Quality, connectivity and shared listening in a compact integrated amplifier
Arcam A5+ is a Class A/B integrated amplifier rated at 2x50 W into 8 ohms, with ESS Sabre DAC, MM phono, Bluetooth 5.4 aptX Lossless, Snapdragon Sound and Auracast.
A5+ updates the entry integrated amplifier in the Radia+ family with a direct, musical approach. It is designed for compact stereo systems and combines analogue and digital sources, phono playback and wireless functions for moving from vinyl to streaming with one component.
Key features
- Class A/B amplification rated at 2x50 W into 8 ohms and 2x75 W into 4 ohms.
- Three analogue RCA inputs and MM phono input.
- Three digital inputs: two coaxial SPDIF and one optical.
- ESS ES9018 DAC at 24-bit/192 kHz.
- Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and Snapdragon Sound.
- Auracast and Bluetooth transmitter for wireless headphones or speakers.
- Pre-out, front headphone output, Ethernet and trigger In/Out.
- Toroidal transformer and dot-matrix display.
Amplification and musicality
The Class A/B section delivers 50 W per channel into 8 ohms and 75 W into 4 ohms, with a toroidal-transformer power supply. It is intended to provide dynamic, controlled performance with bookshelf or floorstanding loudspeakers of normal sensitivity.
Analogue and digital sources
Three RCA inputs and the MM phono stage accept line sources and a turntable, while two coaxial and one optical input feed the ESS ES9018 DAC. The pre-out allows a power amplifier or a subwoofer with line-level input to be added without giving up the integrated amplifier's volume control.
Bluetooth, Snapdragon Sound and Auracast
The Bluetooth 5.4 receiver supports aptX Lossless and Snapdragon Sound for high-quality wireless listening. A5+ can also transmit audio over Bluetooth and use Auracast to share sound with compatible devices, including wireless headphones and speakers, rather than limiting wireless use to playback from a phone.
Supplied accessories
The box includes a remote control with two AAA batteries, mains lead, Quick Start Guide and safety instructions. The finish is Black; the chassis measures 431 x 83 x 344 mm and net weight is 8 kg.