Arcam FMJ CD17 review

Arcam's FMJ CD17 is a CD player of many talents, namely detail and finesse but it's slightly lacking in excitement Tested at £700.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

A player of many talents, namely detail and finesse but slightly lacking in excitement

Pros

  • +

    Sturdy build quality

  • +

    extremely detailed, sophisticated sound

Cons

  • -

    The excitement factor is missing

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Where other machines around this price point may look and feel like entry-level CD players, the Arcam CD17 boasts real maturity.

The Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) aluminium-and-steel casework gives the Arcam a real solid, substantial presence.

The CD17 also uses Arcam's Mask of Silence and Stealth Mat technologies. They may sound like a couple of top-secret army projects, but are in fact designed to help reduce and diffuse unwanted electromagnetic interference.

The buttons on the front of the machine are a little on the spongy side, but the bright green display, typical of Arcam, is large and wonderfully clear.

Unfortunately, the same praise can't be heaped on the ‘engineering' of the accompanying remote control. Even £40 DVD players would perhaps be embarrassed to be in the same box as this cheap, plastic effort, never mind a £500 hi-fi separate.

Feed the Arcam Rihanna's acoustic version of Hate That I Love You taken from the BBC Live Lounge Vol.3 CD, and it's apparent the CD17 is feeding you extra scraps of information that other contenders fail to uncover.

It picks up extra layers of detail from the guitar, while the striking vocal is full-bodied and packed with extra substance.

With the bassline later in the track, the Arcam shows great generosity and weight, pitching the machine somewhere between the Marantz CD6002 and the NAD C545BEE.

Detail and delicate subtlety
A switch to Rossini's William Tell Overture uncovers the CD17's refined, sophisticated side. The track is given fantastic sense of depth and space. Instruments are layered perfectly and positioned deep in the soundstage.

You can then admire the detail and extra subtlety that the player uncovers, especially during the more delicate moments of the track.

But, just because the Arcam has greater finesse than the other players doesn't mean we're willing to sacrifice the excitement and all-important entertainment factor, even if the Arcam is.

It's a trustworthy machine, capable of dredging up detail from any genre of music, but it's ever so cautious.

It just doesn't make a connection with the listener in the same way some other players do. The CD17 doesn't convey the overall rhythm of the Rihanna track especially well, nor the frivolity of the William Tell Overture.

If detail and a comfortable listen are what you crave, then the Arcam shouldn't disappoint. Those of you who fancy a more exciting sound should consider the other players in this test.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test