Beginner Question: Turntable for CXA 81 Amp

[Surfingdave]

Hello,
I have zero idea about the best way to connect a turntable. My amp does not have a phono input, and I I understand I need a preamp.
Is there any disadvantage re sound buying a turntable with a built in phonostage vs a turntable and separate preamp?

I’m looking at either the CA Alva TT v2 or a Technics turntable (like 1200 mo7).

Thanks

 

[Al ears]

Hello,
I have zero idea about the best way to connect a turntable. My amp does not have a phono input, and I I understand I need a preamp.
Is there any disadvantage re sound buying a turntable with a built in phonostage vs a turntable and separate preamp?

I’m looking at either the CA Alva TT v2 or a Technics turntable (like 1200 mo7).

Thanks

With so many amplifiers now being produced without phono stages the manufacture of turntables with built in phono preamps has increased.
They are adequate in most circumstances but most can be bettered by a modest separate preamp.
That said the phono stage in the Alva is supposed to be quite good, not to sure it needed Bluetooth though.

 

[daytona600]

Rega/Technics/Project + Phono Stage

 

[record_spot]

Hello,
I have zero idea about the best way to connect a turntable. My amp does not have a phono input, and I I understand I need a preamp.
Is there any disadvantage re sound buying a turntable with a built in phonostage vs a turntable and separate preamp?

I’m looking at either the CA Alva TT v2 or a Technics turntable (like 1200 mo7).

Thanks

Is suggest you can buy the TT V2 with confidence. Onboard phono stage which you can bypass if you buy a separate phono stage later. The Bluetooth is also bypassed if you wish.

The cartridge and tonearm are apparently excellent, the former alone comes in at around £500 if bought on its own. Build quality is excellent.

I've had the Alva ST for some time now and am very impressed with it.

 

[Al ears]

Is suggest you can buy the TT V2 with confidence. Onboard phono stage which you can bypass if you buy a separate phono stage later. The Bluetooth is also bypassed if you wish.

The cartridge and tonearm are apparently excellent, the former alone comes in at around £500 if bought on its own. Build quality is excellent.

I've had the Alva ST for some time now and am very impressed with it.

Yes, just be aware it comes with an MC cartridge, which in itself is unusual, and as such you will not be able to upgrade the stylus if it eventually dies.

 

[Surfingdave]

Thanks all for the input . The Alva TT v2 does indeed sound like a good option, the direct drive version is on sale here for £ 850.

 

[Al ears]

Thanks all for the input . The Alva TT v2 does indeed sound like a good option, the direct drive version is on sale here for £ 850.

Aren't all Alva v2 direct drive?
That's a very good price.

 

[daytona600]

Alva TT V2 £ 1700 New , Like all chinese TTs they never hold any value
selling for @ under £500 lost 70% in a few years
Running costs Every time you play a record Burn a 20quid note

Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 Turntable (Cartridge in photos is not included) | eBay UK

I cannot find the Ortofon scales that should also be included but they are not very good and I would suggest using more accurate digital stylus scales that are available online.

www.ebay.co.uk

Alva MC will wear out and need replaced as fixed stylus @ £ 319 will cost 70% of the TTs value
Try sending this back to china for a re-tip/rebuild
2022 They where £500 New , 2025 now £319 buy the time you need to buy one could be much cheaper again

Technics/Project/Rega all hold values much better

 

[Al ears]

Alva TT V2 £ 1700 New , Like all chinese TTs they never hold any value
selling for @ under £500 lost 70% in a few years
Running costs Every time you play a record Burn a 20quid note

Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 Turntable (Cartridge in photos is not included) | eBay UK

I cannot find the Ortofon scales that should also be included but they are not very good and I would suggest using more accurate digital stylus scales that are available online.

www.ebay.co.uk

Alva MC will wear out and need replaced as fixed stylus @ £ 319 will cost 70% of the TTs value
Try sending this back to china for a re-tip/rebuild
2022 They where £500 New , 2025 now £319 buy the time you need to buy one could be much cheaper again

Technics/Project/Rega all hold values much better

Agreed regarding the value of the decks you mention but if buying as a keeper and not too concerned about resell value then the Alva, at its current price, is the better deck when compared to price equivalent turntables from other manufacturers.
Admittedly at the RRP of £1699 it was overpriced.

 

[record_spot]

Alva TT V2 £ 1700 New , Like all chinese TTs they never hold any value
selling for @ under £500 lost 70% in a few years
Running costs Every time you play a record Burn a 20quid note

Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 Turntable (Cartridge in photos is not included) | eBay UK

I cannot find the Ortofon scales that should also be included but they are not very good and I would suggest using more accurate digital stylus scales that are available online.

www.ebay.co.uk

Alva MC will wear out and need replaced as fixed stylus @ £ 319 will cost 70% of the TTs value
Try sending this back to china for a re-tip/rebuild
2022 They where £500 New , 2025 now £319 buy the time you need to buy one could be much cheaper again

Technics/Project/Rega all hold values much better

Well, someone's breetches are chafing today...

Okay, so John Darko rated and used the Alva TTv2 for a while last year and rated it. I picked up the Alva ST a couple of years ago and fit and finish remain excellent. Sound quality likewise.

Build quality exceeds the likes of Rega's P3 and up to the midrange Projects likewise. Both of which are pretty much gloss MDF and in the Rega you pay for the arm and the motor and that's the bulk of it.

As for where they're built, neither here nor there. The hiring company sets the quality assurance standards in the body of the contract with whoever the sub-contractor is. So regardless of where you build the gear, the build standard is set in stone. This is borne out in practice, and in my experience, lives up to it.

As for residual down the line, who cares? If you keep it for 10 years then you're good to go. And of course Technics and Rega residuals are higher; they've been making turntable for far longer. Cambridge by contrast are lucky if they've got four years under their belt (drive). I look forward to seeing their future decks.

All of the above is where I'm at. YMMV.

To the OP: as previously stated, buy with confidence.

 

[Al ears]

Well, someone's breetches are chafing today...

Okay, so John Darko rated and used the Alva TTv2 for a while last year and rated it. I picked up the Alva ST a couple of years ago and fit and finish remain excellent. Sound quality likewise.

Build quality exceeds the likes of Rega's P3 and up to the midrange Projects likewise. Both of which are pretty much gloss MDF and in the Rega you pay for the arm and the motor and that's the bulk of it.

As for where they're built, neither here nor there. The hiring company sets the quality assurance standards in the body of the contract with whoever the sub-contractor is. So regardless of where you build the gear, the build standard is set in stone. This is borne out in practice, and in my experience, lives up to it.

As for residual down the line, who cares? If you keep it for 10 years then you're good to go. And of course Technics and Rega residuals are higher; they've been making turntable for far longer. Cambridge by contrast are lucky if they've got four years under their belt (drive). I look forward to seeing their future decks.

All of the above is where I'm at. YMMV.

To the OP: as previously stated, buy with confidence.

I must admit I have never bought a turntable with the future resale value as a factor in my auditionings.
The hifi world is a fickle place and it only needs vinyl to drop back out of fashion and your turntable is going to be worthless anyway.....

 

[daytona600]

As for residual down the line, who cares?

What to buy a House , Car , Investments , Pension

 

[Al ears]

As for residual down the line, who cares?

What to buy a House , Car , Investments , Pension

All of the above.... 🙂
Except only the House is likely to increase in price.

 

[daytona600]

Depends what you buy Al
1954 - £19
Garrard 301 launched in 1954, the base unit (motor + platter, without plinth, tonearm, cartridge) was priced at £19 plus £6 3s 6d purchase tax
2025 - £51,645

Garrard 301 Advanced

Launched in 1954, the Garrard 301 'transcription motor' saw seven editions until production ceased in 1964. Sixty years later comes another, in an 'Advanced' plinth! I can sense your confusion. However, before you start wondering why our 'Vintage Review' has moved closer to the front of the...

www.hifinews.com

 

[Al ears]

Depends what you buy Al
1954 - £19
Garrard 301 launched in 1954, the base unit (motor + platter, without plinth, tonearm, cartridge) was priced at £19 plus £6 3s 6d purchase tax
2025 - £51,645

Garrard 301 Advanced

Launched in 1954, the Garrard 301 'transcription motor' saw seven editions until production ceased in 1964. Sixty years later comes another, in an 'Advanced' plinth! I can sense your confusion. However, before you start wondering why our 'Vintage Review' has moved closer to the front of the...

www.hifinews.com

I don't see your point I am afraid.
What exactly are you saying?
My point was nobody should go out and buy a turntable these days with the assumption it will go up in value.
Nobody is surely going to believe buying an old turntable that might still be going in sixty years and then slapping it in an expensive plinth and attaching a great tonearm will be a sound idea?
Especially when they then think its worth 51k?
I'm out as we are straying too far from the OPs question.

 

[record_spot]

As for residual down the line, who cares?

What to buy a House , Car , Investments , Pension

Well, you're the one that brought up how well Rega, Project, Technics all hold their value. So hence the comment.

And, much like @Al ears I've never bought any item of hifi thinking "this'll be worth a bob or two in 15 years time".

 

[nopiano]

Thanks all for the input . The Alva TT v2 does indeed sound like a good option, the direct drive version is on sale here for £ 850.

While the Cambridge is an interesting design, I’m inclined to go with the Technics, Rega, Pro-ject suggestions here.

In particular, as you mentioned direct drive positively, the Technics is a no brainer. Not the old 1200 you mention, but a newer SL1500 with the built in phono stage to get you started. Then an upgrade of stylus - assuming you get the Ortofon fitted there in Australia. But, the $64,000 question, what is your local price?

Better models are available if budget permits.

 

[RoA]

While the Cambridge is an interesting design, I’m inclined to go with the Technics, Rega, Pro-ject suggestions here.

In particular, as you mentioned direct drive positively, the Technics is a no brainer. Not the old 1200 you mention, but a newer SL1500 with the built in phono stage to get you started. Then an upgrade of stylus - assuming you get the Ortofon fitted there in Australia. But, the $64,000 question, what is your local price?

Better models are available if budget permits.

Superb decks. Technics have raised the bar with their later turntables and improved direct drives. I have a 100C in black (1500C without built in phono stage).

 

[Surfingdave]

While the Cambridge is an interesting design, I’m inclined to go with the Technics, Rega, Pro-ject suggestions here.

In particular, as you mentioned direct drive positively, the Technics is a no brainer. Not the old 1200 you mention, but a newer SL1500 with the built in phono stage to get you started. Then an upgrade of stylus - assuming you get the Ortofon fitted there in Australia. But, the $64,000 question, what is your local price?

Better models are available if budget permits.

Cheers. SL1500Cs, with an Ortofon 2M RED cartridge, look to be £895.
£50 more than the on-sale CA Alva TT v2.

 

[RoA]

Cheers. SL1500Cs, with an Ortofon 2M RED cartridge, look to be £895.
£50 more than the on-sale CA Alva TT v2.

They both look fine. Which one do you like the look of more ...

 

[Entrigo]

Agree with the above, the Technics is a superb turntable. I had it and just upgraded to the considerably more expensive SL1300G - did some A/B before dropping the SL1500C off to its new home and it really held its own, which is remarkable considering the nearly £2k price difference.
Main thing to bear in mind - sell on the Ortofon Red and get a better cartridge!

 

[nopiano]

Agree with the above, the Technics is a superb turntable. I had it and just upgraded to the considerably more expensive SL1300G - did some A/B before dropping the SL1500C off to its new home and it really held its own, which is remarkable considering the nearly £2k price difference.
Main thing to bear in mind - sell on the Ortofon Red and get a better cartridge!

I had in mind a Blue stylus upgrade might be the next step…but any AT VM95 series is a good bet too.

 

[daytona600]

SL1300G could be all the TT most people ever need

Plenty of upgrades Supatrak Nighthawk/Blackbird + Hiend MC cartidge

 

[record_spot]

Cheers. SL1500Cs, with an Ortofon 2M RED cartridge, look to be £895.
£50 more than the on-sale CA Alva TT v2.

Pretty close in price, but then to get the performance up, you'll need a (much) better cartridge on the Technics and the build between the two will be close.

 

[Al ears]

Pretty close in price, but then to get the performance up, you'll need a (much) better cartridge on the Technics and the build between the two will be close.

Agreed. If going for the Technics I would try to get it reduced without a fitted cartridge then buy a decent Audio Technica to be fitted by the dealer ....