Founded in Cambridge in 1976, Arcam marks its 50th anniversary with the launch of its all-new Radia AV lineup. This isn't Arcam's first venture into multichannel — the brand claims to have built the world's first audiophile AV amplifier with the Xeta 1 — but it is the first time the British manufacturer has approached home cinema from a foundation built entirely in stereo high fidelity.
The Radia series debuted in 2023 with the A5, A15 and A25 integrated amplifiers (all three now available in their Plus evolution), the ST25 network streamer and the CD5 CD player. The Radia AV lineup carries over the same aesthetic and engineering philosophy and applies it to 9- to 16-channel systems.
When High Fidelity Guides Home Cinema
Arcam has long defended the idea that if music is reproduced correctly, dialogue, ambience and sound effects follow naturally. This isn't just a marketing position — it's an engineering direction that shapes every design decision. The Radia AV amplifiers share their DAC architecture with the stereo components in the series. Power supplies are oversized. The amplification classes chosen (A/B and G) reflect sonic priorities rather than simple cost trade-offs. That guiding principle takes several concrete forms.
Visually, the coherence is immediate. The AVA and AVP carry over the matte black chassis, the characteristic yellow accents of the Radia range and the 6.5-inch colour display that has become the series' visual signature. Day-to-day control is handled through the ARCAM Radia app, available on iOS, Android and Windows.
The Radia AV Lineup at a Glance
| Model | Channels | Class | Power (all channels, 8 Ω) | Auro-3D | Price CAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVA15 | 9 | D | 75 W/ch | — | $5,999 |
| AVA25 | 9 | A/B | 100 W/ch | ✓ | $7,999 |
| AVA35 | 9 | G | 100 W/ch | ✓ | $9,999 |
| AVP45 | None (processor) | — | 16-channel decoding | ✓ | $7,999 |
The Core of the Lineup — AVA15, AVA25 and AVA35
All three receivers share the same foundation: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound and Auracast, 7 HDMI inputs, eARC, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Google Cast, Roon Ready, and Dirac Live Room Correction as standard. Where they differ is in amplification class, available power and supported audio formats — three variables that fairly directly determine which model suits which project.
AVA15: The Entry Point
The AVA15 features nine Class D amplification channels and twelve channels of audio processing, supporting 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 configurations, or 9.1.2 with the addition of external power amplifiers. As the entry model in the lineup, its Class D design delivers high energy efficiency in a relatively compact chassis. It comfortably covers the needs of most mid-size home cinema installations.
- 9-channel Class D amplification: 75 W/ch at 8 Ω (9 channels driven), 100 W at 8 Ω (2 channels driven)
- Up to 12-channel processing: 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 configurations with internal amplification; up to 9.1.2 with external power amplifiers
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X: the two principal object-based audio formats
- Dirac Live Room Correction: included as standard; Dirac Live Bass Control and Dirac Live Active Room Treatment available as paid upgrades
- 7 HDMI inputs / 2 HDMI outputs (incl. eARC) / RS-232 / triggers: full connectivity for home automation integration
$5,999 CAD
View productAVA25: Class A/B and Power in Reserve
The AVA25 steps up with 9 channels of Class A/B — the amplification class traditionally favoured in high fidelity for its linearity and behaviour under difficult loads. An oversized toroidal linear power supply maintains stability when all channels are driven simultaneously at full power. Auro-3D and IMAX Enhanced join the list of supported formats, and a Zone 2 output allows a second room to be driven independently.
- 9-channel Class A/B amplification: 100 W/ch (9 ch), 120 W (2 ch) at 8 Ω
- Auro-3D and IMAX Enhanced: in addition to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, for installations requiring every major immersive format
- Toroidal linear power supply: current reservoir to sustain power output through dynamic peaks
- Zone 2 output: to feed an independent source to a second room
- Dirac Live Room Correction: included as standard; Bass Control and Active Room Treatment available as paid upgrades
$7,999 CAD
View productAVA35: The Flagship
The AVA35 is the most ambitious receiver in the lineup. Its Class G amplification combines two voltage rails — a low-voltage rail for quiet passages (similar to Class A/B) and a high-voltage rail that engages when the signal demands it. The result is the dynamics and musicality of Class A/B with significantly higher efficiency. Arcam also integrates the DAC architecture from its stereo components and the Matrix Channel Assignment function, which allows flexible channel mapping to suit the room's layout.
- 9-channel Class G amplification: 100 W/ch (9 ch), 145 W (2 ch) at 8 Ω
- DAC architecture from the Radia stereo hi-fi series: the same digital-to-analogue chain as the top-tier two-channel components
- Matrix Channel Assignment: flexible channel routing to match the room's topology
- Auro-3D, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X: every major immersive audio format
- Dirac Live Room Correction: included as standard; Bass Control and Active Room Treatment available as paid upgrades
$9,999 CAD
View productAVP45: The 16-Channel Processor for Separate Systems
The AVP45 is designed for those who prefer to separate decoding from amplification — either because they already own quality power amplifiers, or because they want to optimize each stage of the chain independently. The AVP45 contains no internal amplification and cannot function on its own; its role is to decode, process and distribute the signal to external amplifiers via its analogue outputs.
With 16 channels of decoding, the AVP45 goes further than any of the three receivers in the lineup. It adds IMAX Enhanced to an already comprehensive format list (Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D) and provides balanced XLR outputs on every channel for a clean, noise-free handoff to external power amplifiers. The Matrix Channel Assignment function allows full reconfiguration of channel routing to match the precise topology of the room.
- 16-channel decoding: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D and IMAX Enhanced
- Balanced XLR outputs: symmetrical signal on every channel for noise-free transmission to power amplifiers
- Matrix Channel Assignment: fully configurable channel routing to match the room
- Dirac Live Room Correction: included as standard; Bass Control and Active Room Treatment available as paid upgrades
- No internal amplification: to be paired with existing power amplifiers or the upcoming Arcam PA4/PA9
$7,999 CAD
View productDirac Live Active Room Treatment (ART) — What Is It?
All Radia AV models include Dirac Live Room Correction as standard. Dirac Live Bass Control and Dirac Live Active Room Treatment (ART) are available separately as paid upgrades — an important consideration when planning a full installation. ART in particular is worth understanding.
Conventional room correction treats each speaker independently. It measures the frequency response and arrival time of each channel, then applies filters to correct the irregularities it finds. What Dirac ART does differently is coordinate all channels in the system to work together against the room's acoustic modes — the resonant frequencies and standing waves that amplify or cancel bass frequencies. Rather than correcting symptoms channel by channel, it uses the entire system as a single, coordinated tool to actively reduce low-frequency resonances and improve the temporal coherence of the soundstage. In practice, the effect is most perceptible on heavy bass content, precisely where a room tends to colour the sound most.
Previous Arcam generations (AVR11, AVR21, AVR31, AV41) included Dirac Live and Dirac Bass Control as paid options. ART support in the Radia models represents a meaningful step forward — especially in installations featuring multiple subwoofers or complex multichannel configurations.
Connectivity and Streaming
All four models share an identical connectivity list on the essential points. All are Roon Ready, compatible with Apple AirPlay, Google Cast and Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound and Auracast technology (enabling simultaneous broadcast to multiple Bluetooth receivers). High-resolution streaming up to 24-bit / 192 kHz is supported, with native access to Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect and Qobuz. On the video side: 7 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs (including eARC), with full HDR format support. RS-232 and trigger outputs enable integration with home automation control systems (Control4, Crestron, Savant).
Market Positioning
The Radia AV lineup is deliberately positioned in the premium home cinema segment. For reference, the Denon AVR-A10H (9.4 channels, 150 W) sits around $7,000 CAD, while its larger sibling the AVR-A1H (15.4 channels) is around $9,600. On the Marantz side, the Cinema 30 (11.4 channels) approaches $6,200 CAD. In the separate processor segment, the Marantz AV10 sells for around $10,600 and the AV20 around $7,900. The Arcam AVA receivers occupy the same price bracket as these established rivals, with a clear differentiator: an engineering philosophy rooted in stereo high fidelity, a carefully considered amplification architecture, and visual and sonic coherence with the rest of the Radia lineup.
Coming This Fall — PA4 and PA9
Expected Availability — Fall 2026
Arcam will complete the Radia AV lineup with two power amplifiers later this year. The PA4 is a 4-channel Class D model housed in an ultra-slim 1U chassis, designed to add height or surround channels to any of the AVA receivers. The PA9 is the natural partner for the AVP45: 9 channels of Class D amplification, built for high-demand multichannel installations. Both models will be available at Fillion Électronique at launch.
Discover the complete Arcam Radia AV lineup at Fillion Électronique — AVA receivers and the AVP45 processor available online and on demonstration at our Montreal store.
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