Sound Quality
Contents
Neutral and surprisingly transparent are the first adjectives that come to mind. The tight bass, which packs a lot of punch, also stands out. Overall, we’re talking about a relaxed, well-balanced sound. No single element really stands out, which is a plus in our book.
Listening
We start with a live recording by Heather Nova. The Arcam R25 captures much of the concert hall’s atmosphere and brings Heather close to the listener. It creates an intimate experience that’s rendered very well by this speaker. In recent years, Heather Nova has been making some really great songs again, and the Arcam R25 lets her angelic voice shine while softening the somewhat harsh recording just a bit, which enhances the listening experience.
Janelle Monae delivers some powerful R&B. In the song “Lipstick Lover,” we focus on rhythm and drive, both of which are abundant on the Arcam R25. This isn’t an ultra-fast speaker, but it keeps up just fine with every tempo change in the song. The beats have plenty of depth but, above all, a lot of punch. They never sound bloated or boomy. The background effects are also clearly audible, thanks to that larger mid-range driver.
“Forgotten Things” by Dylan Leblanc is a deceptively simple song, but not easy to get right. It’s a song featuring just vocals and guitar and can quickly sound trite through a lower-quality speaker. To convey the right emotion in this song, you need a high-quality system, and the Arcam R25 succeeds wonderfully in doing just that. Everything is spot-on, and nothing is distracting. Very impressive.
To wrap things up, “Woman in Chains,” a classic by Tears for Fears. A fantastic song that sounds best at a slightly higher volume. Here, the Arcam surprises with beautiful height in the stereo image. The gorgeous intro, featuring Phil Collins’s delightful drum section, fills the room, and when Oleta Adams joins in, we’re completely immersed in the song. The Arcam R25 doesn’t rely on any gimmicks here but impresses with a mature, well-thought-out sound combined with a spacious soundstage and ample dynamics. The soundstage placement is also excellent for this price range.