CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT - APTX HD BLUETOOTH TURNTABLE

The Cambridge Audio Alva TT is able to stream 24-bit/48kHz high-quality audio to your receiver or another compatible device.

There are plenty of hi-fi fans that remain untrusting where cutting the cables are concerned. This is understandable as there are many occasions where wireless audio has not been able to match the quality of physical links between components. That said, there are great audiophile brands who have managed this and impressed us.

Amongst the flurry of turntable launches at CES 2019, the Alva TT offers something genuinely new with aptX HD, developed by Qualcomm for high-quality audio over Bluetooth connections. Streaming over aptX HD is to all intents and purposes as good as connecting via cable. I recently reviewed the little Cyrus ONE HD and was hooked on its aptX HD chops.

Cambridge Audio tells us that aptX HD is indistinguishable from wired high-res audio as long as the receiving devices are also equipped with aptX HD skills. Additionally, there's a built-in phono stage or pre-amp, so there's no need for any extra gear other than speakers.

Of course, the main benefit of this wireless magic is that you can place the turntable anywhere within Bluetooth range of the receiving devices. From an interior design point of view, this is quite an important aspect for those who prefer a minimalist aesthetic to their home.

The turntable uses a direct drive motor and a body milled from aluminium to cut vibrations. There is also a rigid and dense Polyoxymethylene (POM) platter. However, a vital piece of the magic is the moving-coil cartridge and low-friction one-piece tonearm. The cartridge boasts an improved response time and detail over conventional magnetic cartridges, further helping boost the wireless quality to wired expectation-levels.

The Cambridge Audio Alva TT will be available in April and cost £1,500 ($1,700 in the US). The Alva MC cartridge will cost £450 ( $500 in the US).

For more information, go to Cambridge Audio.