At C.E.S. 2022 Cambridge Audio Introduces Two New Turntables

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 and 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 at Cambridge Audio Spring 2022 priced at $1999 and $999. The V2 upgrades the original Alva with a new, improved tonearm with detachable head shell and switchable phono stage and Bluetooth (both based on customer feedback). The change allows users to use an outboard phono preamp. The Bluetooth transmitter can be turned off in the V2, which shortens the signal path and is said to improve sound quality.

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 – $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.

COMMENTS
Anton D's picture

Do they still do the Venetian or have any specific Hi Fi locations these days?

rich d's picture

And the answer is, "I don't know, but I can offer an educated guess". I left the industry a long time ago but even then high-end companies were abandoning CES, partly because they were treated as a poor relation by the organizers and partly because the cost of exhibiting was beyond the budgets of many manufacturers. The off-site "T.H.E. Show" provided some lower-priced relief for a time, but that show's travails are well known by now, so I'll just say they're no longer a factor in Vegas. As you may know, high end manufacturers (whether or not they were exhibiting) would frequently rent a hotel room somewhere then put the word about to press and dealers that meetings and new product demos would take place there. My guess is that this still occurs albeit at a considerably reduced level.

With respect to the Cambridge bluetooth turntable: why? Is an extra cable (I assume you still have to plug it into the wall) such a deal breaker that people will accept compromised fidelity instead? And is anyone bothered by the fact that their products are festooned with the Union Jack but made, er, offshore?

dial's picture

They both are like Roberts tables with different plinths. The RT 100 is belt-driven, the 200 a direct drive...
And "Cambridge" is made in China too...

WaltonGoggins's picture

Does it look like what you'd get with the 3-600 Denon, Chinese Music Halls or ATs?

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