Arcam Radia ST5 hi-fi streamer is a high-resolution music streaming solution and is an excellent match for the Radia A5, A15 or A25 amplifier alongside the optional CD5, or indeed can be added to any other good hi-fi system to enjoy excellent quality streaming.

The Radia ST5 features good connectivity options for most smartphones and tablets. You can also connect to popular streaming services via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet. Moreover, Apple Airplay 2, Google Chromecast, Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect are built in. The ST5 is also Roon-ready, supports MQA and can also play music via Qobuz and Amazon Music.

What is a hi-fi streamer?
A good quality streamer like this Arcam Radia ST5 connects to local and remote digital audio files and is designed to play these with the best possible sound quality. Local files can be stored on a USB device or NAS drive. They can be accessed from your home network via Wi-Fi, wired Ethernet, or Bluetooth from your smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth enabled device. A good quality streamer also allows you to access remote streaming services (see below)

Streaming services
Streaming services provide music from remote servers. There are several providers, the best known being Tidal and Spotify. You pay a subscription for most services and you have the option for higher quality subscription tiers for high res music.

You can also access streaming services via your smartphones or tablets and connect these to the streamer via bluetooth, however the Radia ST5 features built-in Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect – the best options to enjoy these via a streamer, allowing you to play music directly via the unit.

The Radia ST5 also allows you to play music via Amazon Music and Qobuz. You can also access a wide range of other online music sources including free online radio stations and much more. There are also free sources of music online such as online radio stations.

This streamer is also Roon-ready. Roon is a kind of library interface that can manage your music files and is a very popular choice and useful feature for the ST5 to include.

High quality DAC chipset
Whatever you are listening to, the built-in DAC converts the signal to analogue and this is fed to an amplifier via a couple of RCA connectors. It can also be connected digitally via coaxial or optical leads.

The DAC is one of the most important parts of any modern audio system. A good DAC or digital to analogue convertor converts the digital 1s and 0s back into analogue waveforms and does so as accurately as possible.

There are many different bit rates and resolutions with audio files. The Arcam Radia ST5 uses the high quality ESS ES9018 Hi-res chipset, that can handle 24-bit/192kHz hi-res audio files and also supports MQA.

Most importantly, the Arcam Radia ST5 has been designed carefully to access and play all of these streaming services with the best possible sound quality and when matched with a good system is good proof that streamed music – whether local or remotely accessed, can sound exceptional.

Tech Specs
- Type: Streamer / Network Media Player
- Supported Hi-res media: FLAC, WAS (LPCM), MQA, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DSD (128)
- Supported Hi-res Bit depth: 16, 24
- Supported samples rates (kHz): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
- Supported media: MP3, MP4, OGG, WMA
- Supported Bit depth: 16
- Supported samples rates (kHz): 44.1, 48
- Gapless Playback: Yes
- Digital Outputs: 1x Coaxial (RCA), 1x Optical (Toslink)
- Analogue Outputs: 1x Stereo (RCA) pair
- Frequency response (filter 1): 20Hz—20kHz ± 0.05dB
- Mains voltage: 100V or 110–120V or 220–240V, 50–60Hz
- Power consumption: 12W
- Power consumption: (Eco standby) <0.5W
- Dimensions W x D (including speaker terminals) x H (including feet): 431 x 344 x 58m
- Weight (net): 3.5 kg
- Weight (packed): 5.6 kg
- Supplied accessories: Mains lead(s), Remote control with 2 x AAA batteries, Control Cable, Quick Start Guide, Important Safety Instructions