Further news coming out of CES 2022 in Vegas…Today, British Hi-Fi manufacturer Cambridge Audio unveiled the brand new Alva TT V2 ($1999) & Alva ST ($999) turntables, which are expected to hit retailers in the Spring.
The Alva TT V2 is an upgraded version of the Alva TT (the world’s first aptX HD Bluetooth turntable when it came out), and it boasts some beneficial new features, including a new and improved tonearm with a detachable headshell (for easier upgrades), a switchable phono stage so you can use your own, and the ability to switch the BT transmitter off for signal purity.
The Alva ST is Cambridge Audio’s first sub $1k turntable, and it shares a lot of features with the Alva TT, like the switchable, built-in phono stage, aptX HD wireless streaming, and the same new tonearm with a detachable headshell. In contrast, it comes with an Audio Technica MM cartridge instead of the TT’s MC cart and uses a belt-drive mechanism instead of a direct drive.
Alva TT V2 tech specs: DRIVE MECHANISM: Direct drive TURNTABLE SPEEDS: 33.3, 45 rpm CARTRIDGE TYPE: High Output Moving Coil CARTRIDGE TRACKING FORCE: 2g TURNTABLE PLATTER: POM (Polyoxymethylene) TONEARM TYPE: Static balanced tonearm with detachable headshell TONEARM EFFECTIVE LENGTH: 221.5mm TONEARM OVERHANG: 19mm TONEARM EFFECTIVE MASS: 19.6g PHONO STAGE GAIN @1kHz: 42dB PHONO STAGE INPUT IMPEDANCE: 47Ω PHONO STAGE NOMINAL OUTPUT: 250Vrms STANDBY POWER CONSUMPTION: <0.25W DIMENSIONS (w x h x d): 435 x 139 x 368mm (17.1 x 5.5 x 14.5”) WEIGHT: 10.9kg (24lbs)
Alva ST tech specs: DRIVE MECHANISM: Belt drive TURNTABLE SPEEDS: 33.3, 45 rpm CARTRIDGE TYPE: Audio Technica AT-VM95E Moving Magnet CARTRIDGE TRACKING FORCE: 2g TURNTABLE PLATTER: Die-cast aluminum TONEARM TYPE: Static balanced tonearm with detachable headshell TONEARM EFFECTIVE LENGTH: 221.5mm TONEARM OVERHANG: 19mm TONEARM EFFECTIVE MASS: 19.8g PHONO STAGE GAIN @1kHz: 42dB PHONO STAGE INPUT IMPEDANCE: 47Ω PHONO STAGE NOMINAL OUTPUT: 250Vrms STANDBY POWER CONSUMPTION: <0.3W DIMENSIONS (w x h x d): 435 x 139 x 366.7mm (17.1 x 5.5 x 14.4”) WEIGHT: 9kg (19.8lbs)
As stated earlier, look for these two new turntables in the Spring.
We love music too, which is what lead us to create the ground-breaking Alva TT turntable. But we didn’t stop there. Introducing Alva TT V2 and Alva ST. Newly announced at CES 2022 and available this Spring. https://t.co/EyNxVxzq21pic.twitter.com/zfhhHngYPe
The following press release is courtesy of Cambridge Audio:
Cambridge Audio announces new products at CES 2022
January 5, 2022, Las Vegas, NV, USA – British hi-fi specialist Cambridge Audio has announced two new additions to its Alva turntable range: Alva TT V2 and Alva ST. Unveiled for the first time at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, the new Alva turntables build on the success of the highly acclaimed aa nd innovative Alva TT – launched in 2019 as the world’s first aptX HD Bluetooth turntable – and are backed by over 50 years of Cambridge Audio’s expertise and experience in making great hi-fi for music lovers to enjoy.
The Alva TT V2 and Alva ST turntables will be available in Spring 2022 at cambridgeaudio.com, priced at £1,600 / $1,999 and £750 / $999 respectively.
Perfect for the modern vinyl lover, the Alva TT V2 is an upgraded next-generation model, while the ST enters the range to provide the widest available choice and flexibility for listeners. Both models are designed to deliver incredible levels of detail from your record collection, with a built-in phono stage based on Cambridge Audio’s award-winning Alva Solo and Alva Duo phono pre-amplifiers that preserve the unique warm sound of vinyl.
The vinyl resurgence shows no sign of stopping, growing more popular than before in both UK and US. 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).
Stuart George, Managing Director of Cambridge Audio, says: “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.”
Alva TT V2 – £1,600 / $1,999 The new Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 is a direct drive turntable with a built-in switchable phono stage and aptX HD Bluetooth streaming. A high-end option for serious audiophiles who also want the convenience of hi-res wireless streaming, the premium Alva TT V2 is the perfect combination of stunning sound, cutting-edge technology and great design.
Alva TT V2 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 you 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.
Key features of Alva TT V2:
Bluetooth aptX HD – Wireless hi-res streaming to compatible amplifiers, headphones and speakers. Place the turntable anywhere.
New tonearm with detachable headshell – Tracks your records flawlessly. High-mass, low-resonance design helps to keep resonance to a minimum.
Built-in phono stage – No need for extra boxes. Keep your setup simple.
Switchable phono stage – Flexibility and choice of components. Easy upgrade path for hi-fi system.
Pre-installed high-output Alva MC Moving Coil cartridge – Pristine musical detail. No tricky setup.
Direct drive & high-density platter – Consistent speed. Vibration resistant chassis for pitch-perfect reproduction of music.
Alva ST – £750 / $999 Designed for new vinyl lovers as well as those looking to upgrade from their first record player for a step up in performance, the Cambridge Audio Alva ST is the perfect turntable to enjoy a growing vinyl collection, with exceptional sound quality and an elegant design that will be a showstopper in any room.
Featuring many of the key features of the Alva TT V2, the new Alva ST brings Cambridge Audio’s premium turntable performance to the under-£1,000 price range for the first time.
The Alva ST is a belt drive turntable with a 1mm aluminum top plate, and a layer of EVA to absorb vibration sitting on top of MDF, and comes pre-installed with an Audio Technica AT-VM95e moving magnet cartridge – which can be swapped out for a cartridge of your choice for easy upgrades.
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 classy, minimal ‘Lunar Grey’ finish.
Key features of Alva ST:
Bluetooth aptX HD – Wireless hi-res streaming to compatible amplifiers, headphones and speakers. Place the turntable anywhere.
New tonearm with detachable headshell – Tracks records with precision. High-mass, low-resonance design helps to keep resonance to a minimum.
Pre-installed moving magnet cartridge – Easy setup and upgrade path.
Built-in phono stage – No need for extra boxes. Keep your setup simple.
Switchable phono stage – Flexibility and choice of components. Easy upgrade path for hi-fi system.
Belt drive & die-cast aluminum platter – Reduced motor interference. Vibration resistant chassis for pitch-perfect reproduction of music.
Pricing:
Alva TT V2 – £1,600 / €1,999 / $1,999
Alva ST – £750 / €999 / $999
Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 and Alva ST turntables will be available in Spring 2022 at cambridgeaudio.com.
About Cambridge Audio Based in the heart of London, Cambridge Audio has pursued one simple objective since its inception in 1968: to produce audio equipment that faithfully creates a pure and natural sound.
Cambridge Audio is dedicated to bringing unfiltered, unadulterated ‘Great British Sound’ into your home. From the iconic P40 amplifier to the award-winning Evo all-in-one music system and globally acclaimed Melomania true wireless earphones, Cambridge Audio designs each product from the ground up to deliver the purest and most faithful reproduction of your music.
This approach has been instrumental in creating generations of award-winning products, and Cambridge Audio products are consistently recognized for their performance, innovation and value. Visit: www.cambridgeaudio.com.
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