Cambridge Audio Alva Duo - Stereo Moving Magnet and Moving Coil Phono Stage/Pre-Amplifier - Lunar Grey

Product Information

What are the downsides of the ART FJPREII? The sound is respectable but can suffer with challenging material. If you listen to genres like orchestral music, or anything with busy instrumentation, you’re going to notice some problems in the stereo image. And while this amp has stood the test of time, the looks could definitely could use an update. Regardless, the DJPREII is a proven winner at this price point. We’d always rather steer you in the direction of a tried and tested preamp, and this model certainly fits the bill.

We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in Reading, London and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door – including phono preamps (or phono stages). It uses high-quality capacitors of Panasonic and TDK to enable precise clarity and low distortion. Its distinct low-noise power supply produces noise as low as -151dBV hence, offering a solid preamplification. Performance 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. Rather than use a series of dipswitches (as many rivals do), the MX-VYNL has a rather elegant control dial to manage the switch between moving coil and moving magnet inputs and their different loading requirements. For starters, iFi is a brand known for its outstanding products that compete with the best in the market at affordable prices. Better still, it allows the user to be more ambitious in settling, not for anything less.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. Everything I pipe through this preamp sounds velvety smooth. There’s a complimentary warmth to the sound that works wonders with my vinyl library. If you’re in the market for a quality affordable phono stage, this little Award-winning box is well worth auditioning. We've continuously been impressed with Rega's excellent (and rather affordable) Fono MM range, so it was something of a relief that the latest model, which featured a brand-spanking new look, didn't sacrifice style for sound. That same Rega DNA is still in there throughout the latest Fono MM Mk5 phono stage. For the purposes of this comparison, I used 4 turntables to give each unit an opportunity to shine and expose any warts or glaring shortcomings.

There’s a subsonic filter that removes low-frequency noise when it comes to performance. Power goes off after 20 minutes of inactivity and uses 0.5W power on standby mode. This way, it maintains low power consumption. A phono preamp comes with line-level outputs that produce signals for noise or overload. As a result, the signal distorts, requiring you to plug your preamp into your line inputs. 4) Can You Use A Preamp To Power Speakers?

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The smooth, full-bodied performance, coupled with the inclusion of a headphone amp, makes this stylish box certainly worthy of consideration. We use the Alva TT V2 in both our reference system of Cyrus Phono Signature/PSX-R2 phono stage, Burmester 088/911 Mk III amplifier and ATC SCM50 speakers, as well as a more price-compatible set-up of Naim SuperNait 3 and KEF LS50 Meta speakers, and it performs well. It uses a circuit that delivers equalization on the active bass and passive treble. Thanks to the even tonal balance, this phono preamp doesn’t consume more bass than it can handle. Rarely does Cambridge fire too wide of the mark, but the Duo hits right at the centre of the target.” – ‘What Hi-Fi’ – 5 Star review.