Cambridge Audio Alva ST turntable
Hi-fi turntables · 2021–present In production
$699 US reference price
Cambridge Audio Alva ST is a current belt-drive, manual operation, 33/45 rpm playback hi-fi turntable. Documented convenience features include Bluetooth, a built-in phono preamp. The US reference price is $699.
Decision snapshot
The five things to check first
- Plays
- 33/45 rpm
- System hookup
- No separate phono preamp
- Cueing
- Manual cueing
- Stylus path
- Mapped: AT-VMN95E
- Buying status
- Current model
Setup bottom line: Add amplification and speakers, but a separate phono preamp is not required. Check model-specific stylus evidence →
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 (151 of 183). A built-in phono stage puts it with the 47% of current decks that plug straight into any amp or powered speaker. On price it sits mid-pack of its category — 38% of priced hi-fi decks cost less.
Cartridge and replacement stylus
Factory cartridge: Audio-Technica AT-VM95E · replacement stylus: AT-VMN95E · around $49.
Keep the evidence layers separate
Buying evidence for this model
- US reference price
- $699. A dated guide value for comparison, not an offer or availability claim.
- Live retailer offers
- No live offer feed is enabled for this model.
- Retailer links
- Brand or product routes to relevant US retailers; a search link is not a stock claim.
An internally verified exact identifier may improve offer matching, but it is not published as a catalogue fact unless independently corroborated. Always confirm the exact model, final price, delivery and returns with the retailer.
Where to buy the Cambridge Audio Alva ST
3 US retailers stock Cambridge Audio — linked directly to the product page where we have one, otherwise to a site search for the deck.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turntable Lab | hifi independent | Free shipping to the continental US on most orders (bulk/oversized items excluded). | View at Turntable Lab ↗ |
| Amazon | marketplace | Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). | Search at Amazon ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |