Cambridge Audio - Alva ST Belt Drive Turntable with Bluetooth aptX HD

The Cambridge Audio Alva ST is a belt-drive turntable with electronic speed control, a pre-fitted moving magnet cartridge, switchable built-in phono stage and hi-res Bluetooth aptX HD streaming.

The Alva ST pairs classic analogue warmth with modern convenience. Its belt-drive mechanism ensures smooth rotation and minimal vibration, while electronic speed control switches between 33 1/3 and 45rpm at the touch of a button — no lifting the platter to move a belt. The die-cast, CNC-finished aluminium platter spins atop a plinth built from a 1mm aluminium top plate, vibration-absorbing EVA layer and MDF base.

A high-mass, low-resonance tonearm with anti-skating dial and detachable headshell carries the factory-fitted moving magnet cartridge with elliptical stylus. The built-in switchable phono stage connects directly to any amplifier or powered speakers — or bypass it for your own external phono stage — and Bluetooth aptX HD streams wirelessly to compatible speakers or headphones in up to 24-bit/48kHz hi-res quality.

Features

• Belt drive with electronic speed control (33 1/3 and 45rpm)
• Bluetooth aptX HD wireless streaming up to 24-bit/48kHz
• Pre-installed moving magnet cartridge with elliptical stylus
• Built-in switchable phono stage (phono/line output)
• High-mass, low-resonance tonearm with anti-skating dial
• Detachable headshell for easy cartridge swaps
• Die-cast CNC-finished aluminium platter
• Aluminium top plate with vibration-absorbing EVA layer and MDF base
• Dust cover included
• Ships with an Audio-Technica VM95E moving magnet cartridge, fitted and aligned
• Removable headshell — the Alva MC and any VM95 series stylus are straight swaps
• Bluetooth transmits out to speakers or headphones; it does not receive

Specifications

• Drive: Belt drive, 33.3 and 45rpm, electronic speed control
• Wow and Flutter: Less than 0.12%
• Platter: Die-cast aluminium, 305mm diameter
• Plinth: 1 mm aluminium top plate over a vibration-absorbing EVA layer on an MDF base
• Tonearm: Static balanced with detachable headshell; effective length 221.5mm; cartridge weight range 4.5-12g
• Cartridge: Audio-Technica VM95E moving magnet, factory fitted and aligned — 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus, alloy tube cantilever, 1.8-3.6 mV output at 1 kHz, 2 g tracking force, 47k ohm recommended load
• Cartridge Upgrade: The headshell is removable and Cambridge Audio confirms its own Alva MC cartridge can be fitted
• Phono Stage: 42dB gain @ 1kHz, RIAA accuracy ±0.3dB (30Hz-20kHz), S/N greater than 90dB, THD+N 0.0025% @ 1kHz
• Phono Stage Output: 250 mV RMS nominal
• Outputs: RCA phono/line level (switchable), Bluetooth SBC/aptX/aptX HD
• Ground Terminal: Yes, rear-panel ground screw
• Bluetooth: Transmit only — SBC, aptX and aptX HD up to 24-bit/48 kHz, out to speakers or headphones. There is no Bluetooth input
• Power: DC 12V, 6W consumption (standby less than 0.3W)
• Dimensions: 17.1 x 5.5 x 14.4 in (435 x 139 x 366.7mm)
• Weight: 19.8 lbs (9kg)
• Included: Dust cover and two hinges, platter, counterweight, rubber slipmat, removable headshell with cartridge fitted, power adapter, RCA cable, ground lead, Ortofon stylus gauge
• Note: No 45 RPM adapter is included