Arcam A5 User manual

©
ARCAM A5_A15_A25
OM EN
–
Harman
International
Industries, Incorporate
d
Features, specifications, and appearance subject to change without notice
A5/A15/A25
Owner’s Manual

2 ARCAM A5_A15_A25 OM EN
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1 Read these instructions
2 Keep these instructions
3 Heed all warnings
4 Follow all instructions
5 Clean only with a dry cloth
6 Do not block any ventilation openings Install this apparatus
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
7 Do not install this apparatus near any heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves or other apparatus that
produce heat
8 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug A polarized plug has two blades with
one wider than the other A grounding-type plug has two
blades and a third grounding prong The wide blade or the
third prong is provided for your safety If the provided plug
does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet
9 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched,
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and the point
where they exit from the apparatus
10 Use only attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer
11 This equipment is designed for use in moderate climates with
a maximum temperature of 35℃.
12 Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table specified by the
manufacturer or sold with the
apparatus When a cart is used, use
caution when moving the
cart/apparatus combination to avoid
injury from tip-over
13 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when
unused for long periods of time
14 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as when the power-supply cord or plug is damaged,
liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, or the apparatus has been exposed to rain or
moisture, does not operate normally or has been dropped
15 To disconnect this apparatus from the AC mains completely,
disconnect the power-supply cord plug from the AC
receptacle
16 The mains plug of the power-supply cord shall remain readily
operable
17 This apparatus is intended to be used only with the power
supply and/or charging cable provided by the manufacturer
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR
MOISTURE
•Do not use this apparatus near water
•Do not expose this apparatus to dripping or splashing, and ensure that no objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, are placed on the apparatus
CAUTION
RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN
THIS SYMBOL ON THE PRODUCT MEANS THERE IS
UNINSULATED, DANGEROUS VOLTAGE WITHIN
THE PRODUCT ENCLOSURE THAT MAY PRESENT A
RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK
THIS SYMBOL ON THE PRODUCT MEANS THERE
ARE IMPORTANT OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE
INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS GUIDE
Visit the product page at ARCAM.co.uk and download the Safety Sheet for a full list of safety instructions
Class II Product
This equipment is a Class II or double insulated electrical appliance It has been designed in such a way that it does
not require a safety connection to electrical earth (“ground” in the U S )

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Table o Contents
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ........................................................................................................................................... 2
Thank you or choosing ARCAM .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Placing The Unit .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Package Contents ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Front Panel ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Rear Panel .................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Remote Control .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Display Control 6
Input Selection 6
Connecting Loudspeakers ........................................................................................................................................................... 7
Bluetooth Operation .................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Connecting your phone or tablet: 8
Connecting your wireless headphones: 8
Audio Menu ................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Power ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Auto Standby 9
Selecting Inputs .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Phono Input 9
Service USB ................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Headphones ............................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Processor Mode .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Settings Menu ........................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Menu Tree 10
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Speci ications ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12

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Thank you or choosing ARCAM
The "A" in ARCAM stands for Amplification - this is our core competence The A5, A15 and A25 are the latest in more
than 45 years of amplifier design and manufacture, going back to our first product in 1976 - the A&R Cambridge A60
amplifier These amplifiers are designed to provide you with reliable amplification for decades to come, all with
exceptional musicality so you get the most enjoyment from your music
In the unlikely event of any fault, or you require technical assistance, please contact our dedicated support teams by
email using luxurysupport@harman com, or by telephone using [phone] or [phone] Or, if you
simply require further information about ARCAM products, our network of dealers will be happy to help you Further
information can also be found on the ARCAM website at ARCAM co uk
Placing The Unit
Place the amplifier on a level, firm surface, avoiding direct sunlight and sources of heat or damp
Do not place the A5/A15/A25 on top of a power amplifier or other source of heat
Do not place the amplifier in an enclosed space such as a bookcase or closed cabinet unless there is good
provision for ventilation The A5/A15/A25 is designed to run warm during normal operation
Do not place any other component or item on top of the amplifier as this may obstruct airflow around the
heat-sink, causing the amplifier to run hot (the unit placed on top of the amplifier would become hot too)
Make sure the remote-control receiver to the right of the front panel display is unobstructed, otherwise this
will impair the use of the remote-control
The A5/A15/A25 is designed to run warm in
normal use, however extended use at high
volume levels can result in the amplifier casework
becoming hot to the touch
This product offers the user the option to deactivate power management functions Note that doing this will increase
energy consumption of the product
Package Contents
ARCAM A5/A15/A25 integrated amplifier
IR Remote
2x AAA Batteries for the remote control
Region Specific Power Cord(s)
Safety and Compliance Document
Quick Start Guide

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Front Panel
Rear Panel
A5 & A15
A25
This terminal must not be used as a safety
earth
Phono Ground
Rotate Volume Control
Push to Mute/Unmute or
wake up
Push and Hold or standby
Rotate Input Carousel
Push to Select
Push and Hold to rename
current input
Power Input
CONTROL INPUT
For use with ARCAM Radia
series source components
only
Digital Audio
Inputs
Analog
Audio Inputs
Phono
(MM)
Input
Pre-amp
Outputs
Speaker
Outputs

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Remote Control
Note: Incorrect use of batteries can have hazardous results Do not mix old and new batteries
together Do not use non-identical batteries together Although they may look similar,
different batteries may have different voltages Ensure the batteries are inserted in the correct
direction
Remove batteries from equipment that is not going to be used for a month or more When
disposing of used batteries, please comply with governmental or local regulations that apply in
your country or area
Display Control
Press the button on the remote control to turn the display on or off
Input Selection
Using the left and right cursor buttons on the remote control
Toggle Standby Operation
Menu Navigation
Centre button to select
Volume Control
Mute On or Off
Display Brightness
Transport Keys (Play/Pause, Skip back/forward)
Open Settings Menu
Open Audio Menu

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Connecting Loudspeakers
Step 1, ensure power is disconnected from the amplifier
Step 2, using speaker cables, connect the red positive terminal of the right speaker output (R+) on the amplifier to
the positive (+) terminal of your right speaker
Step 3, connect the black negative terminal of the right speaker output (R-) on the amplifier to the negative (-)
terminal of your speaker
Step 4, repeat the process for the left speaker, using the terminals labelled L+ and L- and on the amplifier
Top Tips
Check all connections thoroughly Ensure that exposed wires or cables are not touching each other or the
amplifier’s chassis (which can cause a short circuit), and that you have connected the positive (+) and
negative (–) terminals correctly Be sure to check the wiring for both the amplifier and the speakers
After making connections: switch the amplifier on with no input and reduce the volume to minimum Select
a source signal, and then slowly increase the volume to a suitable listening level to avoid loud sounds or
product damage in the event of incorrect connection
If you are unsure as to how your system should be connected, please contact your ARCAM dealer who will be
happy to help you
RIGHT
Speaker
LEFT
Speaker
ARCAM
A5/A15/A25

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Bluetooth Operation
Connecting your phone or tablet:
To pair your Bluetooth source device, open the Bluetooth settings on your source device and scan for
A5/A15/A25 ###### from the list Each product has a unique ID
By default, the amplifier does not need to be on the BT input for Bluetooth pairing of a source device
The Amplifier can recall 5 device pairings If 5 are in memory already, the oldest will be replaced
Because portable devices often have a volume slider, there is a maximum volume setting in the amplifier to
prevent excessive volume output being selected accidentally The default is 40
Connecting your wireless headphones:
To pair Bluetooth headphones, press on the remote control and select Audio Output
When you see SPEAKERS, press the down cursor button on the remote control to see options Paired
Headphones will be listed, or select Pair BT Output (A5/A15) or Pair New Bluetooth Device (A25) Your
headphone must be in pairing mode to be discovered and paired
Bluetooth headphones cannot be used with the Bluetooth input
Audio Menu
Press the MENU button on the amplifier or the on the remote control
Use the the navigation buttons on the remote control
Audio Output
Select between Speakers and Bluetooth headphones Bluetooth headphones need to be on
and paired to appear in the list
Default is Speakers
To pair new Bluetooth headphones, put them in pairing mode, and then press the DOWN
cursor and select PAIR BT OUTPUT (A5 & A15) or PAIR NEW BT DEVICE (A25)
Balance
Adjust the volume balance for left or right gain using the UP and DOWN curcor buttons and
select to set
Default is 0 (centre)
DAC Filter
Select a different DAC filter
Default is 0 (A5 & A15) or LIN PHASE FAST (A25)
(Input) PLL
(A5 & A15 only)
Select between STD (Standard) and WDE (Wide) PLL settings Wide setting is more tollerant
of variable quality digital audio sources such as satellite receivers
Default is STD

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Power
The power switch on the rear panel switches the amplifier on or off When you have finished making
connections, switch the amplifier on
Press the volume encoder to turn on the amplifier from standby
Press and hold the volume encoder to put the amplifier in standby
Auto Standby
This amplifier is designed to enter standby automatically within 20 minutes with no audio playing and no user
interaction This is to meet international power consumption regulations This can be turned off in the menu To use
the menu, see page 10
Selecting Inputs
Audio inputs can be selected using either:
The INPUT selector on the front panel Rotate the dial to the input and press to select
Using the left and right curcor buttons on the remote control In each case, the source name
corresponds to the labelled input sockets
The inputs are:
Phono (analog – turntable with moving magnet cartridge)
Analogue 1, Analogue 2 and Analogue 3
Digital 1, Digital 2, Digital 3 and USB-C (USB-C on A25 only)
Note: The digital inputs only support stereo (PCM) audio Multichannel audio or encoded audio of any
type is not supported
Phono Input
The Phono Input includes a pre-amplifier to work with a MM (moving magnet) cartridge on a turntable for playing
vinyl
NEVER connect anything other than a turntable through this input This can result in serious
damage to both your amplifier and speakers and will not be covered under warranty
Service USB
The Service USB socket on this amplifier is only intended for software updates It is not an audio input
Headphones
The headphone socket (PHONES) accepts headphones fitted with a 3 5mm stereo jack By default, the pre-amp
outputs and speakers are muted when the headphones are plugged in
Note: the speakers and pre-amp outputs can be configured to remain active when headphones
are connected using the Headphone Override function in the setup menu
Processor Mode
Processor mode will fix the volume for one input It can be assigned to any analogue input (excluding Phono) This
allows the amplifier to be used in conjunction with a home cinema receiver in a combined home cinema and two
channel system Set the volume to match other speakers connected to the source amplifier or AVR using the
Processor Volume setting

10 ARCAM A5_A15_A25 OM EN
Settings Menu
Press the MENU button on the amplifier or the on the remote control
Use the the navigation buttons on the remote control
Menu Tree
System Settings
Streamer Input
Select the input that an ARCAM Radia streamer is connected to
Default is NONE
Halo Brightness
(A25 Only)
Select the brightness of the dial illuminations
Default is FULL
HP Override
Select whether speaker remain on or switch off when wired headphones are
connected
The default is O (speakers muted) On = speakers unmuted
Processor Mode
Select an input for fixed volume
Default is OFF
Processor
Volume
Set the volume for fixed volume input set above
Default is 25
Eco Timer
Auto standby duration Select
O
FF
to disable
Default is ON
IR Code
Change the IR code set
if the amplifier remote commands conflict with
another device in your home Changing this setting does not affect the
remote handset
Default is 16
Software Version
Displays the software version of the amplifier
Factory Reset
Reset the amplifier to factory defaults Press Select to initiate the reset
Software Update
Initiate an update of the amplifier software by USB Press Select to initiate
the USB A USB must be present in the SERVICE USB socket with the
amplifier software stored on it for the update to occur
BT Settings
BT AUTOSWITCH
(Bluetooth Input
Auto Switch)
Enables or disables the automatic switching of the Bluetooth input when
music is played from a connected device
Default is ON
BT Max Volume
Set the
maximum volume for the Bluetooth Input
Default is 30
Clear (Device)
List
Clear the memory of paired devices from the amplifier Press Select to
delete pairings

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Troubleshooting
Problem
Check the following
No sound from Bluetooth headphones
Check the headphones have not connected to another device like a phone or tablet before the
amplifier could connect to them
If your headphones have a power saving auto mute function when removed from the head (head
detection), they may need to be unmuted to restore sound when refitted
No sound
Is the amplifier correctly plugged in and switched on?
Is the audio source correctly connected, with the correct input selected?
Is the amplifier muted?
Is the amplifier in protection mode (as described below)?
Sound cuts-out unexpectedly
The amplifier may enter a protection mode The front panel
display
indicates the fault type:
•FAULT DC OFFSET: The amplifier detected an overload Power off and reduce the volume
after turning back on
•FAULT SHORT (CIRCUIT): The amplifier detected a speaker short circuit Inspect all the
speaker cables to make sure none of them are shorted together This fault is more common
when exposed wires are being used to make speaker connections
•FAULT OVER TEMP: The internal temperature of the unit reached an unsafe level Allow the
amplifier to cool
In protection mode, the amplifier will turn itself off and power to the speakers will be removed To
continue using the amplifier, the fault must be treated, and the amplifier must be turned OFF then
back ON from the power switch on the rear panel
The amplifier does not respond to the remote control
Are there fresh batteries in the remote control?
Are you pointing the remote control towards the amplifier window without obstruction?
The front panel display is blank
Is the amplifier correctly plugged in and switched on?
Is the amplifier in standby?
Is the display dimmed to “Off”?
Press the button on the remote control
Hum on the analogue input
Ensure all cables are making a good connection
Try disconnecting the input cable and plug it fully in again (turn the power off before doing this)
If the Hum stops when the source is disconnected, the problem is most likely to be in the cable or the
source device to which it is connected

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Speci ications
Continuous power output (0 5% THD), per channel
A5
A15
A25
Both channels, 8Ω, 20Hz
—
20kHz
50W
80W
100W
Both channels, 4Ω, at
1kHz
75W
120W
165W
Harmonic distortion, 80% power, 8Ω at 1kHz
0 003%
0 002
%
0 002%
Analogue Inputs
Number of Inputs
3 (RCA pairs)
Signal/Noise ratio (A
-
wtd, ref 50W, 1V input)
106dB
Frequency response
20Hz
–
20kHz ±0 2dB
Phono MM Input
Input impedance
47
kΩ + 100pF
Frequency response (ref RIAA curve)
20Hz
–
20kHz ±1dB
Signal/Noise ratio (A
-
wtd) 50W, ref 5mV input
80dB
Digital Inputs
DAC
ES9018K2M
ES9280A PRO
Supported sample rates (kHz)
Coaxial
44 1, 48, 88 2, 96, 176 4, 192
Optical
44 1, 48, 88 2, 96, 176 4, 192
USB-C NA
44 1, 48, 88 2, 96, 176 4,
192, 352 8, 384
Supported Bit depth
16
-
bit, 24
-
bit
16
-
bit, 24
-
bit, 32
-
bit
Supported DSD
USB
-
C Only
NA
64, 128, 256, 512, 1024
Frequency response (filter 1)
20Hz
-
20kHz ±
0 2dB
Signal/Noise ratio (A
-
wtd, ref 50W, 0dBFS)
109dB
110dB
Bluetooth
RF Frequency Bands
2400
-
2483 5 MHz
Maximum Output Power
<10dBm
Headphone output
Maximum output level (RMS) into 32Ω/300Ω
2 5V/5V
Load range
16Ω
–
2kΩ
General
Mains voltage
100V or 110
–
120V or 220
–
240V, 50
/
60Hz
Maximum power consumption
350W
500W
500W
Standby power consumption
<0 5W
<0 5W
<0 5W
Dimensions W x D (including speaker terminals)
x H (including feet) 431 x 344 x 83mm 431 x 344 x 98mm 431 x 344 x 83mm
Weight (net)
8kg
10kg
9kg
Weight (gross)
11kg
13kg
12kg
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by
Bluetooth SIG, Inc and any use of such marks by HARMAN International
Industries, Incorporated is under license Other trademarks and trade names are
those of their respective owners

HARMAN International, Incorporated
8500 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91329 USA
Danzigerkade 16G 1013 AP Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ground Floor, Westside 2, London Road, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead,
Hertfordshire, HP3 9TD, United Kingdom
www.arcam.co.uk
© 2023 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated All rights reserved
ARCAM is a trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated,
registered in the United States and/or other countries
Features, specifications, and appearance are subject to change without notice
84-0-133101-0