid, satisfying bass for most music, though the very deepest rumble (think large pipe organs or heavy movie effects) is where a subwoofer would help. The 24 kHz top end reaches beyond what most people can hear, so you are covered for all the detail and air in the treble. The +/- 3 dB part is simply a measure of how even and accurate that range is, and a tight number here indicates faithful, balanced sound.
Connections and Controls
How do I connect my music to it?
The L/R S offers several inputs so you can connect a range of sources. There is an RCA line input for things like a turntable with a built-in phono stage or a CD player, an optical TOSLINK input that is perfect for connecting a TV, and a USB-C audio input for a computer or laptop. For wireless listening, it has Bluetooth that supports SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX HD. Those last two are higher-quality Bluetooth formats that carry more musical detail from compatible phones and devices. It is worth knowing there is no Wi-Fi or network streaming built in, so you stream wirelessly through Bluetooth rather than through an app-based network connection.
What are the outputs for?
There are two outputs. The subwoofer out lets you add a powered subwoofer if you want deeper, more physical bass for movies or bass-heavy music. The wired analog inter-speaker link is the connection between the two speakers themselves, joining the primary and secondary so they work as a proper stereo pair. This wired link keeps the connection between the two speakers stable and reliable.
How do I control it without a display?
The L/R S has no display screen; instead it comes with a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) remote control for adjusting volume, switching inputs, and choosing sound modes. Leaving off a screen keeps the design clean and simple. Speaking of sound modes, there are three EQ settings: Normal for everyday music listening, Movie for a bigger, more dynamic feel with films, and Voice for making speech and dialogue clearer. You just pick whichever suits what you are watching or listening to.
Design, Build, and Who It Suits
Why does Cambridge Audio build quality matter?
Cambridge Audio is a long-established British audio company known for well-engineered, great-sounding equipment with an understated, elegant style. That heritage matters because it means the L/R S is designed by people who take music seriously, with attention to how the drivers, cabinet, and amplifier work together. Each speaker measures 134 x 226 x 180 mm (5.3 x 8.9 x 7.1 inches) and is genuinely compact, with the primary weighing 3.0 kg and the secondary 2.6 kg. That reassuring weight for such a small speaker reflects solid cabinet construction, which helps keep the sound clean by reducing unwanted vibration.
What finishes can I choose from?
The L/R S comes in a wide range of finishes: Black, White, Blue, Green, Orange, and Real Walnut. This is unusually generous choice for a hi-fi product, and it means you can match the speakers to your room or let them stand out as a design piece. The Real Walnut finish adds a warm, natural wood look, while the colors give you room to have some fun.
Who are these speakers right for?
The L/R S is ideal for anyone new to high-end audio who wants genuinely good sound without building a complicated system. Because everything is built in, it suits desktops, bedrooms, and living rooms where space and simplicity matter. It fits people who stream from their phone, watch TV, use a computer, or spin records through a phono stage, and who value tidy design and a choice of finishes. If you want serious wired network streaming, that is not this product, but if you want a simple, beautifully made stereo pair that just plays music the moment you connect a source, the L/R S is a welcoming place to begin.
