Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
8 lost · Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference
Against the Characterful brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
Arcam A5+
Integrated amplifier
Relative price
below typical
Among the 59 integrated amplifiers in the catalogue, this one is below typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
What it is
Arcam Radia A5+ — entry-tier Radia Plus integrated; refreshed 2025 over original A5 (2023). Class AB discrete amplification, 50W/8Ω, ESS ES9018 DAC, MM phono, Bluetooth 5.4 aptX Adaptive. Compact half-width chassis with Radia series black-and-yellow design language.
What HiFi 2023 Award winner; the original A5 was widely praised as best-in-class. ESS ES9018 DAC + USB-C + Bluetooth 5.4 + Auracast make A5+ a one-box solution for digital-primary systems with vinyl option. Class AB discrete output is "real" amplifier circuit, not Class D — significant for sound character vs lifestyle competitors.
Speaker pairing: 50W/8Ω comfortable with ≥85dB-sensitivity bookshelves and small floorstanders in small-mid rooms. Marginal for tower speakers in larger rooms — step up to A15+ if more headroom needed.
Competition record
Assessed against 18 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 50 head-to-heads.
Where it gives ground
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
- low-level clarity ×8
- tonal body ×4
- bass control ×1
Who it comes up against
NVA S80 Stereo
7 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the NVA S80 Stereo keeps the slot decisively.
Sugden ANV 50
4 lost · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Sugden ANV 50 keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Arcam A5+ is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan)
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot decisively.
Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150)
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150) keeps the slot clearly.
With the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII, the pairing gives up most on tonal body.
On its own merits the Arcam A5+ is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Audio Note P1 SE
3 lost · Intimate, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino V12
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
Against the BBC Sound brief, the EAR Yoshino V12 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Arcam A5+ is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Leema Hydra II
3 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.
Audiolab 9000P
3 lost · Characterful, PRaT, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
3 lost · Artisan, PRaT, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino 890
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
Chord ULTIMA 6
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot decisively.
Exposure 3510
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Exposure 3510 keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Arcam A5+ is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Sugden A21 Signature
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden A21 Signature keeps the slot decisively.
With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Harbeth P3ESR XD2, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Arcam A5+ is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Rega io
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Rega io keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Arcam A5+ is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
Leak Stereo 230
1 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Leak Stereo 230 keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Arcam A5+ is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Creek 4040A
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Creek 4040A keeps the slot clearly.
With the Falcon Q7 Complete@Home, the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Arcam A5+ is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Falcon Q7 Complete@Home gives up bass control under the BBC Sound weighting.
Quad Artera Stereo
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot decisively.
What the reviewers said
hugely enjoyable and capable sound What HiFi A5 award 2023· Presence & articulation
compact with smaller-room sweet spot What HiFi A15 review (comparing back to A5)· Physical impact
wide but nicely focused soundstage What Hi-Fi? 2025· Spatial resolution
punchier, snappier successor What Hi-Fi? 2025· Transient attack
each dynamic shift with accuracy What Hi-Fi? 2025· Dynamic coherence
instrumental textures... shine What Hi-Fi? 2025· Presence & articulation
How it scores
Clarity
- Electrical noise floor 85 from specification
- Spatial resolution 76 from listening evidence
Voice
- Presence & articulation 74 from listening evidence
Rhythm
- Transient attack 76 from listening evidence
Bass
- Bass control 66 from specification
- Physical impact 66 from listening evidence
- Bass extension 61 from specification
LowerVolume
- Low-level noise floor 85 from specification
- Micro-dynamic resolution 72 from specification
- Tonal consistency 72 from specification
Specifications
| power 8ohm w | 50.0 |
|---|---|
| power 4ohm w | 75.0 |
| power class | AB |
| damping factor | 80.0 |
| line inputs | 3 |
| line input sensitivity mv | 380.0 |
| line input impedance kohm | 47.0 |
| has phono | True |
| phono mm | True |
| phono mc | False |
| phono mm load | 47kΩ + 100pF |
| pre out | True |
| pre power separable | pre_out_parallel |
| internal bass management | none |
| headphone out | True |
| frequency response hz | 20/20000 |
| snr db | 100.0 |
| thd pct | 0.05 |
| weight kg | 8.0 |
| integrated dac | True |
| digital inputs | 4 |
| notes |