Marking a significant brand refresh, the Arcam Radia Series has just become official. Erikson Consumer Home Division has the launched lineup.
At the core, the lineup reimagines the integrated amplifiers, streamers, and CD Players of the Harman-owned British audio brand. This refresh is a part of the company’s strategy to make the offerings appeal more to the younger demographic.
During the press event at the Vinyl Factory in London, the company introduced the new Arcam Radia Series by stating that it’s designed on three founding principles.
They are to celebrate the brand’s British heritage, to provide amazing sound, and to offer a luxury-within-reach product.
At the press event, the Director of Marketing for Harman, Tim Giblin, said, “There is a third core customer where we see an opportunity, the younger audio enthusiasts who are ready to elevate their sound systems by making investments in high-end systems, but who are more budget conscious or, as we say, (seeking) luxury within reach.”
For those wondering, the new Arcam Radia Series consists of integrated amplifiers under the model numbers A25, A15, and A5. And as you can expect, the flagship offering among these is the A25.
This flagship offering packs the 5th generation of Class G amplification. It’s a hybrid between Class D and Class A amplifiers. But no matter which model you pick from the new Arcam Radia Series, you’re bound to enjoy advanced connectivity.
All three models come with Bluetooth aptX, USB-C for modern-day streaming, internal antenna and digital inputs, and ARCAM’s signature MM phono stage. This phono stage is for vinyl turntables, and it offers a great analog experience.
Besides that, the new products come with a unique yellow detailing on the body. That, combined with the industrial design, makes each of the offerings stand out.
Also, the matte-black chassis will make these systems blend exceptionally well with different setups. Arcam believes that the new Radia product owners will keep the systems on display instead of hiding them in a cabinet.
When it comes to specifics, the A5 from the Arcam Radia Series offers Class AB amplification at 50W per channel at 8ohms. The A15 takes things up a notch, offering 80W per channel.
On the other hand, the flagship A25 is backed by 100W per channel at 8ohms along with the Class G engine.
Other than these, the Arcam Radia Series also has the CD5 CD player. It includes a USB port for playing audio from different mass-storage drives like SSDs and hard drives.
Moreover, there’s the ST5 Roon-ready streamer. It works with Google Chromecast, AirPlay, Tidal Connect, and Spotify.
Slava is a man of mystery and no-one seems to know exactly where he is at any point in time. When he isn't enjoying writing about all things audio and technical he can be found researching his next project of interest. The man never rests.