Phono stage
well below typical
Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is well below typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
Switch-mode PSU operates outside audible frequency to minimise hum. Surface-mount circuit board layout reduces interference.
Distinguishing features: built-in headphone amp (6.35mm jack), subsonic filter, balance control, auto power-down (20 min).
Crosstalk @10kHz: MM >85dB / MC >75dB.
Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 55 head-to-heads.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
15 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
smoothness and warmth come into their ownWhat Hi-Fi?, 2018
a full-bodied, dynamic performerWhat Hi-Fi?, 2018
14 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path, Twin Arms
Against the Anchored brief, the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
MM/MC selectable Cambridge entry phonoCambridge Audio Alva Duo + What HiFi reviews
7 lost · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Crimson, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
MM/MC selectable Cambridge entry phonoCambridge Audio Alva Duo + What HiFi reviews
6 lost · Anchored, PRaT, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on spatial detail.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
spacious but cohesive, offering three-dimensionalityWhat Hi-Fi?, 2018
4 lost · Artisan, Reference, Twin Arms
Against the Artisan brief, the EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Colibri, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Colibri gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
MM/MC selectable Cambridge entry phonoCambridge Audio Alva Duo + What HiFi reviews
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII keeps the slot clearly.
With the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
smoothness and warmth come into their ownWhat Hi-Fi?, 2018
2 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio 60Se Pro keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot clearly.
With the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
smoothness and warmth come into their ownWhat Hi-Fi?, 2018
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio TITAN Pro II keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Cambridge Alva Duo MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
MM/MC selectable Cambridge entry phono Cambridge Audio Alva Duo + What HiFi reviews· Electrical noise floor
a full-bodied, dynamic performer What Hi-Fi?, 2018· Tonal body
smoothness and warmth come into their own What Hi-Fi?, 2018· Harmonic texture
spacious but cohesive, offering three-dimensionality What Hi-Fi?, 2018· Spatial resolution
RIAA tracking within +/-0.3dB SPEC: RIAA accuracy +/-0.3dB (manufacturer)· Tonal body
0.0025% THD — vanishingly low distortion SPEC: THD 0.0025% (manufacturer)· Electrical noise floor
0.0025% THD — vanishingly low distortion SPEC: THD 0.0025% (manufacturer)· Harmonic texture
| mm capable | True |
|---|---|
| mc capable | True |
| mm gain db | 39 |
| mc gain db | 60 |
| mm load resistance kohm | 47 |
| mm load capacitance pf | 100 |
| mc load resistance options ohm | 100 |
| mc load capacitance options pf | 100 |
| riaa accuracy db | 0.3 |
| snr db | 90/70 |
| thd pct | 0.0025 |
| input overload mv | 130.0 |
| rumble filter | True |
| output level mv | 300 |
| output impedance ohm | 200 |
| balanced output | False |
| dimensions mm | 216/48/157 |
| weight kg | 0.95 |
| power consumption w | 0.5/10 |
| psu external | True |
| notes |