Amplifier of the Year $1000-$2000
Amplifier of the Year $1000-$2000
The latest HDA range from the UK’s Arcam is the first since the company was acquired by Harman (which is itself owned by Samsung). Yet the new range — two integrated amplifiers and a CD player — confirm that Arcam isn’t about to change its ethos under new ownership; they conform to classic Arcam values, though of course updated for the demands of 21st-century users. Our winner is the higher of the two amplifiers, which is distinguished not so much by additional facilities or abilities, but by its genre of amplification. Whereas the $1695 SA10 uses traditional Class-AB circuits, this SA20 has Arcam’s widely-praised version of Class-G, developed by a team including the great John Dawson. In brief this hybrid amplification utilises two power supplies, the lower one delivering pure Class-A amplification up to a certain point, with a second higher supply added only when “extreme” power is required, which Class-A can only do at low efficiency (and so with high levels of heat generated).
Arcam’s success has been in implementing that crossover point successfully, so that the quality of sound betrays no shift from one to the other; indeed it proved exceptional for the price in its clarity, transparency to source and ability to deliver not only high levels of power but transient impact and slam. It’s the first time Class-G has been included in an Arcam amp at this level.
Facilities are strong, with five analogue inputs including an excellent phono stage, plus three digital inputs — two coaxial, one optical, so note there is no USB-B or slot (the rear USB slot is for upgrades only), also no networking other than for control purposes), nor any Bluetooth streaming here. All analogue inputs are line-level RCA, perhaps surprising giving the matching CD player offers balanced XLR outputs.
This is more a classic amplifier in input terms, then, not a dancing streaming new-age do-it-all design, and that plays further to its purity, its wonderful quality of sound. We enjoyed the Class-AB SA10 model as well, but the Class-G of the $1995 SA20 does take performance to the next level. More info: www.advanceaudio.com.au
JUDGES’ COMMENT “Arcam brings its successful implementation of Class-G amplification to its classic style of integrated amp with impressive results — you can enjoy the quality of Class-A for most listening, but with a big bucket of additional power in reserve when using the amp in anger.”