Amplification is at the very core of what Arcam has always done. The company’s first product, the hugely successful A60 integrated amplifier introduced in 1976, laid the foundations for the brand to grow into the diverse company it is today. 

It is also fair to say that in recent decades the company’s focus seemed to be concentrated on the home cinema side of things where it has become known for producing some of the most musical premium AV amplifiers on the market. Make no mistake, there have been some fine stereo products in that time – the Award-winning A19 integrated amplifier, the compact rPhono and numerous generations of rDAC come to mind – but Arcam’s once dominant presence in the affordable stereo component market had definitely waned, leaving the likes of Cambridge Audio, Marantz and Rega to take bigger pieces of the pie. Things may be about to change with the introduction of the brand-new Radia range of products. This consists of three stereo amplifiers: the A5 on test here, A15 (£1099 / $999) and range-topping Class G A25 (£1499 / $1499), the CD5 player (£699 / $699) and ST5 music streamer (£799 / $799).

Build & Design

We can’t think of a better place to start than the entry-level A5 amplifier. It is the most affordable amplifier in the range yet perfectly encapsulates what the company is trying to do. There is the way it looks for starters. To our eyes, this is a fresh and modern-looking product. We like its clean and unfussy exterior which looks simple yet elegant. The subtle yellow highlights around the large control dials, vents and sides may not come across with much impact in the photos, but in the metal, they give the amplifier a sleek appearance that sets it apart from price rivals. 

This is a nicely built product with a sturdy aluminium case and smart finish. The two front panel control dials are nicely weighted and spin smoothly. We’re less taken with the front panel display. It is decently large and easy to read but the frosted finish robs the display of crispness. Still, the set-up menus are easy to navigate, and while the supplied remote handset isn’t the most luxurious feeling wand around, it is, at least, simple to use and small enough to comfortably fit into most hands.

Features

This amplifier is more than just a pretty face. The company has obviously thought long and hard about the features to include and has come up with what is arguably the most comprehensively equipped stereo amplifier we’ve reviewed at this level. On the analogue side of things, there are three line-level inputs plus a moving magnet phono stage. Those who feel the A5’s 50 watts per channel output won’t be enough can add an outboard power amplifier courtesy of the Arcam’s preamplifier outputs. If digital is your thing then you have a pair of coaxial inputs and a single optical input, all capable of accepting music streams of up to 24-bit/192kHz thanks to an ESS ES9018 DAC chip. It would have been nice to have the option of USB, but we don’t think the lack of it is a deal breaker. 

Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive is on the menu, but there is a bonus in the implementation as it not only allows the A5 integrated to accept a signal but also lets it send the sound out to a Bluetooth-enabled speaker or headphones. Neat. 

We try the A5 in our reference system of Naim ND555/555 PS DR and ATC SCM50 speakers as well as with more price-compatible products such as the Cyrus CDi CD player, the Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) music streamer and both the PMC Prodigy 5 and KEF LS50 Meta speakers. Despite the relatively modest claimed power output, this Class A/B amplifier has no trouble driving any of the speakers to decent levels in our relatively large listening room (3 x 7 x 5m, hwd).