ARCAM CD25 - Black

Description

ARCAM's celebration of Compact Disc

ARCAM celebrates its enduring commitment to Compact Disc with the CD25, a high-performance player designed to bring every album closer to the listener. Built on a heritage that began with the Delta 70 in 1986, the CD25 distills decades of digital expertise into a modern, musically engaging design. Created through inquisitive engineering and a deep passion for music, it is developed using objective measurement and extensive blind listening tests — ensuring performance that is both technically precise and emotionally compelling. It's the finest CD player ARCAM has ever produced.

All-new Dual-Mono DAC architecture

At the heart of the CD25: a Dual-Mono DAC architecture engineered from the ground up for this player. Each channel gets its own fully independent conversion stage, with no sharing between left and right. The result: superior channel separation, a lower noise floor and a more precise, spacious stereo image. Dynamics unfold freely, microscopic details emerge, and spatial imaging locks in between the speakers rather than in them.

Low-noise linear power supply

The linear power supply section was designed to provide a stable, ultra-quiet electrical foundation. Unlike the switching supplies more commonly used, a linear supply introduces no high-frequency switching into the audio circuit. This approach lets fine musical detail and dynamic contrast emerge clearly, without the noise veil that so often masks a recording's subtleties.

Vibration-damped disc mechanism

The disc mechanism is mounted in a chassis engineered to minimize mechanical interference. Vibration damping improves timing accuracy, clarity and overall musical coherence — qualities all the more noticeable in acoustic recordings and highly dynamic passages where the slightest jitter degrades playback.

Balanced XLR and RCA analog outputs

On the output side, the CD25 offers both a balanced XLR pair (4.4 Vrms) and an unbalanced RCA pair (2.2 Vrms) — rare at this price point. XLR outputs provide better noise rejection and optimal matching with Radia Series amplifiers (A25+, A50 Signature) that also have balanced inputs. Two digital outputs round things out: coaxial and TOSLINK optical, letting you use the CD25 as a pure digital transport into an external DAC or a preamp with a digital section.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why choose the ARCAM CD25?

The CD25 is the flagship CD player of the new Radia Series and, per ARCAM, the finest CD player the brand has ever produced. All-new Dual-Mono DAC architecture, low-noise linear power supply, vibration-damped mechanism, balanced XLR AND RCA outputs, coax + optical digital outputs — it's an audiophile object designed to get the most from CDs and pair perfectly with Radia amplifiers (A25+, A50 Signature) or any other premium system.

Can I use the CD25 as a pure digital transport?

Yes. The rear panel offers a coaxial digital output and a TOSLINK optical output. These connections bypass the internal DAC to route the raw digital stream to your own external DAC, your preamp with a digital section, or your integrated amplifier with digital inputs. Useful if you want to keep an audiophile DAC you already own.

Is there a USB port for playing files from a memory stick?

No. The CD25 is a pure compact disc player — it does not integrate a USB port intended for file playback from a USB stick or external drive. The USB port visible on the rear is a service port reserved for firmware updates. To play high-resolution streamed or network-stored files, pair the CD25 with a dedicated streamer such as an ARCAM ST25.

What's in the Box

ARCAM CD25 CD player

Mains lead

Remote control with 2 × AAA batteries

Quick Start Guide

Important Safety Instructions