Cambridge Audio Release Worlds First Wireless Turntable-Alva TT @ CES 2019
Image Credit – Cambridge Audio
Image Credit – Cambridge Audio
A Record Year For Vinyl
Sales of vinyl records have surged in recent years, reaching a record high last year, with over 7.6 million LPs sold in the US by July 2018. The spending figures proved that the vinyl resurgence is stronger than ever. With innovative new turntables like the Alva TT now bridging the gap between the old and new audio tech, it looks like now is a good time to purchase your new turntable.
Cambridge Audio has unveiled the world’s first turntable to support AptX HD Bluetooth audio, the Alva TT. This means that you no longer have to make a choice between listening to your beloved vinyl and experiencing excellent audio quality from your streaming devices.
Launched at this year’s CES 2019, the Alva TT supports 24-bit/48kHz audio streaming over Bluetooth to compatible amplifiers, speakers, and headphones, so you can listen to your records wirelessly, and in high quality AptX HD.
This should provide an sound quality that approaches wired high-resolution analog audio, while retaining, hopefully, the uniquely warm sound of vinyl playback thanks to the built-in noise-reducing phono stage.
By removing the need for wires, the new turntable combination should provide you with more options in terms of placement in your home than ever before, making listening to your records a totally seamless experience.
The Alva TT features a single piece tonearm, designed to reduced friction, together with a high output moving coil cartridge that should deliver high levels of detail from your record collection. The platter is driven by a medium torque Direct Drive motor claiming to provide a 0.06% Wow and Flutter and supports both 33 1/3 and 45 RPM discs. Besides a commendably low distortion of 0.0025%, the phono stage provides the standard line level analog phono output for those purists amongst us, together with the ability to disable the Blue Tooth connection. To cap this excellent combination the turntable also includes a detachable dust cover to keep things in dust free pristine condition.
The heritage British audio company says that the Alva TT, supplied with cartridge, will be available to buy from April 2019 for $1,699.99. The high-output moving coil cartridge, ALVA MC, will also be available to purchase separately for approximately $500. Cambridge Audio also makes two excellent ALVA phono cartridge pre-amps, the ALVA DUO $179.99 and the ALVA SOLO $299.99 to support the use of this MC cartridge in other turntable setups.
While I have to agree on the convenience of this connectivity, I am not too sure as to the audiophile validity of the connection. After all it is still subject to all the issues of ADC/DAC conversion, not matter how well accomplished. At least it gives a simpler introduction to the joys of vinyl and hopefully continues the ever growing demand for this sensual media, giving those amongst us with the ‘ear’, an upgrade pathway to move on to the next level of refinement…..the all analog replay chain.
Click here for further details and full specifications for the Alva TT.
