With Arcam having dabbled in community streaming with its compact Solo Uno and extra critical SA30 just-add-speakers techniques in latest instances, it was solely a matter of time earlier than the British firm launched a devoted music streamer.
The Arcam ST60 is that debut, and unsurprisingly makes use of the streaming structure from its premium amplified sibling (and naturally strips out the amplification stage), gifting homeowners AirPlay 2, Google Forged, uPnP playback and web radio at their fingertips, in addition to analogue and digital connections and help for MQA and Roon. That’s a sweeping providing in in the present day’s music streamer market – one inclusive of the favored streaming platforms that boast broad music service and gadget help, and that consequently faucets into the rising habits of this era’s eager streamers.
With such compatibility turning into increasingly more ubiquitous, nevertheless, it’s turning into tougher for streaming merchandise to face out with their spec sheets alone, so efficiency stays a key differentiator. And Arcam has been within the hi-fi sport lengthy sufficient to know that.
Sound
As such, it has entered the music streamer market with an impressively gifted performer. The ST60 is confident in its supply – large, full, strong and expressive. Fragrance Genius’s Jason comes via our audio system with stark readability in a soundstage that’s pleasingly open and broad. His falsetto vocal is lush and romantic, bookended within the frequency vary by a strong, substantial bassline and an equally current and properly textured harpsichord up high. It’s a charming rendition that’s straightforward to sink proper into, due to the ST60’s tonality, muscularity and readability – sonic traits we’ve come to count on from Arcam merchandise through the years.
The benchmark at this worth level is at present held by the What Hello-Fi? Award-winning NAD C 658, which is our first port of name after we unbox, energy up and initially acquaint ourselves with the Arcam. The NAD’s exact, coherent presentation involves the fore as we play Oneohtrix Level By no means’s We’ll Take It, and but one play of the piece via the Arcam is sufficient to inform us rather more about it.
The ST60’s fuller, clearer supply is best in a position to seize the atmospheric echo across the percussion. The percussive strikes and thorny synths tackle additional dimension via the Arcam, too – and never simply when it comes to form and texture but additionally how all of them work collectively as a musical sample. Experimental instrumentation like this relies on its capacity to pique your curiosity and preserve your consideration, and the Arcam’s larger element, dynamic perception and tighter timing does this higher.
Equally, as we shift via genres, the Arcam extra capably dissects the electronica sample within the backdrop of Dave ft Fredo’s Funky Friday. The beat is snappier, too, though in absolute phrases the Arcam is on the measured facet of carefree, and we do discover ourselves wishing it deviated from some sensibilities barely and freewheeled somewhat extra throughout upbeat tracks. That mentioned, it’s removed from a slouch; agile and rhythmic sufficient to not hamper a observe’s musicality.
Options
Most of our listening is from our NAS drive (through DLNA), our native iPad’s library (through AirPlay 2) and Tidal (over Google Forged and from inside Arcam’s MusicLife app), and every works nicely and sounds roughly constant.
Arcam has made enhancements to its MusicLife app (a gateway to streaming providers corresponding to Tidal and Qobuz in addition to web radio) to reinforce usability, and we discover it a principally advantageous and usable, however not seamless, expertise. A number of instances throughout our testing, the app and machine would quickly journey up between switching sources from Google Forged to built-in Tidal or web radio.
Its interface isn’t as refined as these of the Linn or Naim apps – maybe not stunning contemplating the excellent ecosystem of streaming merchandise these manufacturers have in comparison with Arcam – and we discover ourselves preferring to make use of the free Bubble uPnP app when searching our networked libraries. That’s not the tip of the world, not least as there are free alternate options and plenty of will little question select to make use of native music service apps supported by the aforementioned Apple and Google wi-fi multi-room platforms anyway. However we’d count on Arcam’s software program to mature as its streaming portfolio grows.
Arcam ST60 tech specs
Inputs 4 x digital inputs (coax, optical, USB)
Outputs Balanced XLR and RCA analogue; optical and coaxial
Playback GoogleCast, Airplay2, uPnP; Roon Prepared licensed; MQA
Dimensions (hwd) 102 x 43.3 x 306mm
Weight 5.5kg
We reckon there’s extra probability of that than Arcam taking bodily design cues from the contemporary-looking Cambridge Evo 150 and Naim Uniti Atom, anyway. We like the fashionable stylistic prospers such entrants have delivered to the hi-fi market, however now we have to say we’re additionally keen on the ST60’s no-nonsense, conventional look, which may move for any supply from a choose of a long time, and matches each different in Arcam’s HDA element vary.
Not solely a streaming product, the ST60 additionally accommodates exterior sources via its twin coaxial and optical inputs. A USB drive might be plugged into its USB socket, which can be onboard for software program updates. Far more of a necessity for a music streamer is its outputs, in fact, and to that finish the Arcam has a advantageous choice – coaxial, optical, RCA and balanced XLR. An RS232 connection is at hand for individuals who want to distant management the Arcam from a third-party residence automation system, too.
Final however actually not least (contemplating the streaming-savvy nature of the ST60) is an ethernet port, a connection we’d advocate utilizing if attainable to get probably the most dependable connection. For comfort, nevertheless, two antennas that screw onto the rear to grant the ST60 wi-fi connection (and, aesthetically, a pair of pointy ears) are provided within the field, together with a full-sized distant management that’s fittingly useful over fancy.
Verdict
Arcam has carried its a long time of sonic experience seamlessly into the streaming section, each with and with out amplification, in a single field. Its proprietary software program might not be exemplary, and its chassis design might not win a best-dressed award, but when you may get over that you may be rewarded with the best-sounding performer obtainable for this cash.
In case you’re joyful along with your hi-fi system however merely wish to smarten it up by slotting a streamer subsequent to your separates, the Arcam ST60 is a powerful alternative.
SCORES
MORE:
This is how to add a streamer to your hi-fi system
Learn our round-up of the best music streamers
Learn our evaluate of the NAD C 658
https://www.whathifi.com/us/opinions/arcam-st60 | Arcam ST60 music streamer | What Hello-Fi?
