Cambridge Audio Alva Solo - Stereo Moving Magnet Phono Stage/Pre-Amplifier - Lunar Grey

Product Information

It’s true that Behringer products can be hit and miss, but we’d call the PP400 a ‘hit’. It’s affordable, and can enhance an inexpensive record player and boost the signal significantly. Not on the top-end of the market, but for home audio enthusiasts on a budget. The one in red is the same signal now routed through the Cambridge Solo. The measured time now (shown through two red cursor lines) is 1.6 seconds.

In another system I've inserted a dbx 215 equalizer which has a subsonic filter, and also can function as a balance control. If you’re happy to invest a little more in your preamp, something like the SPL Phonos will be right up your street. It’s not stupidly expensive (compared to some other preamps) and it offers a huge amount of features, and customization. Another oldie but still a goodie, the Gram Amp 2 holds its own nearly a decade after first coming on the scene. And you can see why - simplicity is the name of the game here, an approach that ages remarkably well. It's a moving-magnet phono stage with one set of inputs, one output, no bells or whistles. If you want to listen to a wide range of vinyl and still get the most out of the sound, it is hard to argue with the Puffin. There are so many controls! 11. U-Turn Audio Pluto

Cambridge Audio new Solo and Duo phono stages

The THD is low, and there’s even a filter for inaudible low sounds that can stop rumbling. A WIMA film capacitor gives clarity to the sound. We've continuously been impressed with Rega's excellent (and rather affordable) Fono MM range, so it was something of a relief that the latest model, which featured a brand-spanking new look, didn't sacrifice style for sound. That same Rega DNA is still in there throughout the latest Fono MM Mk5 phono stage. The Phono Signature on its own sounds refined and smooth with plenty of bite when required, but adding the updated PSX-R2 power supply takes sound quality to another plane altogether. The scale is even bigger, bass gains more authority, and the precise positions of the performers and instruments in the beautifully layered sound stage are laid bare. The insightful delivery squeezes the very last drop of emotion from a recording.

Sound quality is first-rate: fantastically detailed, with the upper register particularly impressive. It’s difficult to imagine a more detailed presentation from a phono stage for the money. There are rivals with an equally wide soundstage, but they perhaps don’t shine the spotlight so intensely on each instrumental strand. Detail is where it stands out, but the Gram Amp 2 is also a dab hand at dynamics and timing – although perhaps not with as much bite and punch compared with the Rega. The smooth, full-bodied performance, coupled with the inclusion of a headphone amp, makes this stylish box certainly worthy of consideration. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in Reading, London and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door – including phono preamps (or phono stages).It may look identical to the Alva TT at first glance, but there are plenty of changes and new elements when you look closer. That’s the lot as far as physical features go. There’s a defeatable auto power-down function, which puts the Duo in standby if it’s been idle for more than 20 minutes, and a subsonic filter. There’s a cleanness and a purity of purpose to the way the Alva Duo is turned out – which is oddly, but definitely, pleasing. Cambridge Audio Duo sound quality – Broad, warm character Even by the standards of hi-fi, phono stages tend to be functional, anonymous little boxes. So Cambridge Audio should be congratulated for making the Alva Duo look like a proper – if slightly shrunken – piece of kit. Its metal front-plate looks good and feels smooth, and the slightly offset headphone volume control turns nicely. Well this is certainly a looker. With an offset volume dial, minimalist styling and mirrored rear labelling that's easy to read even if you're peering over the top of the unit, it's clear a lot of thought has gone into the Cambridge Audio Duo phono stage. And no less attention has been paid to the audio quality. The tone knobs are easy to adjust, and there are 12 EQ settings designed to be different based on whether you are listening to early LPs, 78s or modern vinyl.