Connecting a turntable directly to an integrated amplifier, while expecting balanced sound at the right level, is generally not possible. The signal from a moving magnet cartridge remains too weak, and the RIAA equalization curve must be restored upstream. That is precisely the purpose of the Alva Solo: to handle this stage with electronics optimized for low noise, in a compact anthracite gray enclosure.
Steel and aluminum chassis, only 48 mm high, 176 mm wide, and 132 mm deep for 680 g. The format slips easily next to a turntable or onto an already crowded hi-fi shelf. One practical detail: the labels for the inputs and outputs on the back are printed in both reading directions, upright and upside down. When the Alva Solo is placed up high or against a wall, the markings can be read without having to contort yourself or shine a light on the rear panel.
Inside, the printed circuit board uses surface-mounted components (SMD), with deliberately short signal paths. The power supply is a switching type: it operates outside audible frequencies, which limits mains hum, the classic nightmare of phono stages. On the measurement side, the equivalent input noise is around 0.09 µV (A-weighted), the signal-to-noise ratio exceeds 90 dB, and total harmonic distortion remains below 0.0025%.
RIAA equalization accuracy is rated at ±0.65 dB between 30 Hz and 20 kHz. In concrete terms, this means the tonal profile of the record is reproduced as the sound engineers intended during mastering, without excessive peaks or dips in the midrange or treble. The overload margin above 30 dB handles the modulation peaks of well-cut records without audible saturation. Gain is set at 39 dB at 1 kHz, which brings a standard MM cartridge to a nominal output level of 300 mV, usable directly by any line input.
Two practical options accompany the basic amplification. The subsonic filter cuts vibrations below the audible band, the kind that make a speaker or subwoofer bass driver pump because of a slightly warped record or mechanical transmission between the turntable and the floor. On older or somewhat worn pressings, the improvement in cleanliness is immediate. The balance adjustment, accessible on the rear, corrects any imbalance between the two channels of a cartridge, a common flaw at the entry level.
The 47 kΩ input impedance and 100 pF capacitance place the Alva Solo within the standard values of a moving magnet phono stage. This covers the vast majority of cartridges supplied as standard on consumer and mid-range turntables: Audio-Technica AT-VM95 and VM700, Ortofon 2M series (Red, Blue, Bronze, Black), Goldring E3, Sumiko Rainier or Olympia, Nagaoka MP. On the other hand, moving coil (MC) cartridges, which require much higher gain and a different impedance load, are not supported. In that case, you need to turn to the Alva Duo, which adds an MC input, or to a dedicated phono preamp.
The Alva Solo is the entry-level model in Cambridge Audio’s current phono range. It succeeds the former CP1 in a slimmer format and with completely redesigned electronics. Above it, the Alva Duo adds the MC input, a second pair of RCA inputs, an MM/MC selector on the front panel, and a 6.35 mm jack headphone output with its own volume potentiometer. The Solo is limited to amplifying an MM cartridge, the RIAA curve, and the subsonic filter. No MC input, no headphone output: fewer functions, but the same care devoted to the pure phono section.
On the rear, the Alva Solo features a stereo RCA input, a stereo RCA output, and a screw-down ground terminal to accommodate the turntable’s ground wire. The balance potentiometer completes the set. Maximum power consumption tops out at 10 W and remains below 0.5 W in standby, with automatic shutoff after 20 minutes without an input signal. The Alva Solo connects on the output side to any line input of an integrated amplifier (CD, AUX or Tuner), which makes it possible to bypass the internal phono stage of an old or overly basic amplifier.
Any moving magnet cartridge (Moving Magnet, MM), provided its recommended load capacitance is compatible with the input’s 100 pF. Most MM cartridges accept a load between 100 and 200 pF, taking into account the tonearm wiring and RCA cables, which leaves a comfortable margin. Moving coil cartridges are not supported, nor are high-output MC cartridges that require a specific configuration.
Yes. Simply connect the output of the Alva Solo to a standard line input on the amplifier (CD, AUX or Tuner) and leave the internal phono input unused. That is precisely the whole point of an external phono stage: to have dedicated amplification of better quality than the one, often kept to a minimum, built into multi-purpose amplifiers.
No, the Solo is limited to a stereo RCA line output. To listen through headphones from a Cambridge Audio phono preamplifier, you need to opt for the Alva Duo, which includes a headphone amplifier with a 6.35 mm jack output on the front.
The subsonic filter is permanently built in, with no bypass switch. Its cutoff point is set to attenuate frequencies below the useful audible range, without encroaching on the first low bass octaves of a properly pressed record.
If the turntable has a separate ground wire, it must be screwed to the “Ground” terminal on the back of the Alva Solo. This is what prevents ground loop hum. Some modern turntables have a ground integrated into the RCA cable and do not provide a separate wire, in which case there is nothing else to connect.
The Alva Solo wakes up as soon as a signal reaches its inputs, that is, as soon as a record is played. This function is designed to limit power consumption if you forget to turn it off, not to interrupt listening in progress. Standby mode remains transparent in use.
Manuel
Vinyl records sound wonderful through my amplifier without a phono input. Very good product.
Comment from 4 November 2026 — Experience from 24 October 2026
Stephane
Outstanding phono preamp!!
It offers exemplary neutrality and becomes completely transparent in your hi-fi system thanks to its uncolored tones and its ability to reveal even the subtlest details from your cartridge...
A must-have for its price!! And a quality on par with phono preamps costing much more...
Comment from 18 June 2025 — Experience from 27 May 2025
Freddy
A real plus. This small amplifier considerably improves the sound quality of my vinyl records, which I'm rediscovering.
The sound produced is excellent. I hesitated for a long time but in the end, I have no regrets at all.
The positive comments about this device are entirely justified.
Moreover, the craftsmanship is remarkable and it takes up little space in a hi-fi setup.
Comment from 10 April 2024 — Experience from 30 March 2024
