Arcam SA20 Class G Stereo Integrated Amplifier

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Our Product Research Team

This Integrated Amp Delivers All the Essentials

The Arcam SA20 has been on our radar at Sweetwater since its release. Packed with an efficient high-voltage Class G power plant and enough inputs for all your wired sources, the Arcam SA20 stereo integrated amplifier makes an ideal centerpiece for modern stereo systems. With 90 watts on tap for each channel, the SA20 can drive just about any speaker, handling even difficult loads with solid operational stability. On the front end, the SA20 provides three stereo RCA analog inputs, a stereo phono input for moving-magnet cartridges, and three digital inputs, one optical and two coaxial. Those digital inputs will be treated to state-of-the-art digital-to-analog conversion courtesy of a high-performance Sabre 32-bit DAC. The SA20 also has an Ethernet port for connecting to your home network. Build quality is typical for Arcam — which is to say, excellent. Simple yet effective, the Arcam SA20 delivers everything you need at an affordable price.

Cutting-edge Class G hybrid amplification

Class G is a modern amplification technology that solves many of the problems of Class A and Class AB hi-fi amplifiers by using voltage-rail switching to reduce power consumption, minimize heat, and optimize efficiency. Class A amps utilize a single power supply that constantly runs at full capacity, even with no signal present. While being cherished by audiophiles for its ability to reproduce subtle nuances at low levels, Class A struggles to provide the power needed for high-level peaks and transients. Class AB, which switches between two internal amplifiers (one for each half of a waveform), is more efficient but can also produce crossover distortion, causing those low-level details to be lost in the switchover. Class G is a hybrid technology that uses multiple power rails at various voltages and switches between them to match the signal strength. It uses Class A for low-level operation, such as a delicate violin passage or a hushed dialog scene in a movie, and kicks in a higher-voltage power supply for a full-orchestra crescendo or a loud action scene. Thus, you get the high fidelity of Class A, along with the peak power handling capacity it lacks. It’s the best of both worlds!