Cambridge AudioAlva Solo | Phono Preamp for Moving Magnet Turntable

High quality phono preamp for use with moving magnet cartridge turntables. Clean sound. Internal power supply is better than having another bulky wall wart to deal with. Big enough case so connections are not jammed tightly together.

I recently purchased a new turntable and decided that the old Behringer preamp had to go. There are plenty of cheap options and even more expensive ones so I was pleased to find the solo at a little under $200. I also looked at a slightly less expensive model from Schiit which got a lot of great reviews but there was also mention of some issues with quality control so I decided to go with the more established company and bought the solo. Shipping took a bit as it came from the U.K. But that was expected. Within ten minutes of the UPS driver leaving it at my door I had it hooked up and running. The difference in sound quality was immediately noticeable. Instrument separation and clarity was drastically increased and the low end became clean and powerful.About three weeks later however the brilliance seemed to vanish and I noticed a hum when the turntable motor was powering up. I had read a review which mentioned the loss of sound quality and got a bit depressed, believing I may have a faulty unit. Before trying to box the thing back up and starting the warranty process I decided to try something. I unplugged the turntable from the power strip that the solo was also plugged into and ran it to a strip connected to a different outlet.Oh happy day, the hum is gone and the sound is vibrant once again!!Perhaps my next investment will be power management gear but that’s for another day.I guess my only gripe (now that the first issue is resolved) would be the power indicator. When it’s on it’s slightly bright. When off it’s slightly less bright and doesn’t change color. Not the end of the world and not at all relevant to the fantastic sound quality so I’m giving this unit all the stars.

Sounds great! I'm not the kind of audiophile who thinks he hears the difference between two different spec compliant USB cables, but this absolutely does a better job at RIAA equalization than the $30 no name preamp I was using. No audible noise/hiss when powered on. It's a keeper!

I love Cambridge Audio. I own a CD player and a streamer. Excellent quality, however I found the Alva Solo very good but not great. Looks great and excellent quality build. Having a Schiit Mani 2, I wanted to see if this phono stage was an upgrade. I noticed a low level hum which I find a deal breaker. Hook the Mani 2 back up dead silent. Not even close. I also felt the low end lacked some punch. The highs maybe a little, and could the 100pf cause this, maybe. The lows, mids, and highs roll off the Mani 2 like a summer sunset. This unit can’t compete with the Mani 2. The adjustments on the Mani 2 vs no adjustments on the Solo is lowers it’s adaptability. Maybe you will have better sound with your setup as components vary. I wanted this to be a better unit but unfortunately it isn’t. I also have a Musical Fidelity V90 (excellent also) which sounds comparable to the Solo but not as good as the Mani 2. That’s why it’s rated at a 4.

So I have a fairly small space, and wanted to add a turntable in addition to streaming music on Klipsch “The Fives” speakers. Hardly audiophile quality, but the warmth of vinyl makes a difference to the jazz I listen to as well as some of the classical stuff. Since I don’t have an amplifier, I bought the Cambridge pre amp to take it from the table to the speakers. Before the pre amp arrived, I played some records using the pre amp in the speakers. It was OK, not bad not great. Then I got the pre amp, and after a quick and SIMPLE setup put on a Diana Krall album. It was just spectacular. I can’t speak the language of people who dive deep . . . but it you are looking at a pre amp this is well worth the money. The difference is readily apparent.

The media could not be loaded. Update,World Wide Stereo told me on the phone that there is nothing they would do for me and I had to deal with Cambridge Audio. They told me I was out of the 60 day return window. The preamp started it’s buzz and I reached out to them at 70 days, but they would not at still will not help me. Cambridge Audio said they would not give me a refund. The only thing they could do is keep replacing units until they find one that works. I have tried three preamps so far. All have some degree of buzzing that is not acceptable. Cambridge Audio nor World Wide Stereo seem to care that they sold a product that is so bad.I bought this last summer. It started to buzz outside of world wide stereo’s return window. They told me I had to deal with Cambridge Audio. I did, and they sent me a new preamp. The new preamp buzzed louder then my first one right out of the box. The video is of the replacement. After many emails with Cambridge Audio they came to the conclusion it was a faulty unit. I had my old NAD preamp and it didn’t have the buzz when I hooked it back up. The buzz was from the output of the Cambridge Audio Solo. I asked for a refund because my confidence in the unit is very low. Two preamps start to buzz in under a year. They sent me a third unit as a replacement without doing the refund I asked for, or telling me that is what they were going to do. I was lead to believe I could get a refund by the customer support person I was in contact with. I emailed them about the refund and they sent me back to world wide stereo. This is crazy! Someone should give me a refund on a product that has failed to work properly twice in less than a year, and it was two different units that failed. Do the right thing someone please!