Ian Kershaw—When I heard Cambridge Audio was releasing a new version of the Alva Turntable ($1999), and with Bluetooth functionality, Cambridge had my attention. With my current vinyl setup, I am not able to connect a separate headphone DAC and my integrated amplifier does not have a headphone port built in. Although I prefer to use my speakers for general listening, my condo building does have quiet hours and I also enjoy listening in the small hours of the morning.

My Use

Working from home, I have the great advantage of being able to listen to my vinyl collection during the day as my desk is in the same room as my vinyl setup. The Alva V2 was used with various genres of music throughout the audition period.

Accurate speeds, both 33 and 45, are accessed quickly via Alva’s Direct Drive. Speed buttons on the bottom left of the chassis are metal and tactile.

I used the onboard phono stage throughout the review period. I’ll do a follow-up with my reference phono stage and carts (stereo and mono).

Thank you to Coral at Cambridge Audio for providing Audiophilia with the Alva V2 Turntable for this review.

Setup/What’s Included in the Box

I used to get frustrated with analogue setup processes, but Cambridge makes it easy for anyone to do and it only takes a few minutes. The cartridge and stylus come pre-mounted on the (removable) headshell for quick and easy attachment to the tonearm. Once you have attached the counterweight, you can then install the headshell to the tonearm and align it with the platter using the included stylus gauge (or your digital one) to ensure the correct tracking force of 2 grams is applied. After alignment is complete, it is easy to connect the included interconnect cables to your AUX input on your receiver or your (powered) speakers directly.

In the box you will find the following:

The Alva V2 turntable with POM (Polyoxymethylene) turntable platter (2.2kg)

Dust cover with hinge assembly (unused for the review period)

Pre-mounted removable headshell with moving coil cartridge and stylus

Counterweight

Ortofon branded stylus gauge

Cambridge Audio RCA Cables and separate ground lead wire

An IEC power cord.

Installation/Quick Start Guide

Features/specifications:

Type: Direct Drive

Wow & Flutter: <0.1%

Audio Out: RCA Phono/Line Level (Switchable)

Bluetooth: SBC/aptX/aptX HD

Dimensions: (W X H X D) 435 x 139 x 368mm

Weight: 10.9kg

Phono stage gain: 42dB

Phono stage impedance: 47kΩ

Phono stage capacitance: 330pF

Tonearm: Length 221.4mm; overhang 19mm; mass 19.6g

Cartridge: frequency response +/- 1dB 30Hz-20kHz; stylus/Elliptical; cantilever/Aluminum; Output /2mV @1kHz; recommended load/47kΩ

“Pre-installed High-Output MC Cartridge – Pristine musical detail, custom design. Easy setup. New Tonearm with Removable Headshell – Lightweight and strong. Tracks your records flawlessly.”

A feature that is not mentioned above is that there seems to be an automatic shut-off after some idle time in case you should leave the platter spinning with or without a record on it, or if the stylus stays in the dead wax for too long. This is a great feature to save your stylus from wear if you get distracted.

Bluetooth

Setup with your external wireless devices is easy, just switch the toggle on the rear panel to the first position and the light will flash blue. When flashing, press the small “pair” button next to the toggle switch. Once paired, you slide the switch to the right side into the second “on” position. Your device should be remembered, so if you need to disconnect, it is easy to connect again by toggling the switch into the on position.

Headphones or speakers with a separate volume control are required to change the default level of volume on the Alva as there is no volume switch on the turntable itself.

The aptX HD Bluetooth brought crystal clear, high-resolution analogue to Bluetooth streaming with my headphones.

The Bluetooth range on the Alva V2 is excellent. I went into the next room for a few moments while spinning a record and the sound was consistent with only a few minor technical blips when the range was pushed too far. The Bluetooth feature is turned on or off by a toggle switch on the back of the turntable housing. This modern feature along with the onboard phone stage and attached MC cart makes the Alva V2 an almost perfect one-step high-end solution for those not fussed with individual components.

Build quality is all metal—weighty, exceptional. This turntable has gravitas and is built to last. We had the bottom plate off to confirm inner build quality and it is as meticulous inside as it is out.

Sound

As the Alva V2 was only used with the on-board phono stage for the review period, as well as the original moving-coil cartridge and arm (I have since swapped carts—both stereo and mono— and used my reference €10,000 phono stage and will report back with a follow-up), I found that the volume on my integrated amplifier needed to be turned up louder to match the same level as my external phono stage.

No matter the genre of music I auditioned on the turntable, I was impressed at how the phono-stage, cartridge and arm performed and how it gave me consistently excellent sound quality out of the pressing I chose.

A small selection of recordings for this purpose were:

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Dallas Taylor, and Greg Reeves - Déjà Vu

Atlantic Records – SD 7200, Canada, 1970

The vocals on “I Almost Cut My Hair” sung by David Crosby and the vocals on “Helpless” sung by Neil Young are crisp, and the rhythm and electric guitar sounds on each track are superb. The soundstage is full, and each instrument has great separation.

This is the second studio album by the group, now including Neil Young as a member and it’s one of my all-time favourite Folk-Rock albums in terms of the recording and the musicianship. The Alva playback was among the very best I’ve heard from this album.

Harry Belafonte - Belafonte Sings the Blues

Classic Records, RCA Victor LSP1972, USA, 2009

Belafonte’s vocals are extremely warm and inviting throughout the record, and on my favourite track, “Losing Hand”, the guitar strumming is vibrant and there is an impressive separation between the vocals and instruments. Alva’s ability to image specific placement was exceptional here.

This Classic Records reissue is one that I recently acquired at one of my favourite Los Angeles Record shops and it was one I was not familiar with. I knew of Harry Belafonte, but never really listened to his catalogue before, and after hearing this album for the first time, I don’t know why I had never picked it up.

The Chicago Symphony conducted by Fritz Reiner - Lieutenant Kije, Op. 60

Bernie Grundman/Classic Records – RCA Victor LSC-2150, USA, 1995

While listening to the opening track, “The Birth of Kije”, the bass drum is showcased (in multiple dynamics), while all the other instruments on the soundstage still shine beautifully throughout. You feel like you’re in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall with the orchestra for your private performance.

This recording was introduced to me by the publisher of Audiophilia and has become one of my favourite classical pieces in my collection. This was a perfect piece to audition on this turntable. The transitions from the quietest dynamics to massive sonorities within a few bars of each other held no fear for the tonearm and cartridge’s control.

Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for Debby

OJC/Craft Recordings, CR00617, USA, 2023

While listening to this album you can hear all of the details clearly, including on the opening track “My Foolish Heart”, with the clinking of glasses and the coughs of an audience member. Bill Evans is on piano and is the star, but Scott LaFaro is tight on bass, and you can hear every beautiful pluck of the strings as well as Paul Motian’s drum hits with his brushes and the kissing of the cymbals in the background. The Alva produces timbres both instrumental and vocal in a very natural way.

This is by far my favourite Bill Evans album and is also one of his most well-known. Naturally, when a new version was released on a reputable label and it was mastered from the original analogue tapes, I jumped on it.

Charles Bradley – Victim of Love

Daptone/Dunham Records, Dun-1004 (DAP-031), USA, 2013

Known as the “Screaming Eagle of Soul”, Charles Bradley’s voice can sound rough then velvety. The Alva’s cartridge takes each scream in stride and performs excellently so all of his tones are expressed clearly, and without skipping a beat.

I was first introduced to Charles Bradley by a good friend, and from the first scream, I was hooked. Charles didn’t start his full-time music career until his early 50s and unfortunately died shortly after at the young age of 68 due to stomach cancer.

Conclusion

If it’s in your budget, the Alva V2 TT at $1999 is the perfect high-end turntable with style, great sound production and build quality for anyone looking to enter the analogue Hi-Fi world without breaking the bank or having to purchase separate components.

And without giving away the follow-up, if you want to push your Alva past its onboard phono stage and the supplied (excellent) cartridge, the V2 seems very adept at accommodating high-quality phono stages and esoteric low-output MCs with ease. Stay tuned.

Further information: Cambridge Audio