Erikson Consumer Home Division, has announced the launch of Arcam’s Radia Series, marking a significant brand refresh for the Harman-owned British audio brand, that reimagines Arcam’s line of integrated amplifiers, CD players and streamers. The refresh is part of the company’s strategy to appeal to a younger demographic of customers. At a press event at the Vinyl Factory in London, England earlier this week, Arcam stated Radia is designed on three founding principles; to provide amazing sound, to celebrate the brand’s British heritage and to offer a luxury-within-reach product.
At the press event, Tim Giblin, the Director of Marketing for Harman stated, “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.”
Inside the Radia series, Arcam has released three integrated amplifiers under the model numbers A5, A15 and the flagship A25 that uses Arcam’s 5th generation of Class G amplification, a hybrid of sorts between Class A and Class D power. All three integrated amplifiers feature Bluetooth aptX, internal antennas and digital inputs including USB-C for modern day streaming, plus ARCAM’s signature MM phono stage for vinyl turntables and an analog experience.
The redesigned products feature a unique yellow colour detailing along with a completely new industrial design matte-black chassis that Arcam believes will ensure owners of Radia will keep the products on display versus hiding the products in a cabinet.
The Arcam A5 Integrated amplifier offers Class AB amplification at 50W per channel at 80hms with a Canadian retail price of $1099.00. The A15 steps up the power rating to 80W/Channel, with a Canadian retail price of $1499.00 and the flagship of the series, the A25 is powered by a 100W/Channel at 80hms, a Class G engine with a Canadian retail price of $2399.00.
The CD5 CD player that includes a USB port for playing audio from mass-storage devices like hard drives and SSDs has a Canadian retail price of $1099.00. The ST5 Roon-ready streamer that works with Apple Airplay, Google Chromecast, Spotify and Tidal Connect has a Canadian retail price of $1199.00. The streamer also supports MQA files.
Jim Garrett, Senior Director of Product Strategy and Planning at Harman, commented that the Radia Series is “one of the best-sounding amplifiers (HARMAN) has ever created and for today’s audio enthusiasts, especially younger ones looking to get into a luxury audio system at a reasonable cost, the resulting solutions surpass not only our past offerings, but any product that’s come before.”The Arcam Radia Series will be available and shipping from Erikson Consumer’s Montreal headquarters at the end of October. Please reach out to Erikson Consumer for more information at [email protected].