Overview: The Arcam Solo Neo is an audiophile-grade all-in-one music
system (minus speakers). The Solo Neo features a two-channel amplifier, CD player, FM tuner, and
network audio player all inside one chassis. The Solo Neo also supports
iPod/iPhone playback (via optional add-on dock, sold separately). The Solo Neo
all-in-one music system features a full dot-matrix display with east-to-read
text, front-panel push-button controls, and a wireless remote control for
simple, easy-to-use operation.
Amplifier Section
FM Tuner
CD Player
Audio Connections
USB/Network Functions
Remote Control
Amplifier Section
Two-Channel Amplifier: The Arcam Solo Neo all-in-one music system
features an integrated two-channel amplifier designed to drive a single pair of
speakers, rated between 4-8 ohms.
- 8-Ohm Rating: 50 watts x 2 channels
- 4-Ohm Rating: 75 watts x 2 channels
Twin Toroidal Transformers: The Arcam Solo Neo features twin toroidal
transformers with an oversize power amply supply for greater reliability.
Independent Regulated Power Supplies: The Solo Neo is equipped with 9
independently regulated power supplies for audiophile-grade sound quality.
Bass & Treble Controls: The Arcam Solo Neo features independent
Bass & Treble controls.
- Bass: This setting changes the relative volume of the lower
frequency components of your music.
- Treble: This setting changes the relative volume of the higher
frequency component of your music.
Note: The bass and treble controls are inactive when headphones
are connected.
Bass Correction: Bass Correction may be used if the Solo Neo is
connected to reduced-frequency-range ('small') speakers, that cannot reproduce
very low frequency sounds. Increasing this setting causes very low frequency
sounds to be progressively attenuated (since these cannot be reproduced by the
small speaker), while the volume of slightly higher-frequency sounds is
increases. This means the overall bass produced by the speaker sounds the same
as a full-range 'Large' speaker.
Balance: This setting allows you to increase the volume of one channel
(left or right) relative to the other channel.
Cooling System: The Solo Neo utilizes a passive fanless cooling system
to keep the all-in-one music system operating at a normal temperature.
Sleep Timer: This timer allows you to specify a listening period,
after which the Solo Neo will switch automatically into stand-by mode. The timer
can be set in 5-minute intervals, up to 120 minutes (2-hours).
FM Tuner
Built-in FM Tuner: The Solo Neo is equipped with a built-in
FM tuner with manual, seek, and preset tuning. RF tuning range of 89.5-108MHz.
Preset Tuning: The Solo Neo provides up to 30 preset FM radio
stations. Your presets are retained even if the Solo Neo is disconnected from
the power supply.
Mono Mode: In some weak signal areas it can be beneficial to force the
FM tuner to mono output, as mono requires a much lower signal strength to
produce acceptable results.
F-type Screw Connector: The Solo Neo features an F-type screw
connector to connect the supplied FM antenna or an upgraded FM antenna (sold
separately).
FM Antenna: The Solo Neo comes with a dipole FM-wire antenna.
CD Player
Disc Compatibility: The Arcam Solo Neo's built-in CD player supports playback
of CD-Audio and CD-Text discs, as well as finalized CD-R/RW discs with MP3, WMA,
AAC, WAV, and FLAC music files.
24-Bit Wolfson DAC: The Solo Neo's built-in CD player features a
Wolfson 24-bit multilevel Delta-Sigma DAC (digital-to-analog converter) for
audiophile-grade sound from your CD collection.
Low Jitter Clock: The built-in CD player features a low-jitter
Colpitss crystal clock to improve timing accuracy and eliminate jitter.
Display Modes: The Solo Neo provides four different display modes when
listening to a CD.
- Current Track Time: Display of track number with track time.
- Remaining Track Time: Display of track number with the track time
remaining.
- CD Text: Song title and Artist name from a CD-Text disc is
displayed.
- Large Character Display: This mode is a double-height display,
showing just the current track number and the volume.
Search Modes: The unit's built-in CD player offer various search
functions to find your music.
- Fast-Forward/Reverse: You can scan forward or backwards within a
track.
- Skip (Next/Previous): You can skip to the next or previous track
on a disc.
- Direct Search: Direct access may be gained to tracks on a disc by
using the numeric keys on the included IR remote control.
Playback Modes: The built-in CD player offer Repeat, Random, and
Program playback modes.
- Repeat: An entire disc can be repeated or a single track can be
played back repeatedly.
- Random: The tracks on a disc are played back in random order (can
be combined with repeat function).
- Programming: The order in which tracks on a CD are played can be
programmed.
Audio Connections
Auxiliary Input: The Solo Neo is equipped with a front-panel 3.5mm
auxiliary input for quick, temporary connection of your portable digital audio
player.
Analog Inputs: The Solo Neo provides four rear-panel analog audio
inputs (AV In, TV, Game, iPod) for permanent connection of an external audio
source, such as your Satellite/Cable box, Blu-ray/DVD player, Game System, and
iPod/iPhone.
Note: The Solo Neo is not equipped with a phono pre-amplifier. If
you wish to connect a turntable, then you will need an external
pre-amplifier.
Pre Out: To improve the sound quality, or if you require more than
50W/channel, you can connect the Solo Neo to an external power amplifier. The
Unit's Pre Out can also be used to connect a powered subwoofer.
Digital Out: The Solo Neo's Optical Digital Out carries the audio
digital output from the unit's CD player, FM tuner, Network Play, and USB
interface to a compatible digital recording device. When a CD is being played,
this output carries a signal with a sample rate of 44.1kHz; with FM radio, USB
interface, and Network sources, the signal sample rate is 48kHz.
Tape Out: The unit's stereo RCA-type Tape Output can be connected a cassette recorder (or other recording device). The source being listened to is
routed directly to the Tape Out, before the volume control.
Note: Under no circumstances should this output be connected to a
power amplifier.
Zone 2 Output: The unit's Zone 2 Out is used to output the same audio
to a second room. It needs to be connected to a separate amplifier in the second
room. The Solo Neo offers independent volume control of the second zone.
Note: The unit's Zone 2 Output is always muted when first switched
on.
5-Way Binding Posts: The Neo Solo is fitted with four 5-way binding
post speaker terminals that can accept either bare wire, pin-connectors, spade
terminals, and banana plugs (single/dual). The speaker terminals are
clearly marked left or right and positive or negative.
Headphone Output: The Solo Neo is equipped with a front-panel 3.5mm
headphone output for connecting a set of headphones. When headphones are plugged
into the unit's headphone jack, the main speaker output and the pre-amp output
are muted automatically (Zone 2 output remains active). The headphone jack is
always active, except when the Solo Neo is muted.
Note: The unit's headphone jack accepts headphones with an
impedance rating between 8-2,000 ohm, fitted with a 3.5mm stereo connector.
USB/Network Functions
USB Port: The Solo Neo is equipped with a rear-panel USB (type-A) port
to connect a USB flash memory device or MP3 player (that appears as a single
'Removable Disk" when connected). USB hard disk drives can also be connected,
but must have a separate power supply. The connected USB device must be
formatted in FAT32. Once your USB is properly connected, you can playback stored
music files (MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV/FLAC). The Solo Neo will display song title and artist name.
Ethernet Port: The Solo Neo can receive Internet radio or stream music from
your networked computer and hard-drives via it's Ethernet 10/100 (LAN) connection. The
use of Cat5 Ethernet cable is recommended.
Wireless Network: The Solo Neo is equipped with wireless LAN antenna (WiFi),
if you wish to connect the unit to your wireless network for computer audio and
internet radio wireless streaming. The Solo Neo supports 802.11b/g WiFi networks
and is WEP/WPA security enabled.
Internet Radio: The Solo Neo uses the online vTuner service to allow
easy browsing of internet radio stations and podcasts. vTuner enables access to
web-based radio stations and podcasts via an extremely reliable online
database with a wide variety of content. You can browse content by Genre,
Location, Language, and Favorites. The Solo Neo will display station name and
program-related information.
Computer Streaming: Once connected to your Network (via Ethernet or
WiFi), the Solo Neo can stream music stored on your networked computer and/or
hard-drive. The Solo Neo supports streaming of WAV, MP3, AAC, WMA, and FLAC audio
files. The Solo Neo will also display song title and artist name.
Optional iPod Dock: The Arcam irDock (776IRDOCK,
sold separately) is an external add-on iPod dock which can be connected the
Arcam Solo NEO via its RCA input (labeled iPod) and RS-232 Port. The irDock
supports audio playback, video output, metadata display, remote control, and
charging of your docked iPod/iPhone.
Remote Control
Wireless Remote Control: The Arcam Solo Neo comes with an IR remote
control (CR50) for wireless operation of the all-in-on music system. The remote
operates off of two "AAA" batteries (included).
Remote Input: This 3.5mm input allows remote control signals to be
received by the Sol Neo if the unit's remote sensor is covered (or otherwise not
visible to the remote control). An external IR sensor (sold separately) is used
to receive the signals from the remote control, which are fed to the Solo Neo
through this input.
Remote Zone 2: This 3.5mm input is used when you have a second room
system that has a remote sensor. The external sensor (sold separately) is used
to receive the signals from the remote control, which are then fed to the Solo
Neo (into this input).
Remote Output: This 3.5mm output carries all signals from the
front-panel remote control receiver, plus commands received through the two
external sensor inputs (Remote/Zone2) to other connected components. This can be
used to route remote-control commands to other equipment (potentially in
different locations).
12V Trigger: This 3.5mm output provides a 12V signal whenever the
unit is switched on (not off or in stand-by). This signal can be used to
automatically switch on connected power amplifiers (or other compatible
equipment).
RS-232 Port: The Solo Neo is equipped with a RS-232 serial port that
allows remote control from a PC, or similar device.
