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A British Hi-Fi Brand Just Gave Audiophiles Another Reason to Listen to CDs Again

It promises to be the brand’s best-sounding CD player.

Black DVD player with an open tray holding two yellow discs and a matching black remote with yellow accents.Arcam
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By Tucker Bowe

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This past fall, Arcam added three integrated amplifiers to its high-end Radia series of hi-fi components: the A5+, A15+ and A25+. Each had a built-in phono stage for easy turntable connectivity, as well as support for Bluetooth streaming, but the amps differed in power and the loudspeakers they could drive.

Then, earlier this year, the Cambridge-based audio maker introduced the Radia range of loudspeakers, comprising six models, each positioned to be driven by one of its Radia amplifiers. (They were the brand’s first new loudspeakers in over a decade.)

Now, to celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary, the British audio maker is adding two more hi-fi components to the Radia series: a flagship integrated amplifier and a new premium CD player.

Two stacked black Arcam audio components with digital displays, gold accent lines, and control knobs on a white background.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Arcam is introducing a new flagship integrated amplifier and CD player.
Arcam

Arcam’s “best-sounding” CD player

Let’s start with the CD player, as it’s what the company is arguably best known for: Arcam holds the distinction of introducing “the UK’s first totally designed and manufactured CD player,” which was released in 1986.

The Arcam CD25 is the brand-new flagship CD player, positioned as a more premium option to its existing CD5, released in 2023 and currently selling for $699.

Black Arcam CD25 CD player with a vented top panel and front display showing the model name.
The CD25 supports CD, CD-R and CD-RW playback.
Arcam
Black Arcam audio device rear panel with power inlet, digital coaxial and optical outputs, and balanced and line audio outputs.
The CD25 has balanced XLR and RCA outputs and a linear toroidal power supply.
Arcam

This new model is the company’s first CD player to feature a dual-mono DAC architecture, which harnesses two ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chips, each independently processing one channel to ensure “excellent channel separation and low noise.”

Additionally, it has a low-noise linear power supply and its CD mechanism is mounted on an internal vibration-damping chassis. This helps ensure that CDs (as well as CD-Rs and CD-RWs) are read as accurately as possible.

Arcam says the CD25 is “the best-sounding CD player” that the company has ever produced.

Black Arcam amplifier with large volume knob and matching black remote with yellow accents on a reflective surface.
Arcam says the A50 Signature is designed “as a central hub for modern listening systems.”
Arcam

A new flagship amplifier

Next up, Arcam’s new flagship integrated amplifier: the A50 Signature. It combines a power amplifier, preamp, DAC, phono stage and both wired and wireless connections into one matching black box.

The integrated amplifier is the company’s first to have a dual-mono Class G architecture, meaning each channel has a fully discrete amplifier section. According to the brand, this architecture “delivers exceptional channel separation, low noise, and high dynamic capability.”

Black Arcam A50 stereo amplifier with yellow accents on control knobs and vent slats.
The A50 Signature is the brand’s first integrated amplifier to implement a fully dual mono Class G architecture.
Arcam
Close-up of the back panel of an Arcam audio device showing RCA connectors and text "DUAL MONO CLASS G DESIGNED IN CAMBRIDGE, UK.
The A50 Signature includes three RCA inputs, a balanced XLR input pair and a fully integrated Class A MM/MC phono stage.
Arcam

As an amplifier, the A50 Signature outputs a total of 300 watts (at 8 ohms), or 150 watts per channel. It has numerous digital and analog inputs, including HDMI eARC and USB-C. It’s built-in phono stage can support turntables with either moving-magnet (MM) or moving-coil (MC) cartridges.

It lacks Wi-Fi streaming capabilities. However, it does support two-way Bluetooth and Aurcast, so you can stream music to (and from) it, as well as be integrated into a larger multi-room system.

Arcam is claiming it’s the best-sounding integrated amplifier the company has ever produced.

Two black Arcam audio components stacked, the top one labeled A50 with input and volume knobs, the bottom one labeled CD25 with playback buttons.
The newest Radia series components will be available in Q3 2026.
Arcam

Price and availability

The newest additions to Arcam’s Radia series, the A50 Signature integrated amplifier and the CD25 CD player, will cost $3,000 and $1,800, respectively.

Both components will be available in Q3 of this year.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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