Focal Arche
An all-in-one solution for headphones
Manufactured in France, Arche is a unique electronic solution which combines a digital-analog converter as well as two pure class A amplification modes designed especially for headphones. Ideal to sit between the digital sources and your audiophile headphones, Arche is the perfect solution to fully enjoy your headphones, whilst benefiting from the performance delivered by the converter to drive high-fidelity loudspeakers!
So Arche is an all-in-one solution, which also offers presets for every set of Focal High-Fidelity headphones (Utopia, Stellia, Clear, Elegia et Elear) to make sure you get the absolute best from this ultimate combination: owners of Focal headphones can therefore be sure they are enjoying a combination of electronics and acoustics that is carefully thought out and specially developed from the very outset. Arche will be updated by using a USB stick.
The two premium AK4490 balanced digital-analog converters can process formats in PCM format up to 384kHz, as well as DSD 256. The analog signal is then routed towards 2 pure class A amplification modes designed especially for headphones (voltage, hybrid) for an uncompromising solution. The original audio signal is totally respected, so as to reproduce the tiniest details of the recording.
Upon entry of the digital signal, Arche offers a resolutely audiophile design through its uncompromising dual mono construction, from signal processing to amplification. And thanks to the presets integrated, every user of Focal headphones gets amplification to suit their product and their favourite tonal balance.
Arche comes with a solid aluminium headphones mount inspired by the brand’s logo: accessing and storing the headphones is therefore quick and easy, as well as looking incredible and saving on space!
Type | DAC and headphones amplifier | |
Max. power | 2 x 1W @ 1kHz under 32 Ω | |
Frequency response | 10Hz to 100kHz | |
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | < 0,001% | |
Signal-to-noise ratio | > 116dB @ 32 Ω (Class A) | |
Power supply | 85 to 265 Vac / 47 – 63Hz | |
Dimensions (H x L x D) | 321 x 200 x 297mm | |
Weight | 10.25 lbs (4.65kg) | |
Audio inputs | Unbalanced analog RCA | |
Digital S/PDIF coaxial (RCA): Max. sampling frequency | 192kHz (AES3-compatible) | |
Max. resolution | 24-bit | |
Optical digital (TosLink) Max. sampling frequency | 192kHz (AES3-compatible) | |
Max. resolution | 24-bit | |
Digital USB (USB-B): standard USB: USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 – USB audio class | ||
Audio outputs | Balanced analog 3-point XLR | |
Unbalanced analog RCA | ||
Firmware update | via USB port (USB-A) | |
Robb Report
Look, while I’m a big music fan, I’m no audiophile. Stock earbuds are usually more than enough for me. And when I have spent big on audio gear in the past, it’s been for features like Bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancellation and comfort. But after spending some time with French audio company Focal’s Utopia high-fidelity headphones and Arche amp, I’m rethinking this position completely.
The Utopia cans look sharp and feel great on your head, and the minimalist Arche is a breeze to set up and use.
The Utopia headphones and Arche are just going to make any record you throw on sound better. And when you listen to an album you’ve heard countless times—like, say, David Axelrod’s Song of Innocence—suddenly you’re hearing details or guitar lines you’ve never heard before. That alone could be enough to turn a casual listener into a serious audiophile.