Arcam Radia CD5

Arcam have been making CD players since 1986, when they introduced the Delta 70 — their own ground-up design at a time when most manufacturers were assembling players from bought-in transports and generic electronics. That history matters here. The CD5 is not a peripheral product kept alive for a dwindling market; it is the result of nearly four decades of experience in digital playback, applied to a player designed for those who listen to music on Compact Disc and want to do it properly.

The CD5 plays CDs. It also plays CD-R and CD-RW discs, and accepts USB mass storage devices — so a library of FLAC and WAV rips can be played directly without a separate streamer. Hi-res audio playback at up to 96kHz/24-bit is supported for WAV and FLAC files on both disc and USB.

ESS ES9018 DAC

The ESS ES9018 DAC sits at the heart of the CD5's analogue output stage. It is a serious DAC device — the kind of component that appears in significantly more expensive players — and its presence here is part of what Arcam mean when they say new components and materials were painstakingly reviewed for this design. The result is a signal-to-noise ratio of 115dB at 24-bit depth — a figure that reflects genuine low-noise analogue engineering rather than a marketing claim. For reference, the same player measured against a 16-bit signal yields 93dB SNR — both figures are honest, and both are worth understanding.

Outputs

One analogue stereo RCA pair, one digital coaxial RCA output, and one digital optical Toslink output. Maximum analogue output level is 2.1V RMS at 0dBFS — enough to drive most integrated amplifiers directly without gain mismatch. The digital outputs allow the CD5 to be used as a transport feeding an external DAC, which extends its usefulness into more ambitious systems.

USB Mass Storage

The USB-A input accepts mass storage devices carrying WAV, FLAC, MP3, AAC, and WMA files. Supported sample rates extend to 96kHz for WAV and FLAC, with 88.2kHz also supported. Standard MP3, AAC, and WMA files play at their native sample rates. For those with a substantial library of ripped CDs or downloaded files, this turns the CD5 into a dual-purpose source component.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The CD5 is for those who listen to music on CD and want a player that takes the format seriously. The ESS ES9018 DAC, 115dB SNR, and genuine hi-res USB playback place it well above the level of a basic disc spinner. It suits those who have a CD collection they value and want to hear it at its best — and who may also have a library of ripped files they want to play from a single source.

It pairs naturally with Arcam's own integrated amplifiers — the Arcam SA35 streaming integrated amplifier complements it well, adding network streaming to a system already anchored by the CD5. For those who want to add hi-res network streaming alongside CD playback, the Arcam Radia ST5 is a logical addition.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.

The CD5 is available to hear at our Norwich showroom — bring a disc you know well and we will let it speak for itself.

When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.