Arcam SA30 streaming amplifier with DIRAC and MQA

Next to DIRAC room correction and MQA decoding and rendering the SA30 offers Google Cast, AirPlay 2, DLNA streaming, ROON Endpoint, both MM and MC phono inputs, an HDMI ARC input, RS232 for custom install and 2 x 120 watts class G amps.
Contents of this video
00:00 - Introduction
00:31 - Start of program
01:00 - where to use
02:01 - The front
03:26 - The rear
05:11 - The inside
07:12 - In use
09:04 - Network functions
12:17 - How tested #1
13:30 - Sound quality #1
14:05 - How tested #2
15:09 - Sound quality #2
16:04 - The wrap
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[@prabhakarrao4922]

Excellent detailed and very thorough review of the SA30. Thank you

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@markrhodes5474]

Excellent review Hans

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Many thanks!

[@MichaelHarrisWales]

Excellent review and very glad I bought one last year 👍

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Nice 👍

[@therecordjacket8506]

Thanks for the review, especially the DLNA discussions

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

My pleasure!

[@MrComand3r]

I got one on trail and ended up keeping it 😂. Thanks for the review Hans

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Right on

[@rekodo_intl]

I was just looking at the SA30. Thank you for this review. I might just purchase it.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad I could help

[@benpatana7664]

Very helpful review - I will definitely look to have a listen to this unit as it looks like it can function as a good modern 'one box' hifi solution with room to add inputs if desired.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mikeutube7888]

I have this unit and love it

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@NosEL34]

I had the SA30 for a few months but eventually had to get rid of it...too many issues. Truth is though is that I felt it sounded fantastic when it was working properly. The Arcam truly is an All-In One device. It has a better than average Dac and Phono input, a quality streamer and good Bluetooth for Apple and Android devices. HDMI is a very nice option for hooking to a TV. Has preout for subwoofer, the internal Class G amplifier is very powerful and refined sounding. Plus Dirac. The SA30 had everything I wanted in one chassis.. unfortunately mine had issues. I do miss it but I have gone back to separates. Great review!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for sharing.

[@sjors01]

What was the issue? Temp high, bad streaming? I have now Primare i25 Prisma sounds great stays cool low energie max 20Watt u. Switching power pure Class D in combination Focal chora 816 lightwood perfect set,

[@NosEL34]

@@sjors01 I had one of the channels that would take a few seconds to kick in. Then eventually it went out all together. Other times it would just sound veiled, I'd have to reset the firmware and it would go back to normal. I did like the amplification so much that I ended up buying the Arcam PA240 after the SA30. I should mention my SA30 was a refurb. So that was probably why I had my issues, it was a bad unit to begin with

[@techmed-rainer]

Danke!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Danke dir auch

[@tg6373]

Hans is the best!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏻

[@18yearsoldnot]

I have the sa30 and love it. The eARC feature is fantastic for the new Apple TV which does not resample its audio. I highly recommend getting an Apple TV if you are using this arcam for your tv. Before I was using nvidia shield which sounded leagues worse when it came to audio over eARC. If you are just using it for music though, I will say that you can improve it with an external dac like a chord Hugo. I have the Hugo tt and it improves the timing and musical tone of the arcam quite significantly. I also found using dlna like mconnect on it a breeze - much better sound quality than the native arcam MusicLife app.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for sharing

[@IrenESorius]

Theres only two "wrongs" with this amp. Its made for southpaws and it got a face reminiscing of Disneys, Qasimodo,, 😬😅. Iw got the SA20 and I looove its surefooted balancing in between warm musicality and non fatiguing airy details. It sounds like a really good valve amp. As usual Hans. Cheers and thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all. I wish you a excellent weekend,, 🍻😎👍‍‍👍 ‍‍

[@MichaelHarrisWales]

Got to agree with the southpaw comment and disagree with the Quasimodo one, not because you are wrong, but because I have gotten used to the look now 😳

[@IrenESorius]

@@MichaelHarrisWales Once I saw the "Qasimodo" similarity I haven't been able to reprogramming my brain. I look at it like a mother, full of love for a child that sounds lovely. 🥰

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏻 I think

[@IrenESorius]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 💖

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

.

[@prabhakarrao4922]

Absolutely brilliant insight into a really good albeit expensive amplifier. I wonder how the SA30 compares to the NAD C399.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I can't say, I haven't reviewed it.

[@gabrielmease1169]

Nice video. Have you considered the Blusound Vault 2i as a streamer and CD solution? I love mine. Just ordered the SA20 and looking forward to hearing it.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I know the Vault 2 and it works fine.

[@leach720]

Hi Hans, I hope you are well. Thanks for this video, I always respect your insights. You have never reviewed a Hegel integrated amp, I wonder if you have heard one and what you thought?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

There can be several reasons why a given product is not reviewed by me. In this case I can't get a review sample for some reason.

[@leach720]

​@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Maybe I shouldn't read too much into that then...

[@ralphlee4110]

Hi Hans, great review! Are Focal Kanta 1 and Arcam SA30 a good pair? Im planning to get this set-up. Thank you and more power!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I haven’t tried it I don’t see why not

[@mattythehat]

@ralphlee4110 I can't comment on Kanta 1, but I have my SA30 hooked up to Focal Aria 906 and they are a beautiful pairing. The SA30 are fantastic at controlling that top end so it never leans into being too spicy, which I believe the Kanta range can become if not partnered well.

[@writemeanovel]

I picked up the SA20. Hans is spot on... The sound quality is outstanding for the price. They're on sale now Good time to pick one up. I would love to find an upscale arcam sa 20, something that retains the warmth but provides more detail and depth of image. So something more upscale. Anyone had experience with higher-end arcam gear?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@mvsrpharma]

🎉

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏻

[@GentielioGaming]

Great and informative video as always. You are in comparison then most youtube videos really wortwhile. That said i had almost bought the arcam as i liked it's easy sound from past experience with older arcam integtrated amps but bought a Audia Flight FL3S instead. Any experience with Audia Flight? Big thumbs up.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Sorry. no.

[@davidager7950]

Love my SA30, managed to get one refurbished for £1k and I’m really happy at that price. Paired it with Neat Motive SX3’s which work well but thinking of moving over to some sealed boxes like some ATC’s

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for sharing

[@madcrabber1113]

I would buy this at its current sale price of $1980 here in the US if it had a couple of dedicated sub outs along with the preouts it already has and the hdmi did dsd. Maybe in the future they will include these.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I prefer connecting the sub to the speaker terminals. It gives better sound integration.

[@charlesking678]

Hey hans. Would you go with the sa30 or yamaha n2000a?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

absolutely. See my reviews.

[@doggodubu]

Hello, would have enough power and current to sufficiently to drive Vandersteen 3A speakers?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have no hands on experience with these speakers but looking at the specs it should work.

[@tron9828]

i have the sa750 jbl, which is a reskinned sa30. i also own michi x3 and sound quality wise, this amplifier is a step above. only area the michi pulls ahead is in grunt and low end power, otherwise the arcam walks all over it.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I second that

[@sjors01]

Wordt deze versterker heet tijdens gebruik, zou u ook het verbruik per u kunnen aangeven? Had nad c700 deze muziek klonk oke, maar de temperatuur viel erg tegen 2u meer dan 48 graden, ondanks dat het verbruik wel erg mee viel 20Watt u.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Heb ik niet gecheckt

[@sjors01]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Dank. zou u in de toekomst het energieverbruik en temperatuur evt willen meenemen in uw tests?. Vooral het energieverbruik is best belangrijk gezien de huidige energieprijzen. alvast bedankt voor de genomen moeite.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Het energieverbruik is afhankelijk van veel factoren zoals de tijd dat de versterker aan staat, het rendement van de luidsprekers enz. Bij normaal gebruik is het stroomverbruik van een versterker irrelevant ten opzichte van het total verbruik van een huishouden.

[@paulhanlon5112]

I have the older FMJ A 39 which pre-dates the SA-30 by somewhat, owners of the SA-30 seem to be well pleased with the unit and its features, mainly the sound quality. I cannot say the same for the A39...average performance for the price($3200) Aus...a little dull, soft and quite pedestrian, my Exposure 2010 compared to the Arc is a couple of notches up the chain, I think Arcams benefit from Floorstanders that offer up the Bass that the Arc's love...have owned Arc's for on 35yrs and the A39 would be the model I am most dissatisfied with !

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for sharing

[@marcoluca6552]

I have a old Arcam A32 (2002). For your opinion with this new model there are improvement ? is it worth the upgrade?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I don't know the '32' so I can't say for sure.

[@Nickhifi88]

How is this amp. performing with heavier demanding 4 ohms speakers, that requires current like ATC or similar?

[@DomRivers67]

Both the SA20 and SA30 get around 200wpc at 4ohm..I think it's 197 vs 204 in independant testing They'll both throw your ATC's around like they are nothing

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Dominic Rivers gives the answer I would have given if I had some more time. Thanks Dominic.

[@KamiLoft]

Arcam sa30 or yamaha rn 2000?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Your choice. See my reviews.

[@Osuna..]

El JBL SA 750 es el mismo ARCAM SA30, y a un precio de 2.000 euros en oferta. Estoy dudando si cambiarlo por mi Marantz 40n. Difícil decisión. Un saludo desde Madrid

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Go for it

[@Osuna..]

Gracias!!

[@Audiodreamer192-24]

That’s cool it has MQA ,I’ve used MQA for years and love it despite the haters that trash it as a conspiracy despite never trying it legitimately themselves….. thanks Hans 🍻

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@timleelim9930]

There has been news that MQA Ltd is going through a process similar to the US Chapter 11.

[@Audiodreamer192-24]

@@timleelim9930 I just read an article on that now….. that’s a huge bummer for me because I invested in MQA gear and spent like 3-4 years building all my Tidal playlists… hopefully Tidal refits to deliver hi-res flac files full bandwidth like quobuz…. If not… I’ll have to move on and start all over… what a drag….

[@xiaobaozha]

@@Audiodreamer192-24 I wouldn’t rush into anything yet, let’s see what happens 🤷‍♂️

[@Audiodreamer192-24]

@@xiaobaozha for sure