"ARCAM rCube - No ifs, no buts - the best iPod sound system so far..." a bold statement from Arcam... visit our Manchester Show or one of our stores in the near future to find out if it's true.
The eagerly awaited rCube is due to hit our stores at the beginning of October and will also be shown off by Arcam at our upcoming Manchester Show in mid October. This product is looking to be the only ever real level contender to the B&W Zeppelin as the iPod system of systems and we are looking forward to pitting them against each other in our stores demonstration rooms.
Like the Zeppelin, the rCube uses digital amplification and has three digital amplifiers from Maxim Integrated Products with two used in bridge mode for the bass/mid drivers and in stereo mode for the tweeters. It has a total power output of 150watts rms. There are also seven separate power supplies to feed the various digital and analogue sections of the main board and Arcam states that this helps to "avoid inter-modulation and reduce noise". The rCube also has video outputs (composite and component) so that video on your idevice can be watch on a separate screen.
Other than on sound quality, any other comparisons with the Zeppelin are unfair seeing that the rCube does far more than just amplify an iPod. Coming into its own, the rCube allows for wireless audio streaming from Apple iDevices and computers by using two additionally purchased dongle devices, the rWand and the USB rWave. The streaming is courtesy of Kleer Tech and is at full CD bandwidth (44.1kHz, 16 bit). The rWave will include the DCS licensed asynchronous USB code that the rDac uses, giving even better quality from PC/MAC. This dongle will also be high-powered enough for whole house coverage and can be controlled from rDoc remote or from iTunes Remotes on an iPhone/Touch. These two extra dongles will be available at the end of October for the retail price f £69.95 and £79.95 respectively.
This amazing product can also share music with up to eight other rCubes or rDACs and can thus be used to create a rudimentary multiroom system. Alternatively, rather than having music all over your house, you can have the music follow you round the house by just carrying the rCube round with you. As it has a fantastic rechargeable lithium-Ion battery it can be fully portable and will last up to eight hours between charges.
In terms of size and weight the rCube’s dimensions are 200mm x 200mm x 200mm and it weighs 5kg. It is a very solidly constructed item manufactured out of aluminium, MDF and complex multi-layer composite mouldings.
Straight from the Arcam press release - The Arcam rCube is game-changing iPod sound system. The first one that delivers on the cliche "room filling sound" The first one to deliver serious Hi-fi sound. Fully portable for garden, boat, caravan, festival and with built-in CD quality music streaming from Mac/PC or iPod/Pad/Phone.
At the retail price of £500.00, the rCube offers incredible value for the performance and flexibility delivered. Costing the same as an iPhone, an iPad or indeed a Mulberry handbag, the price is well within reach of the target customer. The initial rCube will be available in an iPhone 4 Black finish but will shortly also be available in a Scandinavian White.
