So the Zen has definitely made a difference - I also don’t have to turn my amp up as much as when using the CA (which surprised me given it’s also a CA), which is good as it means I don’t need to turn it down before switching sources, and getting a hell of a fright when I forget. One of the biggest differences in the Alva ST is that it’s a belt drive design as opposed to the Alva TT’s direct drive, and as a result, a new platter and top plate are introduced. Generally, it’s fair to say this is not going to give you audiophile, high-fidelity sound, but for the price tag, it is hard to find a reliable preamp. The DJPRE II does a good job for those building a cheaper system. 5. SPL Phonos The numbers of options open to the audio circuit designer are very few indeed. Add to that the international requirements regarding immunity to spurious noise sources needed (mobile phones being the worst domestic culprits) to comply with EMC (which is mandatory), and there is possibly only one or two op-amps which just "scrape home". Forget discrete circuits - they will be wide-open to today's interference. Then swapped the Red for the Blue and tried again - same cleaner sound but definitely with more detail.

My confidence is not high in this test yet but it is something I am going to run in the future until I figure out its limitations/value. It’s easy to make a component such as this feel cheap, but it’s difficult to make it look and feel expensive – unless you just make it expensive, of course. Cambridge has managed to keep the price down while making the Alva Duo at least look and feel like a premium item. Cambridge Audio Duo features – Purity of purpose

In This Article

We struggle to tap our feet along with any song, regardless of genre. It’s not the kind of performance we’re used to hearing from Cambridge Audio products, which are normally so exciting and fun to listen to from the get-go. The Bluetooth stream is stable and clean, voices in particular coming through with clarity and ample detail. It’s an enjoyable performance, and while it’s not as detailed as listening through a wired system, it’s still a great feature that means you can, for instance, listen to your vinyl collection at night without disturbing others. 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. It's superb balance of attitude and refinement. If the rest of your system is up to scratch, the MX-VYNL is worth the investment. At the bottom in dashed blue is the Audio Precision analyzer testing itself. We see that it takes it about 0.4 seconds to drop from that peak down to baseline level.

I have shown the noise spectrum using log display now to show more detail in low frequencies. And also included that of moving coil input (in blue). We clearly see the 60 Hz mains noise plus other harmonics going on and on. And our 19 kHz or so spurious tones. Obviously everyone will have different kit, which will sound different with these amps, and different ears, and tastes, so it's tough to make a solid choice on other people's opinions but in a nutshell, this is what I'd say to those considering these amps: Swapped the CA for the Zen and it sounded a lot better - cleaner is the best way I can describe it. Vertere already had a great phono stage on its hands, but this updated version manages to deliver significant performance gains, thanks to some careful housekeeping and honing of the circuit board and power supply. The tidy little box remains the same; an orange power LED is the only addition to the design. Been having a good play this morning. As I only upgraded my stylus to Blue (from the Red) earlier this week I’d been wondering whether the Zen has actually had as big a difference as I thought it was.Not all records are pressed the same – due to the poor quality of vinyl used, some sound considerably nosier than others. Wear and tear can play its role in reducing the quality, too. With its subsonic filter, the Solo filters out low frequency rumble; reducing distortion and protecting your speakers’ woofers from excessive wear. 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 THD (total harmonic distortion) is extremely low, and noise levels are incredibly low, leading this preamp to be compared to some models twice the price. It also supports aptX and SBC Bluetooth codecs for non-aptX HD streams, although it’s worth noting the Bluetooth sound quality is as good as the kit you’re streaming it to, and we’d recommend a great-sounding pair of headphones or speakers to get the best performance out of it.

It cleverly uses individual channels for the left and right speakers, this means no crosstalk and is something not often found at this price. You can select whether to use a low cut filter that gets rid of the very lowest frequencies, this can stop rumble. The functionality is basic. Ins and outs are both RCA and TRS, perfect for connecting to a turntable. There’s a 3-year warranty on offer by Behringer, which is more than reasonable for such a cheap product. Rhythmically, the Alva ST is nowhere near as precise or agile as the more capable turntables from Technics, Rega and Pro-Ject. These five-star rivals marshal each note with more accuracy and authority, basslines are pulled more tautly, while also delivering superb levels of subtlety when it comes to dynamics. They also simply sound more fun. It’s built and specified well, and it makes good on its specification by turning in a low-noise, high-quality performance that plays to vinyl’s inherent strengths. In terms of detail, dynamic headroom and stereo focus, it wants for nothing.Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 28th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) The MCP-2 has variable loading between 10 Ohms and 5K Ohms. You can match this value up to your system for the best results for your listening. Sound quality is seriously talented and it comes bursting with texture and insight. It's a wonderfully clean and crisp sound, with more low-end weight and substance sitting alongside Cyrus’s traditional values of precision and speed.

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. The physical limitations of vinyl mean that the original audio signal has to be altered before it can be recorded onto its tiny grooves – low frequencies are reduced in level and the highs are boosted. The curve that governs this equalisation standard was set by the RIAA (Record Industry Association of America) in 1954. The Cambridge Solo for me stood out the least - closer to the Rega in terms of sound but is no match for its presence and its soundstage. Sound was composed and felt very natural, but vocals felt a bit buried in the mix and the whole thing felt a little bit unexciting. If you’re in the market for a quality affordable phono stage, this little Award-winning box is well worth auditioning.In this article, we’re looking at the best phono preamps you can buy for your turntable in 2023. The phono preamp is a key component of your sound system, but finding the best one is not easy. People often forget how vital it is, and overlook this component.