Arcam is known for its amazing streaming units, and they just released a new hi-res streamer, the Arcam Radia ST25. A&R Cambridge Ltd, or Arcam, was founded in 1976 by students from the University of Cambridge. They only had one goal in mind: to design audio components that are reliable and deliver excellent sound quality.
Today, Arcam is a leading name in Britain’s high-end audio market, offering products that pair modern technology with British sound and design, and I love the signature Arcam sound. In this article, we will review the Arcam ST25 streamer and discuss the new technologies and features Arcam included in their new streamer, and whether you should buy it for US$1499.
Arcam Radia ST25 Streamer Review
The Arcam Radia ST25 was designed to seamlessly work with the Arcam A25 integrated amplifier, but it can also easily connect with any amplifier you have. It only comes in one color, Black, and it has a sleek look like its other Arcam counterparts. The chassis is made from anodized aluminum, which improves the overall sound quality by reducing vibrations and resonance.
The ST25 has a wavy top panel and a front panel with only a 6.5-inch screen, no buttons at all. The screen can display album art and track info, and you can use it to select inputs and change the settings. The unit only weighs 11 pounds, and it is compact enough to fit into small spaces.
On the back panel, the Arcam ST25 has TOSLINK and digital coaxial outputs, as well as analog RCA outputs that take help from the ST25’s internal DAC. There is a 12V trigger output if you want to connect and power other components, and a power switch next to it. There is also a USB port for your PC or a music storage device, and an Ethernet port if you want a wired connection.
The ST25 supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and is pending certification for Roon Ready. It also supports Apple AirPlay and Google Cast (previously Chromecast), and you can connect it with the ARCAM Radia app. In the app, you can set up the Arcam Radia ST25 to your liking, and listen to podcasts and access Internet Radio.
The Arcam Radia ST25 has a new power supply, which has a linear toroidal transformer design. If you don’t know what that means, just know that this power supply is better than the switch-mode power supplies many other streamers use. This power supply reduces noise and resonance, and it is more reliable.
The ST25 also has its own internal DAC, which almost all streamers have nowadays. It has ESS’s ES9027Pro DAC chips, and they are used over 8 channels in parallel. This increases the dynamic range of the Arcam Radia ST25 while reducing noise. This streamer supports almost all audio formats, including FLAC, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DSD up to DSD256, WAV, MP3, MP4, OGG, and WMA. So you don’t have to worry about the future, as these audio formats will likely be used for a while by streaming services.
The Arcam Radia ST25 delivers the signature Arcam sound characterized by remarkable clarity and precision, but with an added layer of refinement that’s immediately noticeable compared to previous models. The ESS DAC implementation, with its 8-channel parallel configuration, creates a soundstage that feels expansive yet maintains pinpoint imaging, while the toroidal power supply’s contribution is evident in the blacker backgrounds and improved dynamic contrasts.
Music flows with an effortless quality that makes extended listening sessions a pleasure rather than a chore, with particularly impressive performance on complex orchestral pieces where instrumental separation remains distinct without sacrificing cohesion. Whether streaming high-resolution files or more compressed content from services like Spotify, the Arcam ST25 manages to extract the maximum musical information available, making it an excellent centerpiece for a modern digital audio system.
Verdict
The Arcam Radia ST25 represents an impressive addition to Arcam’s respected lineup of streaming components, offering audiophiles a compelling package at its US$1499 price point. While the minimalist design and buttonless interface might not appeal to everyone, the unit’s compatibility with major streaming services and seamless integration options make it a worthy contender for anyone looking to add high-resolution streaming capabilities to their audio system without compromising on sound quality or future-proofing.