Arcam SA35 Streaming Integrated Amplifier at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The SA35 is a streaming integrated amplifier from Arcam (Cambridge, United Kingdom), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Part of Arcam's Radia series and engineered by the Harman International group, the SA35 brings together a 5th generation Class G amplifier delivering 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms, the latest ESS Hyperstream iV DAC topology in a balanced configuration, and a new all-in-one 6-layer digital streaming platform with Dirac Live room correction included. A new linear toroidal transformer power supply drives all internal circuits with a significantly lower noise floor, while the bonded 6.5-inch high-resolution display presents album artwork and metadata with clarity legible from across the room. With MM and MC phono inputs, HDMI eARC, dual subwoofer outputs, and native integration with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Apple Airplay, Google Cast, and Roon Ready certification, the SA35 is a complete high-resolution music system requiring nothing more than a pair of speakers.

5th Generation Class G Amplification: 120 Watts of Ultra-Low Distortion Power

Arcam's Class G amplifier topology has been refined continuously for over two decades, and the SA35 represents its fifth generation of development. Class G operates primarily within a Class A bias range for the majority of listening levels, delivering the tonal smoothness and low distortion associated with pure Class A amplification. When the music demands more headroom, a second power supply rail engages transparently, raising the available voltage without the crossover distortion artifacts that Class AB designs introduce at the transition point. The SA35 doubles up large sections of its output stage and employs two dedicated power supplies to achieve this, generating 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 200 watts into 4 ohms at 0.002% THD at 80% power, a distortion figure that rivals dedicated high-performance stereo amplifiers at multiples of this unit's price. Reviewers consistently describe the SA35's amplification character as warm, controlled, and musically engaging with a taut bass response and detailed, smooth top end that sustains listening sessions without fatigue.

ESS Hyperstream iV DAC and 6-Layer Digital Streaming Platform

The SA35's digital section is built on an entirely new 6-layer streaming platform, where a ground plane runs through the complete length of the board to shield sensitive audio components from noise and electromagnetic interference. At the conversion stage sits ESS's latest Hyperstream iV DAC topology, configured in a balanced arrangement with advanced jitter elimination derived from ESS's HyperStream architecture. This implementation supports streaming up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256, and digital inputs accept up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM. Seven selectable digital filter settings allow listeners to tailor the presentation to personal preference and system synergy. The new linear toroidal transformer drives the entire internal operation with low-noise DC power, while a separate switching supply activates only during standby for efficiency, ensuring the analog and digital circuits receive clean, stable power during all active listening conditions.

Dirac Live Room Correction with Measurement Microphone Included

Dirac Live is included as standard with the SA35, and Arcam includes a calibrated measurement microphone and a 5-meter USB cable in the box to enable immediate setup without additional purchases. Dirac Live's laptop-based measurement and filter design process captures the room's impulse response at multiple listening positions, then generates linear phase correction filters that address both frequency response irregularities and timing errors simultaneously. The result is tighter, more uniform bass, more stable stereo imaging, and greater overall clarity throughout the listening room. The SA35's implementation also supports dual subwoofer outputs, enabling Dirac Live to integrate subwoofers with the main speakers with precise timing and level matching across the crossover region. Users can store a corrected filter and toggle it on or off, or modify the target curve to adjust the tonal balance to personal preference.

Complete Streaming Ecosystem and Wireless Connectivity

The SA35's new ARCAM Radia app and streaming platform provide native integration with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Apple Airplay, Google Cast, UPnP, internet radio, podcasts, and USB media playback from a connected mass storage device. Roon Ready certification is included, enabling the SA35 to function as a full Roon endpoint for high-resolution library management and playback. Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound and Auracast support enables both audio reception from smartphones and tablets and wireless transmission to Bluetooth headphones or speakers, a two-way capability not commonly found in integrated amplifiers. Wi-Fi connectivity follows the IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax standard across both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for reliable wireless network performance in any home environment.

MM and MC Phono Stage, HDMI eARC, and Headphone Output

The SA35 integrates a fully specified phono stage supporting both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, making it a complete solution for vinyl listeners who want a single component to handle analog and digital sources alike. An HDMI eARC input enables direct audio return from a connected television, consolidating the SA35 as the audio hub for both music and television listening without a separate AV processor or receiver. A front-panel 3.5mm headphone jack provides private listening capability driven by the SA35's internal amplification, and three stereo RCA analog inputs accommodate additional line-level sources including CD players, streamers, or any other component. Two optical and two coaxial digital inputs accept external digital sources up to 24-bit/192kHz, and the dual subwoofer outputs allow integration of one or two powered subwoofers with Dirac Live optimization.

Key Features

• 5th Generation Class G Amplification, 120 Wpc: Ultra-low distortion amplifier (0.002% THD at 80% power, 8 ohms) with dual power supply rails delivering 120W into 8 ohms and 200W into 4 ohms, running in effective Class A for most listening levels.
• ESS Hyperstream iV DAC in Balanced Configuration: Latest-generation ESS DAC topology with advanced jitter elimination on a 6-layer ground-plane-shielded digital platform, supporting 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256 streaming.
• New Linear Toroidal Transformer Power Supply: Full linear toroidal supply drives all internal circuits with reduced noise, with a separate switching supply active only in standby for efficiency.
• Dirac Live Room Correction Included: Full Dirac Live software-based room correction with calibrated measurement microphone and 5-meter USB cable included in the box, plus dual subwoofer outputs for complete bass integration.
• 6.5-Inch Bonded High-Resolution Display: Full-colour display showing album artwork and metadata clearly legible from a seated listening position across the room.
• MM and MC Phono Stage: Built-in phono preamplifier supporting both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges for complete vinyl playback integration.
• HDMI eARC Input: Direct television audio return channel input for consolidated music and TV audio processing without a separate AV component.
• Roon Ready with Spotify, Tidal, and Qobuz Connect: Native integration with major streaming platforms plus Roon Ready certification for high-resolution endpoint streaming.
• Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound and Auracast: Two-way Bluetooth for both reception from source devices and transmission to Bluetooth headphones or speakers, with Snapdragon Sound and LE Audio Auracast support.
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Ethernet: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 for reliable network streaming alongside a wired Ethernet connection option.
• Dual Subwoofer Outputs: Two dedicated subwoofer outputs for integration of one or two powered subwoofers, optimized through Dirac Live.
• 3.5mm Front-Panel Headphone Output: Private listening output driven by the SA35's internal amplification stage.

Technical Specifications

What's in the Box

• Arcam SA35 Streaming Integrated Amplifier
• Remote Control with 2 x AAA Batteries
• Dirac Live Calibrated Measurement Microphone
• 5m USB Cable
• Mains Lead
• Quick Start Guide
• Important Safety Instructions

Awards and Critical Recognition

• What Hi-Fi? Award Winner — 2025, What Hi-Fi? (UK)
• Applause Award — 2025, StereoNET International

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Arcam SA35?

The Arcam SA35 is a streaming integrated amplifier from Arcam, a British audio manufacturer based in Cambridge, UK, and part of the Harman International group. It combines a 5th generation Class G amplifier delivering 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms, an ESS Hyperstream iV balanced DAC with advanced jitter elimination, a full-featured streaming platform with Roon Ready certification, Dirac Live room correction, MM and MC phono inputs, HDMI eARC, dual subwoofer outputs, and a 6.5-inch high-resolution display into a single chassis. It is the entry-level model in Arcam's Radia streaming amplifier series, with the SA45 as the step-up model.

How does the Arcam SA35 compare to the Naim Uniti Atom and the Cambridge Audio EVO 150?

The Arcam SA35, Naim Uniti Atom, and Cambridge Audio EVO 150 compete directly as premium all-in-one streaming amplifiers, each with a distinct character. The SA35 delivers 120 watts per channel from its Class G amplifier, making it the most powerful of the three and better suited to driving demanding loudspeakers, while the Naim Uniti Atom delivers 40 watts and the Cambridge Audio EVO 150 provides 150 watts of Class D power. The SA35 is the only one of the three to include Dirac Live room correction as standard with a calibrated microphone in the box, and it is the only one to offer both MM and MC phono inputs alongside HDMI eARC. The Naim Uniti Atom is well regarded for its musical timing and Naim ecosystem integration but is showing its age in terms of streaming platform and display size. The Cambridge Audio EVO 150 matches the SA35 more closely on connectivity but uses Class D amplification rather than the Class G topology Arcam has refined over two decades.

What is Class G amplification and why does it matter?

Class G amplification is a topology that operates primarily within a Class A bias window for the majority of program material, switching transparently to a higher voltage power supply rail only when the music demands more headroom. This avoids the crossover distortion introduced at the transition point in conventional Class AB designs, delivering the tonal smoothness and low distortion of Class A at normal listening levels while maintaining the power delivery of a higher-output amplifier when required. Arcam has refined its Class G implementation across five generations spanning over two decades, and the SA35's 0.002% THD at 80% rated power reflects the maturity of this engineering. The practical result is an amplifier that sounds warm, controlled, and musically engaging without the heat output or inefficiency of a pure Class A design.

Does the Arcam SA35 include Dirac Live and what does it do?

Yes, Dirac Live is included with the SA35 at no additional cost, and a calibrated measurement microphone and 5-meter USB cable are both included in the box for immediate setup. Dirac Live is a software-based room correction system from Dirac Research (Sweden) that uses a laptop-based measurement process to capture the listening room's acoustic behavior at multiple positions, then designs linear phase correction filters that address both frequency response anomalies and timing errors simultaneously. The SA35 also provides dual subwoofer outputs, allowing Dirac Live to optimize subwoofer integration with the main speakers for tighter, more uniform bass. Reviewers note that Dirac Live is particularly effective in rooms with challenging acoustics, and the system can be toggled on or off or adjusted at any time through the Arcam Radia app.

Does the Arcam SA35 support vinyl playback?

Yes, the SA35 includes a built-in phono preamplifier that supports both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, making it a complete solution for vinyl listeners without requiring a separate phono stage. This MM and MC phono input is a notable inclusion at this price point and in this category, and paired with the SA35's Class G amplification, it allows a complete turntable-based vinyl system alongside the full streaming and digital capabilities of the amplifier.

Where can I buy the Arcam SA35 in Toronto or Canada?

The Arcam SA35 is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Arcam dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries Arcam's full Radia series lineup and provides in-store demonstrations, expert system configuration advice including Dirac Live setup guidance, and full manufacturer-backed warranty support. Canadian customers outside Toronto are welcome to contact Vinyl Sound directly for availability and purchasing information.

What streaming services does the Arcam SA35 support natively?

The SA35 natively supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Apple Airplay, Google Cast, UPnP, internet radio, podcasts, and USB mass storage media playback through the ARCAM Radia app. Roon Ready certification enables the SA35 to function as a full Roon endpoint. Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound supports both streaming from smartphones and tablets and wireless audio transmission to Bluetooth headphones or speakers. Amazon Music is also supported through the streaming platform, providing one of the most comprehensive service coverage sets in the streaming integrated amplifier category.