It’s been three years, almost to the day, since Cambridge Audio launched the world’s first aptX HD Bluetooth turntable, the Alva TT (which went on to receive a solid review from us). And now, choosing the CES stage once again, the British hi-fi brand is launching a successor as well as a brand-new, more affordable deck.
The fittingly named Alva TT V2 (£1700, $1999) you can see above is the next-generation model of the 2019-released record player. It retains the original’s direct-drive design, pre-installed Alva MC cartridge, and the aptX HD Bluetooth streaming that allows owners to stream their vinyl wirelessly to wireless headphones or speakers, but this time there’s also a new-and-improved tonearm, with a detachable headshell offering an upgrade path, a switchable phono stage, and the option to turn the Bluetooth transmitter off. Cambridge says both new features are in response to customer feedback.
Then there’s the all-new Alva ST (above), a more affordable, belt-drive turntable priced at £850 ($999). The Alva ST’s belt-drive design is complemented by a 1mm aluminium top plate and a vibration-dampening absorption layer on top of MDF, with the detachable Audio Technica AT-VM95e moving magnet cartridge coming pre-installed. It shares its sibling’s aptX HD Bluetooth streaming, the same new tonearm, and a switchable phono stage.
The Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 and Alva ST turntables will be available in spring this year, and our expectations of both are high. Now that there are more aptX HD Bluetooth headphones and devices out there, streaming vinyl wirelessly in 24-bit is more viable and, while still niche, perhaps more attractive than ever before.
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