ARCAM CD25 Reference CD Player

High-End Compact Disc Playback Engineered for Pure Musical Performance

The ARCAM CD25 is a premium audiophile CD player designed for listeners who demand exceptional sound quality from their physical music collection. Drawing on almost 40 years of digital audio expertise, ARCAM has created its most accomplished CD player to date, combining advanced digital conversion, precision disc transport technology, and carefully optimised analogue circuitry.

Whether paired with a high-end integrated amplifier or a complete reference audio system, the CD25 delivers outstanding clarity, detail, and musical engagement from every Compact Disc.

Dual-Mono DAC Architecture for Superior Audio Accuracy

At the heart of the CD25 lies an advanced dual-mono digital-to-analogue conversion stage built around two ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chips. Unlike conventional CD players that use a single DAC for both channels, the CD25 dedicates an independent DAC to each channel operating in balanced mode.

This sophisticated architecture improves channel separation, reduces distortion, and lowers background noise, resulting in a wider soundstage, improved imaging, and greater musical transparency.

Benefits of Dual-Mono Design

• Independent left and right channel processing

• Improved stereo imaging and spatial accuracy

• Enhanced channel separation

• Lower noise floor and distortion

• Greater musical detail and realism

Precision Disc Transport with Vibration Control

The CD25 has been engineered to retrieve digital information from discs with exceptional precision. Its dedicated Compact Disc mechanism is mounted on a vibration-damped internal chassis that helps minimise unwanted mechanical interference during playback.

By reducing vibration and resonance, the transport system improves timing accuracy and data retrieval, allowing the DAC stage to perform at its highest potential while preserving musical coherence and detail.

Low-Noise Linear Power Supply

A high-quality linear power supply forms the foundation of the CD25's performance. Unlike many switching power supplies, the carefully designed low-noise linear circuit provides exceptionally clean and stable power to the audio circuitry.

This quieter electrical environment helps reveal subtle musical nuances, improve dynamic expression, and maintain signal integrity throughout the playback chain.

Perfect Partner for the ARCAM Radia Series

The CD25 has been developed to integrate seamlessly with ARCAM's latest Radia Series components. Balanced XLR outputs make it an ideal companion for flagship amplifiers such as the A50 Signature and SA45, while RCA analogue outputs ensure easy connection to the A25 and SA35.

Whether incorporated into a fully balanced high-end system or a traditional hi-fi setup, the CD25 delivers exceptional performance and flexibility.

Extensive Disc and File Compatibility

In addition to standard audio CDs, the CD25 supports playback from CD-R and CD-RW discs containing music or data files. It also offers compatibility with popular high-quality audio formats, making it easy to enjoy archived music collections and custom recordings.

Supported Formats

• Audio CD

• CD-R

• CD-RW

• WAV

• FLAC

• MP3

• AAC

The player supports audio files up to 24-bit resolution, ensuring excellent playback quality across a wide range of content.

ARCAM-Tuned for Natural Musicality

Every stage of the CD25 has been carefully voiced through extensive listening evaluation and engineering refinement. ARCAM combines objective measurement with critical blind listening tests to ensure the final performance delivers both technical accuracy and genuine musical enjoyment.

The result is a CD player that captures the emotion, dynamics, and subtle details within every recording.

Premium Connectivity Options

The CD25 provides both analogue and digital outputs, allowing it to integrate effortlessly into a wide variety of audio systems.

Output Connections

• Balanced XLR analogue outputs

• RCA analogue outputs

• Optical digital output

• Coaxial digital output

This flexibility enables direct connection to amplifiers, external DACs, processors, and advanced audio systems.

Environmentally Conscious Packaging

In line with ARCAM's commitment to sustainability, the CD25 is supplied in plastic-free packaging that uses recyclable materials wherever possible, reducing environmental impact while maintaining premium product protection.

Key Features

• Reference-grade CD player developed from decades of ARCAM expertise

• Dual ESS ES9039Q2M DAC architecture

• Independent dual-mono channel processing

• Balanced XLR and RCA analogue outputs

• Low-noise linear power supply

• Vibration-damped disc transport mechanism

• Optical and coaxial digital outputs

• Supports CD, CD-R and CD-RW playback

• Compatible with WAV, FLAC, MP3 and AAC files

• High-resolution audio support up to 24-bit

• Optimised through extensive listening tests

• Plastic-free packaging

Technical Specifications

Supported Media

Disc Formats:

• Audio CD

• CD-R

• CD-RW

Supported Audio Files:

• WAV (LPCM)

• FLAC

• MP3

• AAC

Audio Format Support

Bit Depth:

16-bit to 24-bit

Supported Sample Rates:

WAV / FLAC:

• 32 kHz

• 44.1 kHz

• 48 kHz

• 88.2 kHz

• 96 kHz

MP3 / AAC:

• 32 kHz

• 44.1 kHz

• 48 kHz

Outputs

Analogue Outputs:

• 1 x RCA Stereo Pair

• 1 x Balanced XLR Pair

Digital Outputs:

• 1 x Optical

• 1 x Coaxial

Audio Performance

Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz ±0.1dB

Maximum Analogue Output:

• RCA: 2.2V RMS

• XLR: 4.4V RMS

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 106 dB

Power Requirements

Mains Voltage:

100–120V or 220–240V

50/60Hz

Power Consumption: 20W

Physical Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H):

431 x 329 x 84 mm

Product Weight: 6.5 kg

Shipping Weight: 9.5 kg

Included Accessories

• Mains power cable

• Remote control

• 2 x AAA batteries

• Quick Start Guide

• Important Safety Instructions

Why Choose the ARCAM CD25?

The ARCAM CD25 combines reference-level digital conversion, precision transport engineering, and audiophile-grade analogue circuitry to deliver an exceptional Compact Disc listening experience. Featuring dual ESS DACs, balanced connectivity, vibration-controlled construction, and a low-noise power supply, it extracts every nuance from your music collection with remarkable accuracy and musicality. For listeners seeking a dedicated CD player that fully complements today's high-performance hi-fi systems, the CD25 sets a new benchmark in ARCAM's digital audio heritage.