Today, ARCAM unveiled the ST60, a launch that marks the Cambridge maker’s debut dedicated network player. Enabling audio streaming from all of the major services – including Deezer, Napster, Qobuz, Spotify and TIDAL – the ST60 is the perfect companion to any stereo amplifier, including one of from ARCAM’s own HDA series of award-winning two-channel audio engines.
The ST60 delivers the absolute best experience from your digital music, working with Air Play2 and Google Cast. It fully decodes MQA, is Roon Ready and handles UPnP sources. Under the bonnet, the ARCAM engineering team deploys the ESS9038 32-bit/192kHz stereo DAC. From the impressive ESS SABRE DAC line – widely recognized as the gold standard for audiophile DACs – as well as MQA, the ST60 supports AIFF, ALAC, FLAC and WAV along with compressed legacy formats. The ST60 will also deliver full IP & RS232 control, including Control4 and Crestron, making it the latest go-to ARCAM model for custom install blueprints.
Connectivity is thorough. Digital interfaces comprise Ethernet, USB, and Wireless, and the ST60 package includes dual Wi-Fi antennae. The ST60 rear panel hosts Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA analogue outputs, plus coaxial and optical digital outputs, giving users a comprehensive choice of paths, with which to connect their ARCAM streamer to their chosen amplification.
Controlling the ST60 is effortless. Google Chrome Cast enables streaming from Android tablets and smartphones, iPhones, iPads, Mac, Windows and Chromebooks, while AirPlay2-compatibility delivers full support of Apple’s latest version of its wireless streaming protocol. The ST60 remote control places further jurisdiction into the user’s hands and ARCAM’s MusicLife app, enabling control of music stored on supported devices and network drives, is free to download from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store.
“ARCAM’s experience with digital audio goes deep,” said Nick Clarke, Senior Director, Global Engineering Luxury Audio. “We have been making CD players for almost 30 years, and ST60 design journey saw the team apply this extensive experience into creating a truly high-performance digital music source. Of course, ARCAM is also rightly recognised for its excellence with amplification and the ST60 is the perfect partner for our amplifiers, old and new.”
The ARCAM ST60 will be available at a retail price of £1,199 / $1,499.00.