Arcam A15+ Integrated Amplifier at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The A15+ is a Class AB integrated amplifier from Arcam (Cambridge, England), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Built on nearly 50 years of amplifier engineering dating back to the 1976 A&R Cambridge A60, the A15+ is the latest evolution of Arcam's award-winning Radia series, delivering 80W per channel into 8 ohms (120W into 4 ohms) with harmonic distortion of just 0.002% at 80% power. It features an upgraded mains transformer, Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless, Auracast, HDMI eARC, and a meticulously tuned MM phono stage — making it an ideal amplifier for floor-standing speakers, larger listening rooms, and listeners who demand dynamic headroom. The A15+ was awarded the What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year 2025 in the stereo amplifiers category, building on its predecessor's What Hi-Fi? Award win in 2024.

Class AB Amplification with Upgraded Power Supply

The A15+ uses a Class AB amplifier topology centred on the ESS ES9018 DAC and an upgraded mains transformer that reduces unwanted current within the chassis compared to the original A15. Arcam's engineers also improved transformer windings and key power supply components to cut interference and lower supply impedance, resulting in a quieter noise floor and more composed dynamic performance. The amplifier delivers 80W per channel into 8 ohms continuously across the full 20Hz to 20kHz bandwidth at 0.5% THD, increasing to 120W per channel into 4 ohm loads — providing ample headroom to drive demanding loudspeakers including floor-standing designs. Intelligent power management powers down unused modules — including the DAC when an analogue input is active and the Bluetooth and HDMI circuits when Autoswitch is disabled — to keep the noise floor as low as possible during all listening modes.

Snapdragon Sound, Auracast, and Wireless Headphones

The A15+ incorporates Qualcomm's Bluetooth 5.4 platform with full Snapdragon Sound certification, enabling aptX Lossless for bit-perfect CD-quality wireless audio alongside aptX HD, aptX, AAC, and SBC. Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast broadcast technology allow the A15+ to stream simultaneously to an unlimited number of compatible headphones or speakers with no individual pairing required — ideal for shared listening or quiet listening events in larger spaces. The amplifier operates as both a Bluetooth sink (receiving from a phone or tablet) and a Bluetooth source (transmitting to wireless headphones via the front-panel 3.5mm output), covering wired and wireless headphone use from a single chassis.

Key Features

• What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year 2025: Named the top stereo amplifier of 2025 in its price category by What Hi-Fi? magazine, following the original A15's What Hi-Fi? Award win in 2024.
• Class AB Amplification, 80W per Channel (8 ohms): Powerful, musical Class AB design with 120W into 4 ohms — suited to floor-standing speakers and larger listening rooms.
• Upgraded Mains Transformer: Revised transformer design reduces unwanted current and lowers power supply impedance for improved clarity over the original A15.
• Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless: Bluetooth 5.4 platform enabling bit-perfect CD-quality wireless streaming, alongside aptX HD, aptX, AAC, and SBC codecs.
• Auracast Broadcast Audio: Stream to an unlimited number of compatible wireless headphones or speakers simultaneously, with no pairing required.
• HDMI eARC Input: Direct connection to a television for high-quality TV audio playback through the A15+.
• ESS ES9018 DAC: 24-bit/192kHz capable digital-to-analogue converter handling all digital inputs up to 192kHz sample rate.
• Fine-Tuned MM Phono Stage: Precisely voiced moving magnet phono input (47kΩ + 100pF, RIAA-accurate within ±1dB from 20Hz to 20kHz) for engaging vinyl playback.
• Wired and Wireless Headphone Output: Front-panel 3.5mm output with up to 5V RMS into 300 ohms, compatible with headphones from 16 ohms to 2 kilohms.
• Plastic-Free Packaging: 100% biodegradable packaging using natural materials throughout, with no single-use plastics.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 3 x Analogue RCA line inputs
• 1 x MM Phono input (RCA)
• 1 x HDMI eARC/ARC input
• 1 x Optical (TOSLINK) digital input
• 2 x Coaxial digital inputs
• 1 x Stereo preamp output (RCA)
• 1 x 3.5mm headphone output (front panel)
• Bluetooth 5.4 (transmit and receive)
• Speaker terminals (rear panel)

Awards and Critical Recognition

• What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year 2025 — Stereo Amplifiers category, What Hi-Fi? magazine
• What Hi-Fi? Award Winner 2024 — Stereo Amplifiers category (original Arcam Radia A15), What Hi-Fi? magazine

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Arcam A15+?

The Arcam A15+ is a Class AB integrated stereo amplifier from Arcam, a British hi-fi manufacturer based in Cambridge, England, delivering 80W per channel into 8 ohms and 120W into 4 ohms with harmonic distortion of just 0.002%. It includes a built-in ESS ES9018 DAC, MM phono stage, HDMI eARC input, Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless, and Auracast broadcast audio. The A15+ won the What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year 2025 award in the stereo amplifiers category and is available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada.

How does the Arcam A15+ compare to the NAD C 700 and Cambridge Audio CXA81?

The Arcam A15+ competes directly with the NAD C 700 and Cambridge Audio CXA81 at a similar price point. The NAD C 700 integrates BluOS streaming and Dirac Live room correction in a single chassis, while the Cambridge Audio CXA81 focuses on a purist analogue amplifier design with fewer wireless features. The A15+ distinguishes itself through its combination of Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and Auracast, HDMI eARC for TV integration, a highly regarded MM phono stage, and What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year 2025 recognition — a level of critical endorsement neither competitor achieved in the same cycle.

Is the Arcam A15+ suitable for large rooms and floor-standing speakers?

Yes, the A15+ is specifically designed for larger listening rooms and more demanding loudspeakers. Its 80W per channel output into 8 ohms increases to 120W into 4 ohm loads, providing the current delivery and dynamic headroom required to control floor-standing speakers effectively. Arcam describes the A15+ as a powerhouse built for listeners who prioritise scale, dynamics, and the ability to fill a larger space with sound.

What is Auracast and how does it work on the A15+?

Auracast is a Bluetooth broadcast technology that allows a single source — in this case the A15+ — to transmit audio simultaneously to an unlimited number of compatible Bluetooth receivers, such as wireless headphones or speakers, without requiring individual pairing. On the A15+, Auracast operates via the Bluetooth 5.4 LE Audio platform and is particularly useful for shared listening situations, late-night listening sessions, or distributing audio to multiple rooms wirelessly from a single amplifier.

Does the Arcam A15+ have a USB input?

No, the A15+ does not include a USB audio input. Its digital inputs consist of HDMI eARC, one optical (TOSLINK), and two coaxial connections, all supporting up to 24-bit/192kHz via the ESS ES9018 DAC. Listeners who need USB audio connectivity should consider the Arcam A25+, which adds a USB-C input supporting up to 32-bit/384kHz alongside a dedicated second DAC chip for S/PDIF inputs.

Where can I buy the Arcam A15+ in Toronto or Canada?

The Arcam A15+ is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorised Arcam dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries the full Arcam Radia+ lineup and can arrange in-store demonstrations, including pairing the A15+ with the Arcam ST25 streamer for a complete award-winning system audition.

Can the Arcam A15+ be used with a turntable?

Yes, the A15+ includes a built-in moving magnet (MM) phono stage with an input impedance of 47kΩ + 100pF and RIAA-accurate frequency response within ±1dB from 20Hz to 20kHz. It is compatible with any turntable equipped with a moving magnet cartridge and does not require a separate phono preamplifier.

How does the A15+ differ from the Arcam A25+?

The A15+ and A25+ share the same Bluetooth 5.4 platform, Auracast, HDMI eARC, MM phono stage, and overall Radia+ design language. The A25+ steps up with Class G amplification (100W versus 80W per channel), a dual-DAC architecture with a dedicated ESS9018 chip for S/PDIF inputs, USB-C hi-res input supporting 32-bit/384kHz, a precision-cut glass front panel, and more extensive power supply refinements. The A15+ uses Class AB amplification with the ESS ES9018 DAC handling all digital inputs and no USB input, making it the more accessible entry point into the Radia+ range while retaining the same award-winning sonic character.