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Cambridge Audio Alva Duo MM/MC PhonostageA moving magnet and moving coil phonostage with integrated headphone ampThe Duo has been designed around exceptional components achieving a high level of performance with cost-efficient surface mount technology and a state-of-the-art switch mode power supply.An integrated 6.35 mm headphone output allows for easy night-time or small footprint listening. A subsonic filter helps eliminate low-frequency rumbles, and a balance control compensates for cartridge imbalances.SpecificationsType: Moving magnet or moving coilGain (MM, MC): 39 dB, 60 dB Nominal output: 300 mVInput impedance (MM, MC): 47 kOhm, 100 OhmInput capacitance: 100 pFMax. power consumption: 10 WDimensions (WHD): 1.9" x 8.5" x 6.2"Weight: 2.1 lb.
This is a buyer’s market at the moment: with a median used asking price of US$160 and a 75th percentile of US$340, the US$275 ask sits comfortably above the median but still below the upper quartile, so it reads as fair-to-ambitious, not a bargain and not a red flag.
What makes it appealing is the kind of phono stage that tends to be a sensible long-term buy for vinyl listeners: Cambridge Audio’s Solo/Duo units are generally well-liked for clean, quiet, no-nonsense performance, especially if you want a straightforward cartridge preamp rather than a feature-heavy box. At this price, the main upside is if it’s complete, lightly used, and truly in tidy condition; if it includes the right power supply and any original accessories, that helps justify the ask.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Cambridge Audio emerged from the innovative spirit of 1960s Britain, founded in Cambridge, United Kingdom, by a group of young engineers who spun off from Cambridge Consulting Group. Established in 1968, the brand launched with the groundbreaking P40 integrated amplifier—the first to employ a toroidal transformer, setting a new standard for dynamic power delivery in hi-fi design that endures in high-end gear today. This heritage of British engineering excellence propelled decades of award-winning products, navigating ownership changes including a revival under entrepreneur Vince Adams and acquisition in 1994 by Julian Richer and James Johnson-Flint of Richer Sounds.
The brand excels across core hi-fi categories, renowned for integrated amplifiers like the iconic A1 and P-series, alongside streaming DACs, network players, turntables, and all-in-one systems that prioritize pure analogue warmth and digital precision. Speakers, headphones, and cables round out a cohesive ecosystem, emphasizing accessible high performance without excess frills.
Positioned firmly in the mid-tier market, Cambridge Audio delivers premium British sound—detailed, rhythmic, and uncolored—at prices that democratize quality for discerning buyers. Free from corporate bloat, it holds a reputation for reliability and value, appealing to enthusiasts seeking sophisticated hi-fi that punches above its weight rather than chasing ultra-high-end esoterica.
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