New ARCAM Radia+ Improved Integrated Amps Get HDMI, aptX Lossless Bluetooth

ARCAM’s Radia series introduced a new design language for the brand when it launched back in 2023, and I’m a big fan of the aesthetic. More importantly, the range set a new standard for what ARCAM’s entry-level Hi-Fi components could achieve. In particular, the $1,650 ARCAM Radia A25 integrated amp is an easy recommendation at its price point, having garnered positive reviews both here at Audioholics and elsewhere. (See Gene DellaSala’s Arcam A25 Integrated Amplifier Bench Test Results.) In 2024, The company added a new streamer and two higher-end streaming amplifiers to the Radia lineup. Now ARCAM’s engineers have given the three entry-level Radia integrated amplifiers a once-over, resulting in the new A5+ ($1,199.95), A15+ ($1,499.95), and A25+ ($1,999.95). These new models were shown for the first time in North America at CEDIA Expo 2025. 

ARCAM says that the new models build on the DNA of their predecessors with upgraded circuitry, refined components, and intelligent power management. Together, these upgrades promise enhanced performance on top of the new models’ expanded feature set. The most asked-for upgrade was surely the addition of HDMI eARC, which is now included in both the A15+ and A25+. The A25+ has also been given some exterior upgrades, including a precision-cut glass front panel that sharpens and brightens the display, making it a better visual match to the Radia ST25 streamer ($1,650). The A25+ also receives the most substantial update under the hood, where you’ll find a dedicated ESS9018 DAC chip just for the SPDIF inputs, delivering superior audio fidelity, according to ARCAM. From a performance standpoint, the amp’s biggest upgrade is a new transformer featuring a dedicated winding for the digital and DAC circuitry, double linear regulation in the analog power supplies, and further power filtering refinements that lower impedance and enhance overall clarity, according to the company. The A15+ also received transformer upgrades. The transformers in both the A15+ and A25+ reduce unwanted current within the chassis better than their predecessors, according to ARCAM. Gene noticed under extreme power testing the older A25 underwent internal mechanical noise stresses and we wonder if Arcam has addressed his concerns with the A25+ model. He also wonders if ARCAM has updated the phono stage which he found could use improvements in drive level when testing the A25 outgoing model.

All three new amps incorporate ARCAM’s latest Bluetooth 5.4 platform, featuring Snapdragon Sound, the technology suite from Qualcomm that enables AptX Lossless for bit-perfect CD-quality streaming via Bluetooth (see our article Is Qualcomm’s New ‘aptX Lossless’ Technology The Holy Grail of Bluetooth?). Also onboard are Bluetooth LE connectivity and Auracast, which allows one-to-many wireless playback without the need for pairing. (For the record, I would still recommend avoiding Bluetooth altogether and adding an $89 WiiM Mini streamer, connected to one of the amp’s optical Toslink inputs.)

Noise reduction remains a key engineering focus in the Radia+ series, according to ARCAM. Even the entry-level A5+ reportedly benefits from component refinements that cut PCB interference and lower power supply impedance. The new amps can selectively power down idle components, thereby decreasing the overall noise floor significantly, according to the company. For example, when using an analog input, the DAC PCB is powered down, and the Bluetooth and HDMI modules are powered off, with the Autoswitch features disabled. When no cable is connected to the trigger input, the input is powered down. ARCAM says that all of these measures contribute to a cleaner power supply environment resulting in better sound quality. 

With the A5+, A15+, and A25+, we’ve taken everything people love about the Radia amplifiers and pushed performance to the next level. From the upgraded circuitry and next-generation Bluetooth to the expanded connectivity, every change enhances the user experience. These are amplifiers built for the way people enjoy music today, and for many years to come.

— Jim Garrett, Senior Director, Product Strategy and Planning at ARCAM and HARMAN Luxury Audio

ARCAM Radia+ Amplifiers: Brief Overview

The A5+ is described as “the perfect introduction to premium Hi-Fi,” delivering 50 watts per channel of Class AB power and a wide range of digital and analog inputs, including a MM phono stage. 

The A15+ provides “more muscle for larger rooms and tower speakers,” delivering 80 watts per channel of Class AB amplification. It also adds HDMI eARC for seamless TV integration. 

The A25+ integrated amplifier delivers 100 watts per channel of Class G power. It adds a USB-C input in addition to HDMI eARC, and a second ESS DAC chip dedicated to the SPDIF inputs. The glass-paneled OLED display matches the ST25 streamer. 

ARCAM Radia+ Integrated Amps: Summing Up

The new Radia+ amplifiers from Arcam make for a meaningful upgrade over their predecessors — for the right kind of customer. While Bluetooth-shunning audiophiles may not care about the upgraded wireless connectivity, I’m sure that many real-world users will enjoy allowing friends and party guests to stream higher-quality tunes without joining the Wi-Fi network. Take note though: only certain Android phones possess the necessary Qualcomm hardware to make aptX Lossless a reality. All iPhone users will be limited to the same 256kbps AAC Bluetooth that Apple has used in its mobile devices since the dawn of time. A more significant upgrade is the addition of HDMI eARC in the A15+ and A25+. Frankly, the lack of HDMI connectivity felt like a missed opportunity when the first-generation Radia amps launched just two years ago, and now ARCAM has righted that wrong. HDMI eARC has become a must-have feature for many customers. It is certainly becoming increasingly common in affordable integrated amps, from the Bluesound Powernode to the WiiM Amp Ultra. Both of those products also incorporate built-in streaming via Wi-Fi, which is lacking in the ARCAM amps. But ARCAM is positioning the Radia+ series a notch above those consumer-friendly devices, aiming for a more audiophile customer who is willing to buy a separate streamer. I don’t see that as a bad thing, as long as the amps have the performance to back it up. The only real downside to this new lineup is the pricing, which is up around $400-$500 on each model compared to the launch prices of the original ARCAM Radia amplifiers, from just two years ago. While some of that increase can be attributed to the inclusion of new features such as HDMI eARC and the addition of a second DAC chip in the A25+, some of it is no doubt the result of tariffs. (See our article Global Tariff Fears Cause Panic in Audiophile Industry.) At these somewhat elevated prices, the Radia+ amps will still offer good value in my opinion; the reality is that all the competition is now more expensive too. But for some customers — particularly those who don’t plan to take advantage of HDMI eARC or enhanced Bluetooth connectivity, the smart move might be picking up one of the now-discontinued 2023 models at closeout prices.  

The new Radia+ integrated amps are scheduled to begin shipping in early Q4 2025. 

More information: ARCAM

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.