88%
Cambridge Audio ALVA TT V2
- Bluetooth aptX HD – Switchable Hi-Res wireless streaming. Place the turntable on a flat-surface that suits you.
- Built-In Phono Stage – Switchable phono pre-amp, direct connection to amp – keep your setup simple.
- Direct Drive – Consistent drive speed with pitch-perfect audio reproduction.
- Pre-installed High-Output MC Cartridge – Pristine musical detail, custom design. Easy setup.
- New Tonearm with Removable Headshell – Lightweight and strong. Tracks your records flawlessly.
Just Add Vinyl
You’ve spent years curating the perfect record collection, searching for hidden gems in record shops and online – because you love music. Our shared love means that we didn’t stop with Alva TT.
We pushed on to create Alva TT V2; with a direct drive system, bespoke MC cartridge, an all-new tone-arm, and Hi-Res Bluetooth with an integrated phono stage – both now switchable.
We believe that your records deserve to sound as fantastic as they look.
King of Convenience
Alva TT V2 is for people who want to listen to records at exceptional quality – without the need to choose or fit extra components. TT V2 comes with a bespoke designed cartridge pre-installed. It connects to pretty much any audio system too, thanks to a switchable integrated phono-stage. It even works wirelessly with high quality Bluetooth speaker systems.
Hi-Res Bluetooth
Built-in Bluetooth aptX HD liberates Alva from the rest of your hi-fi. With the freedom to place an Alva deck on any flat surface, your records take centre-stage. Music can be streamed to any compatible Bluetooth kit, including headphones, at up to 24bit/48kHz Hi-Res quality. Or, you can deactivate it and simply use phono cables – it’s your call.
Integrated Phono Stage
Alva TT V2 has an integrated phono stage (phono pre-amp), derived from our award-winning Alva Duo – to reveal incredible detail from your records. It means you can connect TT V2 to any amp or compatible speaker system. You can deactivate the deck’s phono stage, too – ideal if your amp already has one or to keep upgrade options open.
MC Cartridge Pre-installed
Alva TT V2’s bespoke cartridge is ready fitted – so there’s no tricky set-up, and its sound is perfectly matched to the other components in the turntable. We designed the high-output Moving Coil (MC) cartridge with an exposed cantilever. It reduces unwanted resonance and vibration, delivers high levels of gain and outstanding musical detail during playback.
Direct Drive
Alva TT V2 has a medium-torque Direct Drive motor, like its predecessor the TT. The 8 pole, 3 phase, brushless DC motor is quartz controlled to ensure accurate turntable speed. With precision control, and silent running, Alva TT V2 achieves just 0.06% wow and flutter. This means excellent pitch stability – particularly during longer, more sustained, musical notes.
Reassuringly Solid Platter
Complimenting the direct drive motor, Alva TT V2’s platter has the feel of finely polished stone. It’s made from Polyoxymethylene, a semi-crystalline thermoplastic used in precision engineering applications, where high stiffness and dimensional stability are demanded. The weight of the platter, coupled with our medium torque direct drive motor, ensures excellent speed stability during playback of records.
All-New Tonearm
After hours of testing, our engineers selected a new high-mass, low-resonance tonearm for Alva TT V2 and Alva ST. By minimising resonant frequencies, and in combination with the cartridge, it helps retrieve the maximum detail from your records. A detachable die-cast aluminium headshell makes swapping cartridges easy – then fine-tuned with greater precision thanks to a new anti-skating dial.
Designed for Life
A record collection can last a lifetime, so why shouldn’t a turntable? We built Alva TT V2 to endure, starting with a top plate hewn from 6mm aluminium plate, and layer of EVA to absorb vibration sitting on MDF. It’s cradled in a composite chassis and weighs an impressive 10.9kg. Reassuring solid construction, with great acoustic qualities too.
Timeless Style, from London
Finished with a lunar-grey aluminium top plate and matt black plinth, tapering to our trademark floating wedge base, Alva TT V2 celebrates our timeless house-style. It’s the perfect match for our best-selling CX Series hi-fi separates and shares the laser-etched brand logo with our premium Edge Series.
Dust Never Sleeps
Keep your new Alva turntable’s finely balanced tonearm and aluminium top-plate pristine when you’ve finished spinning discs for the day, with the hinged dust-cover. It’s easy to raise, lower, remove and re-attach – the choice is yours.
Dealers selling Cambridge Audio near you
Rock‑solid speed stability and a weighty, refined midrange define the ALVA TT V2, pairing a direct‑drive motor with a preinstalled high‑output MC cartridge and switchable built‑in phono stage. Reviewers from SoundStage Solo and What Hi‑Fi? praise its quiet operation, imaging and usable feature set, while its composed, slightly warm presentation suits living‑room systems.
Pros
- Exceptional speed stability and pitch accuracy from the direct‑drive motor.
- Included high‑output MC cartridge plus a switchable onboard phono stage delivers detailed, musical midrange and very low noise.
- Robust, weighty construction and refined finish that feels built to last.
- aptX HD Bluetooth and reliable wireless range make flexible placement and headphone listening practical.
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Cons
- Bluetooth can sound more closed‑in/compressed than wired connections and pairing/stability is inconsistent on some devices.
- Dynamics and transient drive are a touch more restrained versus some rivals.
- Limited tweakability: no VTA/height adjustment, counterweight lacks fine markings, and minor arm‑bearing free‑play was reported.
Sound Quality
88/100
Weighted average of sub-criteria below.
Overall Sound
88/100
Reviewers consistently praise the Alva TT V2's musicality: roomy soundstage, strong midrange vocals, coherent presentation and rhythmic engagement. Multiple reviewers note a smooth, full-bodied, slightly warm character and excellent pre-mounted MC cartridge performance (e.g., What Hi‑Fi, Sound Advice, SoundStage Solo), though a few mention dynamics can be a touch more restrained than some rivals.
Speed Stability
92/100
Direct-drive implementation repeatedly highlighted for outstanding pitch stability and fast start-up; measured wow & flutter figures cited as <0.1% and one source claims 0.06%, with strobe-checked speeds "spot-on". Reviewers credit the motor and electronic speed control for rock-solid timing.
Tonearm Performance
86/100
New detachable-headshell tonearm is praised for low-friction bearings, easy setup and reliable tracking with the supplied high‑output MC; reviewers call the fitted cartridge one of the best pre-mounted options at the price. Minor caveats include no height (VTA) adjustment, a counterweight lacking clear dial markings, and one reviewer feeling slight free-play in bearings — audible performance wasn't materially harmed, but these limit ultimate tweakability.
Noise Isolation
85/100
Phono stage and motor are reported as very quiet (SNR >90dB, low rumble and near-silent operation) and reviewers found little background hiss. However, the design lacks a sprung subchassis; a few reviews note less decoupling than suspended designs and recommend a rigid, low-resonance support to avoid footfall/speaker-borne vibration.
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Build Quality
87/100
Strong, weighty metal construction and tidy engineering are repeatedly mentioned (10.9kg chassis, 2.2kg POM platter, solid aluminium top plate), with careful internal construction reported. Finish and fit are consistently described as classy and robust; only small notes of mechanical nitpicks (slight arm bearing free-play reported once) prevent a higher score.
Features Usability
90/100
Very feature-rich for the segment: built-in switchable phono stage, Bluetooth (SBC/aptX/aptX HD), included high-output MC cartridge and removable headshell, electronic speed switching, dust lid, and convenience-focused design elements (easy setup and an auto-shutoff noted). Reviewers repeatedly highlight real-world usability and lifestyle friendliness, making it more versatile than many pure 'audiophile' decks.
Value for Money
90/100
Across outlets reviewers call the Alva TT V2 a very compelling package at $1,999: the supplied MC cartridge alone would command a large portion of the price elsewhere, and the inclusion of a strong phono stage, Bluetooth and robust build make it competitive. Language used ranges from 'keen price' and 'great package' to 'perfect ... without breaking the bank', supporting a strong value score.
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