British hi-fi specialist Cambridge Audio has announced two new additions to its Alva turntable range: Alva TT V2 and Alva ST - one being a direct drive design and the other a belt-drive. Unveiled for the first time at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, the new Alva turntables build on the success of the company's previous Alva TT – launched in 2019 as the world’s first turntable with aptX HD Bluetooth built-in. The new Alva TT V2 and Alva ST turntables are scheduled to be available in Spring 2022, priced at $1,999 and $999 respectively.
The vinyl resurgence shows no sign of stopping, growing more popular than before globally. 4.8 million LPs were sold in the UK in 2020, a 10% increase from the previous year and the highest number in 30 years, according to a report from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Meanwhile revenues from vinyl albums grew 94% to $467 million in the US in 2021, according to the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Targeting the modern vinyl lover that doesn't yet have other components other than maybe an amplifier and a pair of speakers, the Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 turntable is an upgraded next-generation model, while the ST enters the company's range to provide the further choice and flexibility. Both models are designed to deliver the best reproduction from a record collection without causing damage to the fragile and precious pressings, unlike many of the cheap plastic "record-players" that are again being sold in novelty and décor stores.
Also, the new Cambridge Audio turntables are ready to be plugged into any line level input in amplifiers or active speakers, since both models feature a built-in phono stage based on the company's prized Alva Solo and Alva Duo phono pre-amplifiers that preserve the unique sound of vinyl. And that is also the reason why Cambridge Audio introduced a high-quality wireless audio option, with a Bluetooth transmitter using Qualcomm's aptX HD, allowing headphone enthusiasts to listen to their favorite records and move freely.
"The original Alva TT was the world’s first aptX HD Bluetooth turntable, and the reaction to it was beyond all our expectations. The new Alva TT V2 continues to blend the convenience of modern streaming with the rich listening experience of vinyl and takes on board listeners’ feedback from the first turntable. The all-new Alva ST opens up that experience to an even broader range of listeners with its competitive price point," says Stuart George, Managing Director of Cambridge Audio.
The new Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 ($1,999) retains the original Alva TT’s direct drive system with a heavy aluminum top plate and polyoxymethylene (POM) platter, pre-installed Alva MC cartridge, and the innovative aptX HD Bluetooth that allows 24-bit/48kHz hi-res streaming. New features include a brand-new, improved tonearm with detachable headshell (offering listeners an easy upgrade path), and switchable phono stage and Bluetooth – both are in response to popular customer feedback from the Alva TT’s release.
The switchable phono stage offers listeners the flexibility and choice of using the Alva TT V2 with the phono stage in their existing stereo amplifier, while also making it easy to upgrade their hi-fi system’s components over time. One of the changes from the original Alva TT is that users can now turn the Bluetooth transmitter off, offering even more choice and convenience for listeners as well as a shortened signal path – which in turn means better sound and more energy efficiency.
The new Alva ST turntable ($999) was designed for new vinyl lovers as well as those looking to upgrade from their first record player for a step up in performance. It offers many of the key features of the Alva TT V2, in a belt drive system with a 1mm aluminum top plate, and a layer of EVA to absorb vibration sitting on top of MDF. It comes pre-installed with an Audio Technica AT-VM95e moving magnet cartridge – which can be swapped out for an easy cartridge upgrade. Otherwise, it shares many of the key features of the premium Alva TT V2: switchable, built-in phono stage and aptX HD wireless hi-res streaming, the same new tonearm, and the same minimal ‘Lunar Grey’ finish.
www.cambridgeaudio.com
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Cambridge Audio Announces New Turntables at CES 2022
January 6 2022, 00:30
British hi-fi specialist Cambridge Audio has announced two new additions to its Alva turntable range: Alva TT V2 and Alva ST - one being a direct drive design and the other a belt-drive. Unveiled for the first time at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, the new Alva turntables build on the success of the company's previous Alva TT – launched in 2019 as the world’s first turntable with aptX HD Bluetooth built-in. The new Alva TT V2 and Alva ST turntables are scheduled to be available in Spring 2022, priced at $1,999 and $999 respectively.