Arcam ST60 Streamer – Streaming client of the Arcam HDA range

The English hi-fi manufacturer A & R Cambridge Ltd. describes an Arcam brand streaming solution in their Arcam HDA range as a high-performance streaming source, namely the new Arcam ST60 Streamer. This presents itself as a flexible solution, because on the one hand it relies on UPnP, supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast, and on the other it is designated as a Roon Endpoint and thus Roon Ready.

Of course, music streaming has always been an important aspect for the English company A & R Cambridge Ltd, which offered a wide range of options with its Arcam brand. However, in the fine hi-fi range of the English, the so-called Arcam HDA Range, there was actually no designated streaming client available. The Arcam SA30 Class G Intelligent Integrated Amplfiier was responsible for this, which not only fulfilled the task of an outstanding stereo integrated amplifier, but also that of a D/A converter and streaming client.

Now the English are actually expanding the Arcam HDA range with a designated streaming client, which is to devote itself entirely to this task and can thus act as an extremely flexible source of a modern HiFi system, in the form of the new Arcam ST60 Streamer. The new Arcam ST60 Streamer is based on UPnP, an industry standard that has been tried and tested for years, support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast, and Roon Labs LLC. has certified the new solution as Roon Ready, so that the new Arcam ST60 Streamer can be used as a Roon Endpoint. A D/A converter is also on board so that the flawless signal processing is also available to external digital sources.

Naturally, the new Arcam ST60 Streamer is presented entirely in the current design of the Arcam HDA range, and thus perfectly matches the stereo integrated amplifiers of the product line, whether it be the Arcam SA10 Class AB Integrated Amplifier, the Arcam SA20Class G Integrated Amplifier, or the Arcam SA30 Class G Intelligent Integrated Amplifier, as well as the Arcam CDS50 SACD/CD Player.

The English refer to the new Arcam ST60 Streamer as a high-performance streaming source, which provides a multitude of sources. This begins, as already described, with the industry standard UPnP, ultimately the “lowest common denominator” in the area of streaming, but in fact the only true industry standard. In addition, there are the streaming platforms of Apple and Google, i.e. Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. This alone ensures that the new Arcam ST60 Streamer can access a multitude of different content, the only requirement is the corresponding app on the smartphone, regardless of whether this smartphone is operated with Apple iOS or Google Android.

Arcam itself also offers a suitable app for the new Arcam ST60 Streamer, namely the well-known Arcam MusicLife app. This app is designed to make access to your own content stored on a central storage solution in the network, a so-called NAS (Network Attached Storage), just as convenient as access to TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, Napster, Deezer and other offers.

Particularly interesting is that the new Arcam ST60 Streamer, as briefly mentioned, is also designated as Roon Ready, meaning that it can be used as a so-called Roon Endpoint. This means that the new Arcam ST60 Streamer part is available either as a central streamer in the listening room or in combination with other systems based on this unique media management and multiroom audio streaming solution, provided that a corresponding subscription to Roon Labs LLC.

Incidentally, the new Arcam ST60 streamer can be integrated into the network either via an RJ45 Ethernet interface or via an integrated WiFi module, whereby the first option is always the reliable one, the second the more flexible and perhaps simpler one, since no cables need to be laid…

The signal processing of the new Arcam ST60 Streamer is carried out by an ESS Technology 32 Bit ESS9038K2M Sabre DAC, which can process data in Linear PCM format with up to 32 Bit and 192 kHz, as well as content encoded in MQA.

However, this DAC is not only available for content from the network, because, as mentioned, external sources can also benefit from it. These can be connected via two optical and two coaxial S/PDIF interfaces, as well as via a USB 2.0 port. The latter of course offers the full potential of the D/A converter, as does the coaxial S/PDIF interface, whereas the optical S/PDIF interface processes data in Linear PCM format only up to 24 bits and 92 kHz in accordance with the standard.

The new Arcam ST60 Streamer offers analogue signals either unbalanced via a pair of RCA sockets or balanced via a pair of XLR connectors. An optical and coaxial S/PDIF interface is also available as additional outputs on the rear panel.

By the way, the new Arcam ST60 Streamer has an RS232 interface, can be controlled via IP over the network, and can therefore be easily integrated into various control solutions such as Control4 or Crestron.

The front of the new Arcam ST60 Streamer is primarily adorned with a spacious, centrally located display, which is flanked to the right by the standby button, to the left by three buttons (Play/Pause, Input and Menu) and a rotary encoder.

Like all the other components in the Arcam HDA range, the new Arcam ST60 Streamer also features an anthracite colour and extremely elegant design. The housing is solidly constructed and has an aluminium front.

„Arcam’s experience with digital audio goes deep. We have been making CD players for almost 30 years, and the ST60 design journey saw the team apply this extensive experience into creating a truly high-performance digital music source. Of course, Arcam is also rightly recognised for its excellence with amplification, and the ST60 is the perfect partner for our amplifiers, old and new.“

Nick Clarke, Senior Director, Global Engineering Harman Luxury Audio Group

Even though a solution such as this is of course primarily controlled using an app, the Arcam ST60 Streamer is still supplied with a matching infrared remote control. This allows simple commands such as playback control to be controlled even without a smartphone.

According to currently available information, the new Arcam ST60 Streamer will be launched on the market before the end of this year, but this will probably require patience until the fourth quarter of 2020. The recommended retail price is stated by the manufacturer at € 1,399.

Getting to the point

A & R Cambridge Ltd, part of the Harman Luxury Audio Group, is now adding a dedicated streaming client to the Arcam HDA range, enabling it to be the most flexible source of a modern hi-fi system, in the form of the new Arcam ST60 Streamer. The new Arcam ST60 Streamer is based on UPnP, an industry standard that has been tried and tested for years, support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast, and Roon Labs LLC. has certified the new solution as Roon Ready, so that the new Arcam ST60 Streamer can be used as a Roon Endpoint. A D/A converter is also on board so that the flawless signal processing is also available to external digital sources.