Arcam
Arcam Radia CD5
Arcam Radia CD5
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Arcam Radia CD5
The Arcam Radia CD5 is a compact disc player for those who listen seriously. Arcam have been making CD players since 1986 — the Delta 70 was their first, designed entirely in-house — and that accumulated understanding of digital playback is what the CD5 is built on. New components, new materials, and an ESS ES9018 DAC at its heart.
ESS ES9018 DAC
The ES9018 is a high-performance DAC that handles everything the CD5 reads — including 24-bit hi-res audio from FLAC and WAV files via USB. For standard CD playback, the result is a frequency response of 20Hz–20kHz held to within ±0.05dB, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 93dB (A-weighted, 16-bit). Play hi-res files from a USB drive and that SNR rises to 115dB. The analogue output sits at 2.1V rms at 0dBFS — a solid, clean output level for virtually any integrated amplifier.
What It Plays
The casework uses aluminium on the front, top, sides, and rear panels — a considered choice at this price point that gives the CD5 a presence on a rack that plastic-fronted alternatives cannot match.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Supported media | CD, CD-R, CD-RW, USB-A |
| Supported files (USB) | WAV (LPCM), FLAC, MP3, AAC, WMA |
| Supported bit depths | 16-bit, 24-bit |
| Outputs | 1× Analogue Stereo RCA pair, 1× Digital S/PDIF Coaxial (RCA), 1× Digital S/PDIF Optical (Toslink) |
| Frequency response (filter 1) | 20Hz–20kHz ±0.05dB |
| Max analogue output (0dBFS) | 2.1V rms |
| SNR (A-wtd, 16-bit/24-bit, 0dBFS) | 93dB / 115dB |
| Mains voltage | AC 100–240V, 50/60Hz |
| Power consumption (maximum) | 12W |
| Power consumption (standby) | <0.5W |
| Dimensions W×D×H (inc. feet) | 431 × 344 × 83mm |
| Supplied accessories | Mains lead, remote control with 2× AAA batteries, Quick Start Guide |
Who Is It For?
The CD5 is for the listener who still buys CDs — and there are more of them than the streaming narrative suggests. If your collection runs to hundreds of discs, a dedicated player built around proper digital engineering will always outperform a disc drive bolted into a streaming box as an afterthought. The CD5 also suits anyone who wants a clean digital source to feed into a separate DAC or an Arcam integrated such as the Arcam A5+ or the Arcam SA35 — both of which we stock and demonstrate.
If your system leans towards home cinema, the Arcam AVR11 pairs naturally with the CD5 via coaxial or optical.
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 Arcam Radia CD5 is available to order now — and unlike many retailers, we have stock. If you want to hear it before you buy, come in and we will set it up for you.
When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris, and Product Links — 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.
