Cambridge Audio Alva Duo MM/MC Phono Preamplifier

Squeeze Every Inch of Detail from Your Record Collection

Squeeze every inch of detail from your record collection with Cambridge Audio's highest quality moving magnet and moving coil phono stage. That would be the Duo Phono Preamplifier, which also includes a built-in high quality headphone amp.

Vinyl As It's Supposed To Sound

Whether you're dusting off your record collection or embracing analog through the vinyl revival, there's a unique experience to be had from the moment you drop the needle on your favorite album. To preserve the unique warmth of the vinyl sound, the Duo phono preamplifier has been carefully designed with a state-of-the-art switch mode power supply and a new surface mounted circuit board layout to reduce unwanted noise.

Why Choose a Dedicated Phono Preamplifier?

Due to the low-level signals created by a turntable, not all hi-fi amplifiers will let you connect directly to a record player. The phono preamplifier boosts this signal to something a power amplifier can work with. The challenge at this stage, though, is that noise can easily be added.

This is why Cambridge Audio designed the Duo around exceptional components that deliver the warm and detailed sound that's synonymous with vinyl, all without distorting the signal from your turntable. The switch mode power supply improves performance by switching outside of audible frequency to drastically reduce hum and new circuit board layout uses surface-mount components to reduce noise.

Built-in Headphone Amp

Enjoy the warmth of vinyl privately thanks to Duo's integrated headphone output. Uniquely, Cambridge Audio included a 1/4" headphone jack directly into the phono stage, so you can still enjoy your records when there's no option to play out loud.

The headphone output also means that there's no need to turn on your amplifier just to power your headphones, resulting in a more eco-friendly listening experience.

Attention to Detail

If some records in your collection are a little worse for wear, the subsonic filter will help to eliminate low frequency rumbles that can be caused by imperfections within your vinyl. The subsonic filter is built into the unit and is always on. Combine this with the balance control for handling potential cartridge imbalances in your turntable (that can cause a difference between the left and right channels), and the result is a detailed experience with accurate soundstage.

Eco Friendly

The Duo phono preamplifier is green at heart with less than half a watt standby power consumption and an auto power down feature if the unit isn't used after a 20-minute period. This in turn gives the unit the same worldwide voltage for compatibility wherever you are in the world.

• High quality moving magnet and moving coil phono stage
• Built-in high quality headphone amp
• State-of-the-art switch mode power supply
• New surface mounted circuit board layout
• 1/4" headphone jack
• Built-in subsonic filter (always on)
• Balance control
• 0.5-watt standby power consumption
• Auto power down feature
• Premium quality aluminum and steel construction

• Max Power Consumption: 10W
• Cartridge Support: Moving Magnet and Moving Coil
• Gain @ 1KHZ: MM: 39dB;MC: 60dB
• Nominal Output: 300mV
• Sensitivity for Nominal Output: MM: 3.35mV | MC: 305uV
• Equivalent Input Noise (A-Weighted): MM: ~0.09uV;MC: ~0.08uV
• RIAA Curve Accuracy: +/- 0.3dB 30Hz-50Hz
• Signal to Noise Ratio Grounded Inputs Ref. 1v Output (20HZ-20KHZ BW): MM: >90dB; MC: >70dB
• THD+N 1KHZ (20-20KHZ BW): MM: <0.0025%; MC: <0.20%
• Input Impedance: MM: 47k Ohms; MC: 100 Ohms
• Input Capacitance: 100pF
• Overload Margin: >30dB
• Crosstalk @ 10 kHz: MM: >85dB | MC: 75dB
• Subsonic Filter Characteristics: -3dB @ 12 Hz 6dB/Octave
• Dimensions (H X W X D): 1.9 x 8.5 x 6.2"
• Weight: 2.1 lbs.

ecoustics.com Review of the Cambridge Audio CXA61 and Alva Duo

"The affordable Cambridge Audio CXA61 Integrated Amplifier and Alva Duo Phono Preamp are a formidable duo you need to hear."

"Highly recommended."

- Lauren Halliday, ecoustics.com, July 6, 2021

"If your turntable has a switchable preamp input it's worth experimenting with a better one. We had good results with the $300 Cambridge Audio Alva Duo -- better dynamics and extended resolution over the phono input on our amplifier."

- Ty Pendlebury, CNET, June 16, 2019

"I much preferred... the more refined and neutral performance of the Alva Duo"

- Theo Nicolakis, Techhive, August 2, 2019