Cambridge Audio Pack MSX20 5.1 white

Five satellite speakers as big as a coffee cup, a subwoofer barely larger than a brick, and a complete 5.1 system that fits inside a TV cabinet without visually overwhelming the room. The MSX20 5.1 pack reprises the formula of the old Minx from Cambridge Audio, a modular series launched in the early 2010s whose proposition already fit into a single sentence: achieve true spatial home theater sound with speakers the size of a fist. The British brand has modernized the styling and refined the BMR drivers, now in their fourth generation.

A closer look at BMR technology

The Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) driver sets the MSX series apart from conventional satellites. Its diaphragm combines the piston motion of traditional speakers with a bending wave mode that spreads high frequencies over a very wide angle. In practical terms: the optimal listening area is no longer confined to a precise spot in front of the speakers, and the sound remains coherent across the full width of the sofa and even beyond. Cambridge Audio is now on the fourth iteration of this technology, with increased efficiency and better integration of the treble with the rest of the spectrum.

Five identical, positionable MSX20 satellites

Each MSX20 measures 79 x 155 x 97 mm and weighs 750 grams. Two 57 mm BMR drivers share the work inside the cabinet: one covers the midrange and upper bass, while the other is dedicated entirely to the bass range. This two-way configuration sets the MSX20 apart from the MSX10 (which uses a single BMR) and allows it to fill a medium-sized listening space with no apparent effort.

The cabinet supports three positions: standing upright, laid horizontally, or wall-mounted using the supplied adjustable bracket. This flexibility matters in a 5.1 setup, where the front left/right channels often benefit from being vertical, the center channel horizontal below or above the television, and the surrounds mounted on the wall. Five strictly identical speakers also ensure consistent timbre from one channel to another, which helps preserve the coherence of circular effects in movies. The cabinet combines a rigid structure with aluminum reinforcements to limit unwanted resonance, and the premium matte finish reduces reflections in a bright living room.

There is still one compromise tied to the format: the MSX20 do not fill a 50 m² living room the way traditional floorstanding speakers would. In a standard living space (20 to 30 m²), their volume and soundstage foundation are more than convincing, especially once crossed over with the Sub 200.

A compact subwoofer that reaches down to 36 Hz

Smaller than a 25 cm cube, the MSX Sub 200 houses a 200 W amplifier, a 16.5 cm front-firing active driver, and two passive radiators on the sides. This ABR (Auxiliary Bass Radiator) principle extends low-frequency reach without the air volume that an equivalent bass-reflex enclosure would require. The stated response goes down to 36 Hz at -6 dB, a respectable figure for a cabinet of this size.

Digital signal processing (DSP) is used to keep the bass clean when the volume rises: rather than letting the driver saturate, the DSP controls its excursion in real time. The crossover frequency can be adjusted between 50 and 200 Hz, and the phase from 0 to 180°, allowing fine matching with the MSX20 or, for that matter, with other main speakers if the pack is used as the basis for a hybrid system.

Wiring and integration into an existing system

The MSX20 are passive: they require a stereo amplifier or a home theater amp with at least five channels to use the pack in 5.1. Their 8-ohm impedance and 88 dB sensitivity make them easy to drive, with a recommended power range between 25 and 200 W per channel. An entry-level or mid-range home theater amp is more than sufficient.

The terminals accept bare wire or 4 mm banana plugs, the industry standard. No proprietary connector, no lock-in to an ecosystem: any hi-fi amp or retail AV receiver can drive the pack. The Sub 200 connects via RCA from the home theater amp’s subwoofer output (Sub Out / LFE), and an RCA pass-through output allows a second subwoofer to be daisy-chained for anyone who might want to move to dual sub later on.

Technical specifications

Pack contents

• 5 MSX 20 speakers
• 1 MSX Sub 200 subwoofer

MSX 20 Speakers

Design and drivers

• Type: compact 2-way satellite speaker with BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) technology
• Drivers: 2 x 57 mm (2.25”) BMR drivers
  • 1 driver dedicated to the mid-bass range
  • 1 driver dedicated to the bass range
• BMR technology: wide and even sound dispersion

Audio performance

• Frequency response: 120 Hz – 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 88 dB (2.83 Vrms @ 1 m)
• Impedance: 8 Ω
• Recommended amplifier power: 25 – 200 W

Integration and use

• Possible configurations: stereo, multichannel, center channel
• Positioning: vertical, horizontal, wall-mounted
• Compatibility: hi-fi and home theater systems
• Ultra-compact format with wide soundstage reproduction

Construction

• Cabinet: rigid structure with aluminum reinforcements
• Finish: premium matte

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 79 x 155 x 97 mm
• Weight: 0.75 kg

Box contents

• 1 speaker
• 1 wall mount
• Non-slip pads
• Quick start guide
• Registration card

MSX Sub 200 Subwoofer

Design and amplification

• Type: active subwoofer
• Amplifier power: 200 W (built-in amplifier)
• Signal processing: DSP (digital signal processing) for precise bass control
• Auto standby mode: yes

Drivers

• 1 x 16.5 cm active driver
• 2 x 16.5 cm passive radiators
• Configuration optimized for better bass extension without distortion

Audio performance

• Frequency response: 36 Hz (-6 dB) to 200 Hz
• Low-pass filter (crossover): variable from 50 to 200 Hz
• Phase control: adjustable from 0 to 180°
• Reproduction: deep, controlled, and dynamic bass

Connectivity

• Input: 1 stereo RCA (line level)
• Output: 1 RCA pass-through

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 210 x 220 x 232 mm
• Weight: 5 kg

Design and integration

• Compact format for easy integration into any type of space
• Finish: premium matte
• Designed to pair with speakers in the MSX range (MSX 10, MSX 20)

Included accessories

• 1 power cable
• Quick start guide
• Registration card
• Safety guide