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This is a late-2010s DAC, so timing matters mainly in the sense that it’s a discontinued model rather than a current one, and that keeps prices honest. At £136, it sits a little above the £123 median but still inside the usual £101–£129 band for recent comparables, so it reads as a touch ambitious rather than a bad ask.
The irDAC is well regarded for an easy, balanced sound and strong connectivity for its era, which still makes it a sensible buy if you want a compact DAC for a streamer, CD transport, or laptop setup. If it’s clean, fully working, and includes the original PSU/remote, the premium over the median is small enough to be justified; I’d just want proof of proper USB and coax/optical operation before paying at the top of the range.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Arcam stands as one of Britain's most respected audio engineering houses, founded in 1976 in Cambridge by John Dawson and Chris Evans, two university engineering students driven by a passion for music and sound quality. The company's name derives from "Amplification and Recording Cambridge," reflecting its original mission to craft amplifiers that prioritized musicality over raw power. The A60 integrated amplifier, their commercial debut in 1976, established the brand's philosophy: that true fidelity depends on meticulous design rather than wattage, earning critical acclaim and transforming a small operation into a fast-growing enterprise.
Arcam's product portfolio spans the full spectrum of high-fidelity electronics. The brand built its early reputation on low-distortion amplifiers before expanding into CD players during the 1990s—a category in which they have designed and manufactured for nearly three decades. Their innovations include pioneering separate DACs, DVD and Blu-ray players engineered from scratch in the UK, and the introduction of Class G amplification technology in 2015. More recently, they have integrated DIRAC room acoustic correction software into their home theater systems, demonstrating continued commitment to technical advancement.
Positioned firmly in the high-end audio market, Arcam commands a world-class reputation for producing some of the finest-sounding AV electronics available. The brand appeals to discerning audiophiles and music creators who value engineering integrity and sonic performance. Now part of HARMAN's Luxury Audio Group alongside Mark Levinson and Revel, Arcam continues to balance its heritage of British craftsmanship with contemporary design aesthetics, recently refreshing its industrial design to attract younger customers without compromising audio innovation.
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