A&R Cambridge Ltd (ARCAM)
Encyclopedia
Waterbeach
Waterbeach is a large fen-edge village located 6 miles north of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire in England, and belongs to the administrative district of South Cambridgeshire. The parish covers an area of 23.26 km².- Village :...
Cambridgeshire, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, UK. It was formally established in 1976 by science and engineering students from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. John Dawson, one of the Cambridge graduates, is still with ARCAM.
A&R Cambridge’s first product was the A&R Cambridge A60 integrated amplifier
Integrated amplifier
An integrated amplifier is an electronic device containing an audio preamplifier and power amplifier in one unit, as opposed to separating the two. Most modern audio amplifiers are integrated and have several inputs for devices such as CD players, DVD players, and auxiliary sources...
, released in 1976. It soon became a classic product, admired for both restrained, sleek appearance and its high-end sound performance. These days Arcam products range from integrated stereo amplifiers through to high-end upscaling DVD players (such as the DV139), ultra-high performance AV processors and an audiophile iPod dock.
In the 1980s, the formal company name of A&R Cambridge Ltd was shortened on the products themselves to “ARCAM”, although the company's trading name remained A&R Cambridge Ltd.
Arcam "firsts" include the first domestic add-on audio DAC (Black Box), first (and only) British built Dolby S cassette deck (Delta 100) a first domestic DAB tuner (Alpha 10).
The ARCAM Solo
ARCAM Solo
The ARCAM Solo is an all-in-one hi-fi.It includes a CD player, MP3 functionality, FM tuner and a DAB tuner.There are many models in the range, including the Music, Mini, Movie 2.1 and Movie 5.1....
was introduced in 2005 that effectively places hi-fi quality separates into a one-box enclosure no larger than a separate CD player. This product also offered integration, via the rLead/rDock, with the Apple
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
. This range was extended in 2007 to include a 5.1 movie variant and later a 2.1 version. Also, to complete the line up, a sub/sat speaker system called Muso/Logo was released, which matched the Solo products.
The company introduced it's first portable HiFi product, the rCube, in 2010 offering high quality sound, an iPod docking system, wireless music streaming and an 8 hour battery life.
Unlike many other audio manufacturers, ARCAM still manufactures many of its products in the UK, with only a few models (most notably ARCAM FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
/AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
tuners
Tuner (radio)
A radio tuner is a subsystem that receives radio broadcasts and converts them into audio-frequency signals which can be fed into an amplifier driving a loudspeaker. FM tuner, AM tuner, Digital Audio Broadcasting DAB tuner, etc. are types of radio tuner dealing with transmissions using different...
) being made in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. The engineering and design side of their products is still managed in-house in the UK.
ARCAM’s competitors include, amongst others, Linn
Linn Products
Linn Products is a Scottish company, based in Glasgow, that manufactures hi-fi audio equipment, home theatre, and multi-room integrated audio systems...
, NAD
New Acoustic Dimension
NAD Electronics is a brand name of an electronics firm whose products include low-cost home audiophile amplifiers and related components. NAD was an acronym for New Acoustic Dimension....
, Naim
Naim Audio
Naim Audio is a British manufacturer of high fidelity audio products for domestic use, based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.-History:...
, Meridian
Meridian Audio, Ltd.
Boothroyd Stuart Meridian is a British manufacturer of high-performance, high-fidelity audio and video components and systems. Founded in 1977 by Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd, its products have proved popular among music and movie enthusiasts, and more recently in the lifestyle technology and...
, Audiolab
Audiolab
Audiolab is a British manufacturer of audio equipment. It specializes in affordable systems and has a range of stereo and surround sound systems.- History :...
, Rega Research
Rega Research
Rega Research Ltd. is a high-end audio equipment manufacturer based in the UK. Rega was founded in 1973. The company's name was formed of the initials of its two founders . Historically Rega are best known for the Rega Planar turntable, but in recent years the company has diversified into a range...
, Marantz
Marantz
Marantz is a company that develops and sells upper-mid range to high-end audio products.The first Marantz audio product was designed and built by Saul B. Marantz in his home in Kew Gardens, New York...
and Cambridge Audio
Cambridge Audio
Cambridge Audio is a brand acquired in 1994 by Audio Partnership Plc and is used on a range of hi-fi, home cinema and multi-room products. The original Cambridge Audio company was founded in 1968 and was primarily known for its range of amplifiers and tuners, many of which featured novel technical...
.
