Cambridge Audio Alva ST
Hi-fi turntables · 2021–present In production
£849 UK RRP
The belt-drive Alva: a moving-magnet phono stage and aptX HD Bluetooth in a cleaner, lower-cost package than the TT.
Checked against the manufacturer’s site: 2026-07
Who it suits
Best suited to: a first serious turntable for an existing or planned amp-and-speakers setup. Less ideal for: plugging straight into passive speakers with no amp — check the built-in phono stage row above, and note most hi-fi decks still need external amplification.
Compatibility and setup
- Manual operation: you cue and lift the tonearm by hand at the start and end of each side — there’s no auto-return or auto-lift.
Good to know
- Has a built-in phono stage, so it can feed a normal line input on an amplifier or powered speakers without a separate phono box.
- Can transmit over Bluetooth as well as a wired output. A wired connection avoids Bluetooth codec compression.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Cartridge included | Audio-Technica AT-VM95E |
| Built-in phono stage | Yes |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Platter | aluminium |
| Tonearm | one-piece aluminium |
| Years | 2021–present |
How it sits in the catalogue
Its belt-drive mechanism is the majority choice in the database (130 of 159). A built-in phono stage puts it with the 45% of current decks that plug straight into any amp or powered speaker. On price it sits mid-pack of its category — 63% of priced hi-fi decks cost less.
Live merchant offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Cambridge Audio Alva ST…
Retailer searches
8 UK merchants stock Cambridge Audio — linked directly to the product page where we have one, otherwise to a site search for the deck.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richer Sounds | hifi chain | Free UK delivery on most orders; click & collect from stores | View at Richer Sounds ↗ |
| Audio Affair | hifi independent | Free UK delivery over £50 | Search at Audio Affair ↗ |
| Audio T | hifi chain | Free UK delivery on most items; in-store demos | Search at Audio T ↗ |
| Fanthorpes HiFi | hifi independent | Free UK delivery on most hi-fi | Search at Fanthorpes HiFi ↗ |
| Hi-Fi Corner | hifi independent | UK delivery; Edinburgh & Falkirk stores | Search at Hi-Fi Corner ↗ |
| Peter Tyson | hifi independent | Free UK delivery on most hi-fi; competitive pricing | Search at Peter Tyson ↗ |
| Sevenoaks Sound & Vision | hifi chain | Free UK delivery over £100; in-store demonstration and setup | Search at Sevenoaks Sound & Vision ↗ |
| Superfi | hifi independent | Free UK delivery over £50 | Search at Superfi ↗ |
Compare it
Compare the Alva ST against any other deck →
