Cambridge Audio Alva Solo MM Phono Preamplifier

Enjoy Your Albums to the Max

Enjoy your record albums to the max with Cambridge Audio's highest quality moving magnet phono stage, the Solo Phono Preamplifier.

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 Solo 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 Solo around exceptional components that deliver the warm and detailed sound that's synonymous with vinyl, all without distorting the signal from your moving magnet cartridge 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.

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.

Front Facing Interface

Unlike Cambridge Audio's previous phono preamplifiers, the controls are housed at the front of the unit for a straightforward and easier method of operation.

Eco Friendly

The Solo 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 phono stage
• 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
• Gain @ 1KHZ: 39dB
• Nominal Output: 300mV
• Sensitivity for Nominal Output: 3.35mV
• Equivalent Input Noise (A-Weighted): ~0.09uV
• RIAA Curve Accuracy: +/- 0.3dB 30Hz-50Hz
• Signal to Noise Ratio Grounded Inputs Ref. 1v Output (20HZ-20KHZ BW): >90dB
• THD+N 1KHZ (20-20KHZ BW): <0.0025%
• Input Impedance: 47k Ohms
• Input Capacitance: 100pF
• Overload Margin: >30dB
• Crosstalk @ 10 kHz: >85dB
• Subsonic Filter Characteristics: -3dB @ 15 Hz 12dB/Octave
• Dimensions (H X W X D): 1.9 x 8.5 x 6.2"
• Weight: 1.5 lbs.

WIRED Magazine's 19 Delightful Gifts for Music Lovers and Audiophiles

"Most entry-level turntables come with built-in phono preamps, which take the signal from the stylus and bolster it to the 'line level' your amp or powered speakers expects from those red and white RCA input cables. Adding an external phono preamp like this one from Cambridge Audio is a great way to up overall fidelity. If your friend, family member, or loved one has been getting into audio, this can be a really useful upgrade; my parents got me one for my birthday a few years back, and it's been a big and awesome change on my own system."

- Parker Hall and Michael Calore, WIRED Magazine, October 20, 2021