The Cambridge Audio Alva ST is a belt-drive turntable with built-in, switchable Bluetooth aptX HD. Introduced in 2020 as the more affordable companion to the direct-drive Alva TT V2, it ships with a moving magnet cartridge already fitted and an integrated phono stage, so it can feed almost any system—wired or wireless—right out of the box.
Why This Model Matters
Cambridge Audio built the world's first hi-res wireless turntable, and the Alva ST carries that idea into a belt-drive design at a lower price. Its switchable Bluetooth streams to any aptX HD, aptX, or SBC receiver at up to 24-bit/48kHz, so the deck can sit wherever it looks and sounds best rather than being tethered to the rest of the stack.
The integrated phono stage—derived from the award-winning Alva Duo and including a subsonic filter to reject motor rumble—lets the ST connect to amplifiers that have no phono input. Because both the Bluetooth and the phono stage are switchable, the turntable can be paired later with an external phono stage as a system grows. A high-mass, low-resonance static-balanced tonearm with a detachable headshell rounds out a deck built to retrieve detail while staying simple to live with.
Highlights
Belt-drive turntable, 33⅓ and 45 rpm, with a die-cast aluminium platter
Switchable Bluetooth aptX HD, aptX, and SBC streaming up to 24-bit/48kHz
Integrated, switchable moving magnet phono stage with subsonic filter
Moving magnet cartridge with elliptical stylus pre-installed
High-mass, low-resonance tonearm with detachable headshell
Includes dust cover, RCA cables, and a tracking-force gauge
Who It's For
The Alva ST suits vinyl listeners who want a plug-and-play deck that can stream wirelessly to aptX HD headphones, amplifiers, or speakers, or connect by cable to a system that lacks a phono input. It is a strong fit for anyone who values flexible placement and a set-up that can grow with future upgrades.
