I've recently noticed that it has been quite some time since any of our stores have written a blog dedicated solely to a CD player. This got me thinking—could this be a sign of the times? Is the once-mighty Compact Disc format truly in decline, or have we simply become so focused on the ever-growing popularity of vinyl and the convenience of streaming that we've ended up neglecting the good old CD player? Whatever the case, it seems only right to redress the balance. So, let’s take a closer look at the relatively new Arcam Radia CD5 and find out what all the fuss is about!

Minimalistic Simplicity

The Radia CD5 may not be the most eye-catching CD player at first glance, but over the past few weeks, I’ve come to truly appreciate its understated, minimalist design. Rather than trying to stand out with flashy aesthetics, it embraces a refined simplicity that allows it to blend seamlessly into any system. What really matters, though, is not how it looks but how it performs—and that’s where it truly shines. The more time I’ve spent with it, the more I’ve grown to admire its no-nonsense approach, focusing purely on delivering great sound without unnecessary distractions.

Sailing a Bit Close To The Edge

Arcam has been at the forefront of Compact Disc playback since the release of the Delta 70 CD player back in 1986—a groundbreaking design developed entirely in-house. Decades of expertise in crafting high-quality digital audio products have led to the creation of the CD5, a player that embodies everything Arcam has learned along the way. Every component and material has been meticulously selected, rigorously tested, and carefully refined to ensure nothing less than outstanding sound quality, staying true to Arcam’s legacy of audio excellence.

What’s Around The Back

The rear panel of the Radia CD5 is well-equipped, featuring phono outputs alongside two digital outputs, as well as a USB input for added versatility. It supports playback of CD, CD-R, and CD-RW discs, meaning you can enjoy your favourite albums or even those carefully curated mix CDs from years past. If you prefer, you can also play music directly from a USB drive, making it a truly flexible source component. For those seeking high-resolution audio playback, the CD5 has you covered, supporting FLAC and WAV files from both CDs and USB storage, ensuring exceptional sound quality.

The Secret Weapon

Hidden within the Arcam Radia CD5 is a rather special component—the ESS ES9018 DAC. You might be wondering, what exactly is that? Well, this digital-to-analogue converter is the key to the CD5’s rich and engaging sound signature. Unlike some CD players that can sound overly clinical, the Radia CD5 delivers a wonderfully warm and natural presentation—more akin to the smooth, analogue sound of vinyl. Crucially, this warmth does not come at the expense of detail or musical insight. Instead, it strikes a perfect balance, offering a highly enjoyable and immersive listening experience, particularly impressive at this price point.

Keys To Ascension 2

To really test what this little Arcam is capable of, I decided to throw on a bit of Prog Rock (who’d have guessed?)—and it doesn’t get much proggier than this! My weapon of choice was Keys to Ascension 2 by Yes, a stunning mix of live and studio recordings, both beautifully played and even more beautifully recorded. For the real test, I went straight for Close to the Edge (yes, the entire thing), paying particular attention to the I Get Up, I Get Down section. This part of the track contains what might just be the deepest, most cavernous bass ever committed to CD, a true challenge for any player. The Radia CD5 took it all in its stride, handling the monstrous bass pedal section with absolute clarity and control, never losing definition or sounding muddled. Very, very impressive for a CD player at any price—let alone one at this level!

Discipline Is Never an End in Itself, Only a Means to an End

Next, I turned to something even more rhythmically demanding: Discipline, King Crimson’s eleventh studio album and the first featuring the legendary lineup of Fripp, Levin, Bruford, and Belew. If any track could reveal a CD player’s ability to untangle complex, interwoven patterns, it’s Elephant Talk. This track feels like a natural successor to Larks’ Tongues in Aspic—tribal, hypnotic, and relentlessly intricate. Bill Bruford’s drums twist and turn through shifting time signatures, Robert Fripp’s jagged, elephantine guitar attacks collide with Tony Levin’s subterranean Chapman Stick bass runs, and somehow, it all comes together in a mesmerising sonic tapestry. The Radia CD5 handled it masterfully, presenting a soundstage that stretched from wall to wall in our demo room, making the whole performance feel utterly immersive.

Now, I know some might argue that the amplifier and speakers are doing the bulk of the work here—but I’d have to disagree. After all, your system can only ever be as good as the source feeding it, and if that’s not up to scratch, nothing further down the chain can fix it. In this case, the source is nothing short of a marvel. The Arcam Radia CD5 doesn’t just play CDs—it brings them to life.

Thanks for reading!

Andy, Jon and Farid - Audio T Cheltenham Store.

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