So this was an upgrade for me from an integrated pre-amp. I am a headphone listener so this is running into a Topping A90D headphone amp that drives a pair of custom Sennheiser HD 600 plugged into balanced XLR.
Upon getting this today I set about getting it set up and wired in. Once complete pulled out my OG copy of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall", put my headphones on, and turned everything on at which point I was immediately met with a horribly unpleasant high pitched hum. I was SOOOO bummed, I had read all the reviews including those talking about hum issues. But I also knew I'm not your average bear and I always approach things with a "where there is an effect there is a cause" mentality, so I set about solving the issue before just returning the unit.
First I triple checked all my connections, nope. Then I moved to adjusting my ground wire, nuh-uh. Next I made a new ground wire in case the old one I made a long time ago had failed somewhere at a connector. New wire in, no change. Then I decided to try plugging the amp directly into the wall instead of a power strip, no change. Next tried moving my headphone amp away, same outcome.
In a final fit of figuring this out I plugged my TT, headphone amp, and Alva Duo into a separate power strip from everything else and started turning things off in my office. Imagine my surprise when after turning off the Govee light strip under my desk, THE HUM STOPPED ALTOGETHER!!! It was the balast/transformer in my cheap Govee lights creating RFI that the Alva was picking up. My Hue lights are fine, just the cheap Govee light causes issues. So all I have to do is not have that under desk lighting on when I listen to my TT. Not ideal but a 1st world issue I can live with.
In conclusion these kinds of components are extremely sensitive to RFI and when close to various other electrical components, they can be impacted. Since figuring it out I have listened through 7 records beginning to end with NO issues. This Pre-Amp is night and day for me and just a wonderful product. Multiple times I've been like "How did I forget how amazing this record sounds!" Then I realize they didn't sound this good before, the amp is exaggerating everything my previous solution couldn't!! The bass is deep and tight. Highs are sharp and "snappy". From trumpets sounding crisp to guitar plucks sounding tight, this pre-amp has just cleaned up and accentuated all my music's best attributes. I am very impressed, and if that changes I will provide an update. Next up for upgrade is a better phono cartridge to really squeeze every bit of performance out of my table. Happy listening.
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Product Description
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VINYL AS IT’S SUPPOSED TO SOUNDWhether you’re dusting off your record collection or embracing analogue through the vinyl revival, there’s a unique experience to be had from the moment you drop the needle on your favourite album. To preserve the unique warmth of the vinyl sound, the Duo phono preamplifier has been carefully designed with a state-of-the-art switch mode power supply and a new surface mounted circuit board layout to reduce unwanted noise. |
WHY CHOOSE A DEDICATED PHONO PREAMPLIFIER?Due to the low-level signals created by a turntable, not all hi-fi amplifiers will let you connect directly to a record player. The phono preamplifier boosts this signal to something a power amplifier can work with. The challenge at this stage though is that noise can easily be added. This is why we’ve designed the Duo around exceptional components that deliver the warm and detailed sound that’s synonymous with vinyl, all without distorting the signal from your moving magnet cartridge turntable. The switch mode power supply improves performance by switching outside of audible frequency to drastically reduce hum |
VINYL. JUST FOR YOU.If some records in your collection are a little worse for wear, the subsonic filter will help to eliminate low frequency rumbles that can be caused by imperfections within your vinyl. Combine this with the balance control for handling potential cartridge imbalances in your record player (that can cause a difference between the left and right channels) and the result is a detailed experience with accurate soundstage. |
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
If some records in your collection are a little worse for wear, the subsonic filter will help to eliminate low frequency rumbles that can be caused by imperfections within your vinyl. Combine this with the balance control for handling potential cartridge imbalances in your record player (that can cause a difference between the left and right channels) and the result is a detailed experience with accurate soundstage.
GREEN AT HEART
The Duo phono preamplifier is green at heart with less than half a watt standby power consumption and auto power down feature if the unit isn’t used after a 20 minute period. This in turn gives the unit the same worldwide voltage for compatibility wherever you are in the world.
Compare with similar items
This Item  Cambridge Audio Alva Duo | Phono Preamp for Moving Magnet & Moving Coil Turntables |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $65.99 | -13% $22.49 List: $25.99 | $199.00 | $329.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it May 2 - 3 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 4 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 4 | Get it May 2 - 6 |
| Customer Ratings | |||||
| Sound quality | |||||
| Value for money | |||||
| Sold By | — | GearTree | Amazon.com | GRAMOPHONE | AudioExchange |
| power source | Corded Electric | 150mA | Battery Powered | Corded Electric | Corded Electric |
| connectivity tech | RCA | Verkabelt | Wired | — | RCA |
| material | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | — |
| weight | 1.2 kilograms | 0.55 kilograms | 0.6 pounds | — | 0.3 kilograms |
| motor type | DC Motor | DC Motor | DC Motor | — | DC Motor |
Reviews with images
Excellent sounding phono pre-amp!
One of my hobbies is rebuilding/restoration of vintage stereo amplifiers. I bought the Cambridge Alva Duo after reading highly positive eviews from reputable audio publications and because it has a MC output. Amazon had it discounted recently so it was a no brainer to order it.Currently I have it connected to a vintage Marantz 1060 integrated amplifier I rebuilt. The 1060 does not have a MC output. My phono cartridge (Zu Audio/Denon 103) is a low output MC cartridge so you have to turn the amplifier's volume up quit a bit.The Duo is dead quiet and the gain on the MC circuit is more than adequate. Without using the Duo I had to listen with the volume control at the 2 o'clock position. With the Duo the volume control is ~ the 10 - 11 o'clock position to get the same volume level.Connected through the 1060 the bass has good punch and was impactful, yet well recorded bass has timbre and definition. e.g. Hotel California (The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over LP) the kick drum does not just sound like a thud, but has texture. Midrange and highs are very clear and detailed without being harsh or shrill. If there is ambience around the singer's voice they more apparent, as are background vocalists.Listening to my favorite artists' LP (Dave Grusin, remastered Beatles, Judy Collins, the Crusaders, John Klemmer, Roy Orbison, Larry Carlton, and some Telarc LPs), I was impressed with the clarity of these LPs throughout the audible range compared to my primary system pre-amp which does have a built in MC phono pre-amp.I appreciate that the Duo came with a detachable IEC power cord so it can be replaced with a audiophile grade power cord if you want to.I did not test the headphone function on the Duo so cannot comment on it.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2023
So this was an upgrade for me from an integrated pre-amp. I am a headphone listener so this is running into a Topping A90D headphone amp that drives a pair of custom Sennheiser HD 600 plugged into balanced XLR.
Upon getting this today I set about getting it set up and wired in. Once complete pulled out my OG copy of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall", put my headphones on, and turned everything on at which point I was immediately met with a horribly unpleasant high pitched hum. I was SOOOO bummed, I had read all the reviews including those talking about hum issues. But I also knew I'm not your average bear and I always approach things with a "where there is an effect there is a cause" mentality, so I set about solving the issue before just returning the unit.
First I triple checked all my connections, nope. Then I moved to adjusting my ground wire, nuh-uh. Next I made a new ground wire in case the old one I made a long time ago had failed somewhere at a connector. New wire in, no change. Then I decided to try plugging the amp directly into the wall instead of a power strip, no change. Next tried moving my headphone amp away, same outcome.
In a final fit of figuring this out I plugged my TT, headphone amp, and Alva Duo into a separate power strip from everything else and started turning things off in my office. Imagine my surprise when after turning off the Govee light strip under my desk, THE HUM STOPPED ALTOGETHER!!! It was the balast/transformer in my cheap Govee lights creating RFI that the Alva was picking up. My Hue lights are fine, just the cheap Govee light causes issues. So all I have to do is not have that under desk lighting on when I listen to my TT. Not ideal but a 1st world issue I can live with.
In conclusion these kinds of components are extremely sensitive to RFI and when close to various other electrical components, they can be impacted. Since figuring it out I have listened through 7 records beginning to end with NO issues. This Pre-Amp is night and day for me and just a wonderful product. Multiple times I've been like "How did I forget how amazing this record sounds!" Then I realize they didn't sound this good before, the amp is exaggerating everything my previous solution couldn't!! The bass is deep and tight. Highs are sharp and "snappy". From trumpets sounding crisp to guitar plucks sounding tight, this pre-amp has just cleaned up and accentuated all my music's best attributes. I am very impressed, and if that changes I will provide an update. Next up for upgrade is a better phono cartridge to really squeeze every bit of performance out of my table. Happy listening.
Upon getting this today I set about getting it set up and wired in. Once complete pulled out my OG copy of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall", put my headphones on, and turned everything on at which point I was immediately met with a horribly unpleasant high pitched hum. I was SOOOO bummed, I had read all the reviews including those talking about hum issues. But I also knew I'm not your average bear and I always approach things with a "where there is an effect there is a cause" mentality, so I set about solving the issue before just returning the unit.
First I triple checked all my connections, nope. Then I moved to adjusting my ground wire, nuh-uh. Next I made a new ground wire in case the old one I made a long time ago had failed somewhere at a connector. New wire in, no change. Then I decided to try plugging the amp directly into the wall instead of a power strip, no change. Next tried moving my headphone amp away, same outcome.
In a final fit of figuring this out I plugged my TT, headphone amp, and Alva Duo into a separate power strip from everything else and started turning things off in my office. Imagine my surprise when after turning off the Govee light strip under my desk, THE HUM STOPPED ALTOGETHER!!! It was the balast/transformer in my cheap Govee lights creating RFI that the Alva was picking up. My Hue lights are fine, just the cheap Govee light causes issues. So all I have to do is not have that under desk lighting on when I listen to my TT. Not ideal but a 1st world issue I can live with.
In conclusion these kinds of components are extremely sensitive to RFI and when close to various other electrical components, they can be impacted. Since figuring it out I have listened through 7 records beginning to end with NO issues. This Pre-Amp is night and day for me and just a wonderful product. Multiple times I've been like "How did I forget how amazing this record sounds!" Then I realize they didn't sound this good before, the amp is exaggerating everything my previous solution couldn't!! The bass is deep and tight. Highs are sharp and "snappy". From trumpets sounding crisp to guitar plucks sounding tight, this pre-amp has just cleaned up and accentuated all my music's best attributes. I am very impressed, and if that changes I will provide an update. Next up for upgrade is a better phono cartridge to really squeeze every bit of performance out of my table. Happy listening.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2023
One of my hobbies is rebuilding/restoration of vintage stereo amplifiers. I bought the Cambridge Alva Duo after reading highly positive eviews from reputable audio publications and because it has a MC output. Amazon had it discounted recently so it was a no brainer to order it.
Currently I have it connected to a vintage Marantz 1060 integrated amplifier I rebuilt. The 1060 does not have a MC output. My phono cartridge (Zu Audio/Denon 103) is a low output MC cartridge so you have to turn the amplifier's volume up quit a bit.
The Duo is dead quiet and the gain on the MC circuit is more than adequate. Without using the Duo I had to listen with the volume control at the 2 o'clock position. With the Duo the volume control is ~ the 10 - 11 o'clock position to get the same volume level.
Connected through the 1060 the bass has good punch and was impactful, yet well recorded bass has timbre and definition. e.g. Hotel California (The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over LP) the kick drum does not just sound like a thud, but has texture. Midrange and highs are very clear and detailed without being harsh or shrill. If there is ambience around the singer's voice they more apparent, as are background vocalists.
Listening to my favorite artists' LP (Dave Grusin, remastered Beatles, Judy Collins, the Crusaders, John Klemmer, Roy Orbison, Larry Carlton, and some Telarc LPs), I was impressed with the clarity of these LPs throughout the audible range compared to my primary system pre-amp which does have a built in MC phono pre-amp.
I appreciate that the Duo came with a detachable IEC power cord so it can be replaced with a audiophile grade power cord if you want to.
I did not test the headphone function on the Duo so cannot comment on it.
Currently I have it connected to a vintage Marantz 1060 integrated amplifier I rebuilt. The 1060 does not have a MC output. My phono cartridge (Zu Audio/Denon 103) is a low output MC cartridge so you have to turn the amplifier's volume up quit a bit.
The Duo is dead quiet and the gain on the MC circuit is more than adequate. Without using the Duo I had to listen with the volume control at the 2 o'clock position. With the Duo the volume control is ~ the 10 - 11 o'clock position to get the same volume level.
Connected through the 1060 the bass has good punch and was impactful, yet well recorded bass has timbre and definition. e.g. Hotel California (The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over LP) the kick drum does not just sound like a thud, but has texture. Midrange and highs are very clear and detailed without being harsh or shrill. If there is ambience around the singer's voice they more apparent, as are background vocalists.
Listening to my favorite artists' LP (Dave Grusin, remastered Beatles, Judy Collins, the Crusaders, John Klemmer, Roy Orbison, Larry Carlton, and some Telarc LPs), I was impressed with the clarity of these LPs throughout the audible range compared to my primary system pre-amp which does have a built in MC phono pre-amp.
I appreciate that the Duo came with a detachable IEC power cord so it can be replaced with a audiophile grade power cord if you want to.
I did not test the headphone function on the Duo so cannot comment on it.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2023
Top reviews from other countries
D. Glez
Ampliamente recomendable
Reviewed in Mexico on January 9, 2024
D. Glez
Reviewed in Mexico on January 9, 2024
La función de balance es una belleza; puedes encontrar el punto medio para que ambas bocinas se escuchen al mismo nivel.
Images in this review
Raymond Brunet
La critique veut que ce soit un excellent produit.
Reviewed in Canada on April 25, 2023