Arcam ST25 Network Music Streamer at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The ST25 is a premium network music streamer from Arcam (Cambridge, England), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Built on an all-new six-layer digital audio and streaming platform, the ST25 features the ESS Hyperstream IV DAC in a balanced configuration with advanced jitter elimination, a new linear toroidal power supply design, and a bonded 6.5-inch high-resolution display for album artwork and metadata. Supporting hi-res audio up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256, full Roon Ready certification, and a comprehensive suite of streaming services including Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Qobuz Connect, the ST25 is Arcam's definitive high-resolution streaming source — and the ideal companion to the Arcam A25+ integrated amplifier. The ST25 was named a What Hi-Fi? Award winner for 2025 in the premium music streamer category.

Six-Layer Streaming Platform and ESS Hyperstream IV DAC

At the core of the ST25 is an entirely new six-layer digital audio and streaming platform, engineered from the ground up to minimise noise and interference. A continuous ground plane runs through the entire board, isolating sensitive analogue audio components from the digital circuitry above. The ESS Hyperstream IV DAC operates in a balanced configuration, combining ESS's latest delta-sigma topology with Arcam's own advanced jitter elimination system to deliver a supremely clean, low-distortion conversion stage. Four selectable DAC filters give listeners the ability to fine-tune the presentation to their preference, from linear phase to minimum phase characteristics. The result is what What Hi-Fi? described as an eerily quiet backdrop that allows every instrument space to breathe — a performance that earned the ST25 its 2025 Award in a field that included the Cambridge Audio EXN100, its closest rival.

Linear Toroidal Power Supply

The ST25 uses a new linear toroidal transformer as its primary power supply, driving all internal audio circuitry with lower noise than a conventional switching supply. A separate switching supply is retained only for standby operation, where it runs at peak efficiency when drawing less than 0.5W. This separation of power domains — linear for audio, switching only for standby — is the same approach used in reference-grade source components and ensures that the digital and analogue sections of the ST25 operate from the cleanest possible electrical foundation. The combination of the toroidal supply and the grounded six-layer board contributes directly to the ST25's measured composure and dynamic headroom across all supported formats and sample rates.

Streaming Services and Connectivity

The ST25 connects to a home network via dual-band Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, supporting both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands) or wired Ethernet, and is configured quickly through the ARCAM Radia app. Once connected, it supports Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, UPnP, Internet Radio, Podcasts, and USB media playback from a connected USB-A mass storage device. A dedicated control link port allows the ST25 to pair directly with Arcam Radia amplifiers — including the A25+ — so both components respond as a single integrated unit from any control device. Outputs include a stereo RCA analogue pair, one coaxial (RCA) digital output, and one optical (TOSLINK) digital output, making the ST25 equally compatible with the A25+ and any third-party amplifier or preamplifier.

Key Features

• What Hi-Fi? Award Winner 2025: Named the top premium music streamer in the £1000–£2000 category by What Hi-Fi?, beating the Cambridge Audio EXN100 on sound quality.
• ESS Hyperstream IV DAC (Balanced Configuration): ESS's latest DAC topology with advanced jitter elimination, supporting 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256.
• Linear Toroidal Power Supply: Dedicated linear transformer for all audio circuitry, with a separate switching supply only for standby — minimising noise across the entire signal path.
• Six-Layer Digital Audio Platform: Ground plane running through the entire board to isolate audio components from digital interference.
• 6.5-Inch High-Resolution Display: Bonded front-panel screen showing album artwork and metadata, clearly legible from across the room.
• Roon Ready Certified: Full Roon endpoint support for listeners using Roon as their primary music management and playback platform.
• Comprehensive Streaming Support: Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, UPnP, Internet Radio, Podcasts, and USB media.
• Arcam Radia Control Link: Dedicated port for linking with Arcam Radia amplifiers, enabling unified control of both components from a single device.
• Dual-Band Wi-Fi (802.11ax): Wi-Fi 6 compatible, supporting both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for robust network connectivity.
• Plastic-Free Packaging: 100% biodegradable packaging using natural materials throughout.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 1 x Stereo RCA analogue output
• 1 x Coaxial (RCA) digital output
• 1 x Optical (TOSLINK) digital output
• 1 x USB-A input (mass storage media playback)
• 1 x Ethernet (RJ45)
• 1 x Arcam Radia control link port
• Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz, Wi-Fi 6 / 802.11ax)

Awards and Critical Recognition

• What Hi-Fi? Award Winner 2025 — Premium Music Streamer category, What Hi-Fi? magazine

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Arcam ST25?

The Arcam ST25 is a premium network music streamer from Arcam, a British hi-fi manufacturer based in Cambridge, England, supporting hi-res audio up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256 via an ESS Hyperstream IV DAC in a balanced configuration. It won the What Hi-Fi? Award for 2025 in the premium music streamer category and is available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. The ST25 is designed as a dedicated high-resolution streaming source for two-channel hi-fi systems, and is the ideal partner for the Arcam A25+ integrated amplifier.

How does the Arcam ST25 compare to the Cambridge Audio EXN100?

The Arcam ST25 and Cambridge Audio EXN100 are the two leading premium music streamers in their price range and both hold five-star ratings from What Hi-Fi?. In the 2025 What Hi-Fi? Awards head-to-head, the ST25 was judged the superior performer for sound quality, praised for its more insightful, dynamically subtle, and musically engaging presentation. The EXN100 offers advantages in connectivity — including HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, and balanced XLR outputs — and a more seamless single-app control experience. The ST25 counters with a quieter noise floor, a more revealing ESS Hyperstream IV DAC platform, and native Arcam Radia control link integration for pairing with Arcam amplifiers.

Is the Arcam ST25 Roon Ready?

Yes, the Arcam ST25 is fully Roon Ready certified, meaning it functions as a Roon endpoint and can be discovered, controlled, and streamed to directly from the Roon application on any compatible device on the same network. Roon users can bypass the ARCAM Radia app entirely and use Roon as their primary control and playback interface for the ST25.

What streaming services does the Arcam ST25 support?

The Arcam ST25 supports Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, UPnP, Internet Radio, Podcasts, and USB media playback from a connected mass storage device. Setup for Wi-Fi connection and streaming service configuration is handled through the ARCAM Radia App, available for iOS and Android.

What is the ESS Hyperstream IV DAC and why does it matter?

The ESS Hyperstream IV is ESS Technology's latest-generation delta-sigma DAC topology, operating in a balanced configuration inside the ST25 for improved channel separation and lower distortion. Arcam pairs it with an advanced jitter elimination circuit that removes timing errors introduced during network transmission and digital processing, ensuring the analogue output is as faithful as possible to the original recording. This DAC architecture supports 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256, covering all commercially available hi-res audio formats.

Where can I buy the Arcam ST25 in Toronto or Canada?

The Arcam ST25 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 of the ST25, including pairing with the Arcam A25+ integrated amplifier for a complete Radia system audition.

Does the Arcam ST25 work with non-Arcam amplifiers?

Yes, the Arcam ST25 is fully compatible with any amplifier or preamplifier. Its stereo RCA analogue output connects to any line-level input, while its coaxial and optical digital outputs feed any DAC or integrated amplifier with a digital input. The dedicated Arcam Radia control link is an optional convenience feature for Arcam Radia amplifier owners and does not affect compatibility with third-party equipment.

Can the Arcam ST25 play music from a USB drive or local network?

Yes, the ST25 includes a USB-A input for direct playback from a connected USB mass storage device, and supports UPnP for streaming from a NAS drive or media server on the same home network. Supported formats include FLAC, WAV, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DSD (up to DSD256), MP3, MP4, OGG, and WMA, with gapless playback enabled for all compatible formats.