Ten years have passed since Arcam launched its Solo system, a complete music playback to which one only had to add speakers – or what we used to call a CD receiver, complete with player, tuner and amplification. It wasn’t the first of its kind by a long chalk – after all, mini and micro systems offering similar facilities had been around for a while – but the Arcam was designed to offer the sort of performance usually associated with separate components, plus the simplicity of an ‘all-in-one’ package.

However, the audio landscape has changed radically since the arrival of that first Solo model, and these days music is as likely to come to a hi-fi system from a portable device via Bluetooth or Apple AirPlay as from a CD; home networks can store and deliver music for playback; and of course we have the seemingly unstoppable rise of subscription-based streaming services offering huge music libraries for instant access. Spotify and Tidal may be the best-known of these but there are many, many more, from hi-res offerings such as Qobuz to all manner of other services targeted at particular parts of the world, or specialising in particular musical genres.

So the demands placed on any system claiming to be ‘complete’ have expanded exponentially, although Arcam addressed one need early on by diverging the Solo line into audio-only Music models and Movie devices also able to play video discs and deliver either 2.1- or 5.1-channel sound. Recently, however, it has completely relaunched what was beginning to look like a slightly tired range, with new versions of both Music and Movie models, newly designed Muso speakers and subwoofer, and even a Solo Bar for those who just want a simple plug-and-play upgrade for their TV’s sound.

What we have here is the third-generation Solo Music, first unveiled at the end of 2015 and selling for £1299. As well as a CD/SACD player, it has a DAB/DAB+/FM radio tuner and four HDMI inputs for the sound from video sources plus a monitor output. External sources are also catered for via line analogue and optical/digital inputs – one of each – plus an extra 3.5mm stereo line input. There’s an Ethernet network connection for streaming from computers, NAS drives, internet radio and online services, as well as twin rubber antennae for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a rear-panel socket to which USB storage can be connected for playback of its contents. The 2x80W amplifier drives speakers through a single set of stereo speaker outputs, and there are also connections for a subwoofer and a pair of headphones, with sockets for an external infrared receiver, RS232 home automation control and a DAB/FM aerial completing the connectivity.

In the style of several other modern systems, the Solo Music divides its controls between the front panel and the top, with not much more than input selection and basic disc transport controls on the fascia, and menu access, navigation keys and the volume control up top. There’s also a comprehensive remote handset able to learn the commands for other system components, and the inevitable app for extended system control, available on both Android and iOS platforms. The arrival of the Solo Music review sample coincided with an update of this MusicLife app, along with new firmware for the unit itself, bringing Tidal and Qobuz streaming at up to full CD resolution (subject to subscription), as well as access to internet radio and podcasts.

At the heart of the Solo Music is the same Class G amplifier technology Arcam uses in its higher-end integrated amps and power amps: this is designed to maintain the purity of the sound at normal listening levels, while keeping in reserve the audio equivalent of a turbocharger for use when high playback settings or the dynamics of the music require. That’s the very simple explanation, but it works to superb effect in the likes of the hefty A49 amplifier, and its inclusion here bodes well for the Solo Music’s sound quality.

Performance

It took a little while to get to grips with the new MusicLife app: in general it’s like many UPnP apps for streaming to such products – and indeed was able to stream to my usual Naim players! – but the extra features including Tidal, Qobuz and internet radio are hidden away under an ‘airable’ tab. Once I’d got that worked out I was in business, and able to stream both online content and my music library, not to mention listen to Radio 3 via the internet service.

The Solo Music will play a wide range of formats, either from a network connection or USB memory, or burnt to CD-R/RW disc, which the disc section supports along with CDs and SACDs. Files at up to 192kHz/24bit can be played in FLAC, WAV, AIFF and OGG; up to 96kHz/24bit in AAC; MP3 to 320kbps 48kHz; and WMA to 192kbps 48kHz. For most users the formats at CD and beyond will probably be of most interest, but the system does sound reasonable enough with 320kbps mp3, should you have music stored in that format for portable use, for example.

That done, the Arcam delivers a presentation that’s very much in the mould of the company’s other Class G amplifiers, in that it does sound smooth and sweet at low levels or with delicate music, but has no shortage of punch and attack when the content demands. It’s capable of delivering surprising impact and slam with large-scale orchestral works, making them both thrilling and substantial, and is as adept when playing SACDs as it is when streaming content from network storage.

That warm, rich sound has long been an Arcam trait, and is heard to good effect in the recent San Francisco symphony set of Debussy under Michael Tilson Thomas, which is available as a ‘hi-res’ download. The Arcam allows the scale of the music to come through remarkably well, but at the same time has the speed and rhythmic acuity the playing demands. Similarly with the fine detail of the Dunedin Consort’s fabulous recording of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, on Linn, that sense of sweetness and fluidity, but with effortless power on tap, is extremely captivating, and lets the music progress in an entirely natural-sounding manner. Even Radio 3 via internet radio is extremely enjoyable, despite the limited bit-rate, the warmth of the Arcam flattering what can sometimes sound a shade parched and fragile.

Like past Arcam Solo offerings, this latest version of the Music system is both sonically adept and easy to use, meaning it’s a compelling buy for what remains very sensible money.

Tech Specs

Type Network music system

Price £1299

Built-in sources CD/SACD player, Bluetooth audio, UPnP/DLNA streaming, FM/DAB/DAB+ tuner, internet radio

Inputs Coaxial/optical digital, USB, four HDMI, line-in on RCA phonos and 3.5mm stereo sockets, Wi-Fi/Ethernet

Outputs One pair of speakers, headphones, HDMI

Output power 80Wpc into 8 ohms, 125Wpc into 4 ohms

Accessories supplied Learning remote handset

Dimensions (WxHxD) 42x8.5x40cm

arcam.co.uk

Alternatives

The Arcam offers a pretty comprehensive specification for the money but it’s not without competition, albeit with slightly different feature-sets...

Novafidelity X12

For example, the Novafidelity range offers similar network audio capabilities, right the way up from the little X12 model, which offers built-in CD ripping and a choice of internal storage options as well as network audio streaming and playback, and has built-in 60Wpc amplification. You can buy a version with 1TB of storage onboard from under £600 – see novafidelity.co.uk for more details.

Musical Fidelity M6 Encore

At the other extreme is the Musical Fidelity M6 Encore range, reviewed in these pages last month, which has internal ripping and storage as well as internet radio and more. It starts from £3299 for the Encore Connect version, designed to be used with external amplifiers, while the Encore 225 with built‑in amplification is £3999. More info at musicalfidelity.com.

Naim Uniti Atom

Closer in price to the Arcam is the Uniti Atom from Naim, which is the compact half-width network music player model in the new Uniti range, selling for £1600 or so. It doesn’t have a built-in disc drive but you can connect an inexpensive USB CD drive – about £30 – and copy music to a connected USB drive. The Atom can then play it or even stream it to other Uniti, Mu‑so or Naim ND- players on your network. See naimaudio.com for more information.