A&R Cambridge Ltd (ARCAM)

A&R Cambridge Ltd (ARCAM) is a British manufacturer of hi-fi equipment based in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, England. It was formally established in 1976 by science and engineering students from the University of Cambridge. 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, 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.

Well-known Arcam brands include the Alpha (entry) and Delta (higher) separates of the 80's and 90's, The FMJ (Full Metal Jacket), which refers to the casing, high end series and the DiVA range of stereo and AV separates (1999 onwards). As of 2012 the range consists of FMJ for the full size Hi-fi and Home Cinema Components, Solo for Stereo Music Systems and rSeries for the new personal audio components such as the rCube and the rPAC

Arcam "firsts" include the first domestic add-on audio DAC (Black Box), first (and only) British built Dolby S cassette deck (Delta 100) and the first domestic DAB tuner (Alpha 10).

The ARCAM Solo was introduced in 2005 the first system to effectively place hi-fi quality separates into a one-box enclosure no larger than a separate CD player. This product also offered iPod integration via the rDock. 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. As of 2012 the range consists of the Solo Neo, a full width stereo system with CD/DAB/iPod integration and internet radio / streaming, The Solo Mini is a half width stereo system with CD/DAB/iPod integration. All Solo units offer audio performance equivalent to serious Hi-fi components and have pioneered a new market sector.

The company introduced its 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.

In 2012, Arcam expanded the rSeries to include the rPAC an Personal Audio Converter and the drDock a digital dock for iPad and iPhone

Unlike many other audio manufacturers, ARCAM still manufactures many of its products in the UK, with the balance being made in the Far East. The engineering and design side of their products is managed in-house in Cambridge UK.

ARCAM’s competitors include, amongst others, Linn, NAD, Naim, Meridian, Audiolab, Rega Research, Marantz and Cambridge Audio.