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I was on a service call (hvac) , the customer and myself staryd talking about listening to music. He was having issues connecting to his bluetooth bluetooth, i helped him get connected wasnt a big deal, in show of his appreciation he gave me a vintage rega p2 from the 70's , installed on the rig was a deccs london tonearm with a grace f9 cartridge. When he offered it to me I ask are you sure he said yes, his wife gave me a look so i offered to wave the service call fixing their AC for the turntable. She was happy with that. Big win.
I've had two RT85s and it is a great value. The Alva ST is an exceptional value. Read up on the build quality -- it has the design and basic materials as their $1499 direct drive table.
My cards are on the Fluance RT85 Turntable with Ortofon Cartridge, Acrylic Platter, Speed Control, and Vibration Isolation . Same price, but without the built-in pre-amp.
The VM95E is upgradeble by changing the stylus - no need to change to a different cartridge. Get the red VM95ML stylus and say goodbye to inner groove and sibilant distortion.
As a fellow Englishman, 😂, you should know the best all round starter TT’s are the Rega 1 and Rega 3. I know they probably get expensive once they cross the Atlantic. The 1 is a good starter, the 2 is a bit of a waste in the middle and the 3 is really, really good. If you want to try vinyl, get a 1. If you want a great starter that could be your end game, get a 3.
I am sorry that is a joke. What is the wow and flutter on the P1 or P3.......... i will wait. They dont post....... why is that. Also the lighter is better philosophy in turntables is just something i just can't get behind.
@@budsmoker4201120They sound good. Very musical. And Rega arms are some of the best in the business. Much, much, better than the aluminium platter all in one starters.
@@budsmoker4201120if you think they would stay in business and win countless awards with shoddy products, that’s fine. Go and listen to one and then tell me they are no good.
Looks like a nice turntable for the money. I think you might be able to get better sound for about $50 usd more by going with a Fluance RT85 and a Schiit Mani+ though. That tone arm on the Cambridge looks highly quality though. Great to have choices in this price range! I wish more manufacturers would offer turntables option cheaper without cartridges
No. The phono preamp on the Cambridge Duo and Solo have both better sinad and headroom to deal with clicks and pops. If the phono preamp in this is as good as the Solo or Duo, swap out the cartridge and some sound isolation feet and you're good to go.
I’m glad somebody else finally discovered the Alva ST. Stellar bang-for-your-buck. I like Fluance just as much as anyone - I’ve had two RT85s. Here’s the thing though - just like an RT82 is the same basic turntable as an RT85, the Alva “ST” is the same basic turntable as the $1,499 Alva “ST.” You’re actually getting something closer to a Technics SL-1500c than a Fluance RT85. The design budget on the ST went into the dense plinth + better tonearm + fully dampened platter. And AT95E upgrades are easy - you can get a nude elliptical, ML, or even a Shibata cut with a stylus swap. Keep your Fluance if you’re happy but the Alva ST is a sweet deal and smartly reviewed here, IMO. I’ve had mine for a few months/sold my Fluance and bought more albums 💰🙂💰
With no feet, they could offer an accessory 4 pack of matchbook shims that have the screened names of famous music venues on the covers: Casbah, Blue Note, Cavern Club, Village Vanguard, Leeds, Universal Amphitheater, Fillmore East, etc. This would compliment the vintage vibe of vinyl and be truly old school, especially when the needle jumps across because the gin joint is jumpin!
It's not cheap, but it really does look like a good value for a well built turntable. It's an endgame turnable for a lot of music lovers who don't obsess able the gear like I do. I don't like the way the Ortofon OM Red sounds on my system at all, and yet I find the Ortofon Concord Mix to be perfectly enjoyable on the same system. I'm told I need to try the OM Blue but I'm wary for some reason. What I'd really like to try is the new Concord Music Premium Black (shibata stylus). But that costs more than this whole turntable, and yet I don't think I'd hesitate to put a cartridge like that on this turntable. I don't think a turntable, especially not a belt turntable, needs to cost $1,500 to turn a record in circles effectively. The tonearm on this is also perfectly good. I seriously doubt anyone is going to listen to this and say, "I like it, but the tonearm sounds dry and congested." No one is going to be able to hear the tonearm compromises.
This is an amazing turntable that personally own. The built quality is very premuim and sleek that you only find on very expensive TT. I agree on most of everything mentioned here. Despite the high end quality built i was really surprised by the plastic dust cover hinges. Considering all the is high end you expect them at least to be aluminum ! They could have gone for a better cartridge, and black or silver colored costumized one to match the whole thing as this green is ruining the overall classy thing . I bet they expect you to swap it soon for better sound quality and look ...
I really doubt non vinyl enthusiast are going to drop $600 for this table. So many cheaper options out there and they won't care about build quality or whatever else makes this a nicer table than those $150-$200 Bluetooth built in pre-amp tables. Like you said, as a vinyl enthusiast I wouldn't even consider it. It fills a spot that no customer sits.
I might agree with you if this cost $350 or maybe $399 but at $599, nope. I get that some people will want the bluetooth and built in preamp - for those, the LP60x is fine, they're not going to be interested in upgrading the cartridge, etc. This almost feels like a paid sponsorship to recommend a "good enough" turntable at a price way higher than good enough.
I think Cambridge make good honest gear, I have their original Stream Magic 6 here and I love it, sounds lovely and looks cool. As for turntables, well, we have more choices now than we ever did during vinyl's heyday and I think they're all pretty good from this price point and up and I've listened to a few, but to my ears my Rega Planar 2 from 1985 still holds up, it is quiet and the RB250 is a good arm, worthy of pairing with a more expensive cartridge, but the same could probably be said about this Cambridge and many others too. I think what makes the Cambridge stand out would be the Bluetooth feature, that might clinch the deal for a lot of potential owners and if I was shopping for a new low cost turntable today I would definitely consider this one.
A $500 turntable with a $50 Audio Technica ia an interesting compromise by Cambridge Audio. I bought a brand new Project S Phono turntable here in the UK for just short of £500 and they supplied a £160 Sumiko Ranier phono cartridge with it but made compromises by using a resin sub platter and a steel platter. I upgraded to Project's alu sub platter, acrylic platter and better power supply a few months after buying it. It is a nice turntable an I'm happy with it now. I suppose manufacturers have to make compromises to offer features at a certain price point though
I recently swapped out my Rega Planar 2 for my Project Debut S l. The Rega was excellent and so was the tonearm but rolling cartridges not so easy without risking damaging the tonearm lead wires. As my project debut S has a S shaped tonearm it is more suited to my requirements. I would recommend both Rega and Project turntables as they are both made in Europe. Rega like other manufacturers do make compromises to reach price points like any other manufacturer. Roy Gandy of Rega said as much during analogplanets tour of the Rega factory. Worth watching on TH-cam look it up if you have chance.
I'm kinda confused because you didn't like the Audio-Technica LP-120XUSB. From memory, because of the built in phono preamp. But, this has the same problem. At least the AT has feet and metal spring cover hinges. Plays 33-1/3, 45, or 78 rpm and more features... like tracking. Removable headshell and same stylus? And it is $350 every day. I actually got mine for sub $300 blackfriday deal a bunch of years ago. So confused.
I've noticed too, that Randy is not too enthusiastic about Audio-Technica. My experience is, that AT-LP120 and AT-LP5x are of better build quality than my previous Pro-Ject Debut iii and now a S-Shape SB. Cambridge stuff never had too nice feeling or haptic feel, sounded ok though.
@@TheVTRainMan - having had both an Audio Technica LP5 (a couple of steps over the LP120) and now having an Alva ST, I can say one of the big differences is the density of the plinth. Audio Technica TTs feel hollow, where Cambridge has multiple layers and considerably more dampening throughout. It’s comparable to what you see in Technic turntables. FYI.
Yeah, no thanks. The Fluance RT85 is an unbeatable deal at $500. This video is a disservice to anyone in the market for a TT at this price level. There is so much lacking in the Cambridge, it's just not worth it at all.
I've had two Fluance RT85s and sold the last one when I got the Alva ST. It's a huge upgrade in build-quality. More on par with the Technics SL-100c/1500c
The AT-VM95 cartridge is compatible with many different styli that AT makes, which increases the ability to customize for a cheaper price than buying a whole new cartridge, but 🤷
Funny how, to this day, the AR I begged my mom to buy me for a C-note in 71 is still well-respected and often sells for a few times that to this day. Simplicity itself. That, and my Philips 212 still trip my trigger.
I have the Fluance RT 81 elite as per your review . I love it' build quality is excellent , appearance is beautiful in piano black and aound is awesome . Thanks Randy !
Does it have auto-return? Does it shut down at the end of the record, or just let the record spin until you get off the sofa, and lift the tone arm manually?
Should have looked at the Audio-Technica AT-LP5X. It's closer to the Cambridge at $450 (but can be found for $400 some places) and has direct drive to boot. Has the same cart/stylus combo. No Bluetooth, though. But it probably would have been a closer comparison. Sounds amazing in my setup.
The biggest difference between the Cambridge ST and Audio-Technica LP5 is the plinth. The ST has an aluminum clad deck and a two layer core. It passes the knock test where the LP5 sounds hollow.
I could be wrong but I think this should be a full automatic for this price point and given it has Bluetooth and a built-in phono preamp. The Nagaoka MP-110 would also be the better choice too, the 0.4 × 0.7 elliptical and moving iron design is more forgiving.
The more you described this thing, the happier I am that I bought an RT-84. Trigger words were "Good enough" and "considering". You are always railing against bluetooth, yet it's a "feature" on this table. I didn't get a turntable just to send its signal over bluetooth. FLUANCE ALL THE WAY!!!!
@@maxwaver777 it will eventually become a problem with resonance and other issues. There is a reason why all decent tables don't have internal preamps or Bluetooth capabilities. It is just more stuff to make noise. That is why if you are looking for a table go with the 83 if you don't want the 85 and pick up a reciever with a phonostage or get a separate cheap phonestage and upgrade later. You will be better off in the long way. Plus the motor placement on the 83,84, 85 is way better being placed as far away from cart as possible and not a sub platter design. I can keep going on, but I will stop there. Fluance for the win IMO
@@budsmoker4201120 -- the Cambridge ST is practically zero resonance. The plinth is two dense layers + an aluminum deck + the underside of the platter is completely dampened. The internal phono preamp isn't bad/same as the Cambridge Solo, but I use a Rega Fono MM.
@budsmoker4201120 I already have the Alva st, you seems have a way more knowledge than me regarding how internal preamp could affect the TT on the long run ...I'm wondering would be it the case even if I switch the preamp off and use an external one ? I don't use Bluetooth, and it's switched off, pointless for an analog sound seaker, of course.
Don't be. You got the way better one. The only thing you got to do now is get ready to spin your days spinning records 😀. Give the 2m Blue about 20 hours to really bloom. Then it really begins to sing! Have fun.
@@budsmoker4201120 it better! I just rearranged my whole living room. 😄 There should be a video about what to do with cats that are very interested in all things spinning. 😑 Now all I need is a longer RCA cable and I'm finally good to go.
@@bdsattern except it is a direct to consumer item. Your Cambridge you pay for distribution as well as store over head. Spin what makes you happy. The servo motor on the 85 is also a nice feature. As well as the auto stop. As for having a preamp or Bluetooth in my turntable, that is a no thank you. It will only get in the way. Have fun and Keep'em spinning.
Hey, is the hitachi ht 1 record player that I got from my parents good or not, is it from 1984, I ordered a new belt because the old one is weathered, what do you recommend for this hobby, thank you for your answer
I think a turntable “most people” that aren’t for “hard core” vinyl people should be automatic or at least semi-automatic.A better choice would be something like the Denon DP-400, available at Chrutchfield. It’s semi automatic, lifting the arm at the end of the record, has adjustable feet, better arm geometry looks better in my opinion. It’s also $100 cheaper than the Cambridge.
Still stick to my old Sony PS-X6 from 1978. Its also not a audiophile or enthusiast turntable. It has no bluetooth or inbuild phonopre,but its fully automatic (it can also be used as a semi automatic) has gel-filled height adjustable rubberfeet that actualy work well in resonanzabsorbtion and its chassis is made out of SBMC. It sounds very good with a VM95ML or SH. And even better with a DV Karat.
Agree to disagree haveing had a Rega P1 and the Alva ST. Rega has the edge on the tonearm but the rest of the turntable parts are all very entry-level feeling. Especially the platter.
Seems to be missing too many key features for my taste at this price point... for my money, a good "everyday" turntable that's not audiophile grade is the Audio-Technica AT-LP3XBT. Automatic, bluetooth, Line/phono out, similar design the Cambridge and cheaper plus is comes in two colors
Hi Randy great and interesting video, it’s look well built , how does compare with rega planar 3 , I wonder . I agree the cartridge should a bit better in what’s supplied. Regards mark
Odd you chose Spotify as a comparison…. Tidal or quobuz would have made more sense since Spotify only upgraded to cd quality not long ago. Before that it was mp3 forever while other streaming services offered hi-res streaming…. Just saying….
@@theaudiofool5475 Which High quality cartridges did you try? My experience is it performs perfectly well with mid compliance cartridges - like the included VM series cartridge (obviously) and Ortofon OM and 2M series.
This and similar items make no sense to me. The only reason to go vinyl is because you "think" it sounds better than CDs/digital rips/streaming/etc. But to then take the analog vinyl signal and pump it through a bunch of digital conversions - bluetooth, usb dac, etc - seems (to me) to negate any perceived vinyl advantage. At this point all you're left with is the ritual of vinyl. And having grown up with and collected a sizable vinyl collect I don't miss the ritual or the inevitable clicks and pops in the quiet space of music. The only thing I miss is 12" album cover art and their accouterment.
Way too much money for what's essentially a toy. Of course I haven't listened to it. This 'table has three strikes: 1) Bluetooth, 2) internal preamp, 3) no adjustable feet. Are you kidding?
Reminds me of my Sony except with a much much better tonearm and cart. Worth over 2x the price? Yeah, probably. I ended up moving to a Pro-ject before too long, might have stayed in a TT like this longer.
The people (subscribers) have spoken. Fluance RT85 is the best all around. Yes, I’m partial. I have one and it is Awesome!!! Get the acrylic platter. Any in the Fluance 80 series is great start.
I’d rather listen to people who have actually owned both turntables. The Alva ST is built like a tank in comparison to the Fluance RT85. A better comparison would be a Technics SL-100c/1500c.
no thanks, we will stay with the $499.00 US$ Fluance RT85 Turntable, Dust Cover + Hinges, Bubble Level, Headshell with Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, Counterweight, Acrylic Platter with Belt, 100-240V (50/60Hz) AC Power Adapter, 3ft RCA Cable, 2x 3ft Ground Wire, 45 Adaptor, Motor Pulley Cap, Auto-Stop, Cotton Gloves, User Manual, Lifetime Customer Support, 2 Year Manufacturer's Direct Warranty
a 600.00 turntable should be amongst the best available! If not... its a rip off at that price! Sorry... This is about 300.00 overpriced in my humble opinion!
Lp120 maybe a little disappointing but the lpw40wn is the same price and feels a lot nicer. You lose a little build quality with the 120 for the direct drive motor
No. If you want something cheap but decsnt-ish to "just play them on" get an AT LP60. That plus some powered speakers will do for the majority of people. If you want proper hi-fi start with a Rega Planar 1 and work upwards to suit your budget. If you want to spend money on something that looks nice on your coffee table but sound is a lower priority, go for your Fluance, Project, etc. If you want a DJ table on the cheap get an AT LP120. If you want a DJ table on the not-so-cheap get a Technics.
Personally, can't stand the AT-VM95E - dull, no highs. I'd either save some money and buy a Fluance RT-85 or spend another $50 for the MusicHall "Classic." I've had both of them in house and think they're the best bargains on the market.
I’ve owned the Theory (2m Bronze cart) for about a year now. It’s great, no regrets. If you’re a vinyl enthusiast like me you don’t want Bluetooth or an internal phone preamp (although the Theory can be bought with it). It has a much better cartridge, has adjustable feet, excellent tonearm, acrylic platter and is made from solid wood. Only draw back might be not having a removable head shell. That wasn’t a deal breaker for me since I don’t plan to swap cartridges around. It also doesn’t offer a vertical tracking angle adjustment. Again, wasn’t a big deal to me. I don’t think you can go wrong with the U-Turn Theory or Fluance RT85 if you wanted to save some money.
With the number of years I have left, I'll put my money to a Tidal subscription and explore way farther down (and wide) the rabbit hole of music than the same amount of money spent on records could ever provide.
@@tylerpanteleeff8581 no, you should post a winking smiley indicating that you will be holding onto it. Most folk do hold on to their vintage TTs, which is why there aren't enough classic vintage TTs for sale in the first place to satisfy demands of those wanting a turntable - hence people prefer to watch videos of new models.
$599 in the USA and £850 in the UK! That's outrageous! and isn't Cambridge Audio a UK company? A total ripoff of the UK customer base. Hopefully it flops in the UK market because of this.
@@SnapperX3 The Alva ST which is the one that is being reviewed here. It retails for $599 in the USA and £849 in the UK, and these are the prices listed on Cambridge's own website for all to see!
You can get it for 550 usd from .hhv from Germany ! They ship with DHL and fedex for 100 usd though, the TT is 10kg , but very well packed and shipping is very fast !
The lack of adjustable feet would be a deal breaker for me. Also, I don't like a removable angled headshell on a straight tone arm. It's not a matter of if, but when someone will stick a normal headshell for an S shaped tonarm on that turntable, Oy Veh😂
That tonearm screams Chinese OEM That platter screams Chinese OEM Probably also the main spindle/bearing and also probably the motor..... All scream cheap China 😂
You could have done a lot worse at that price point. There are a lot of toy turntables at or even well above the cost of an LP 60x. I very nearly got one myself when I wanted to see if my records still played after being boxed up for nearly 30 years whilst not wanting to spend a fortune to find out. Ended up with a LP 120xusb because someone local was selling an almost new one at a really good price because for some strange reason he wanted a turntable with Bluetooth. One big advantage you have over mine is that the LP 60 is automatic. I certainly wouldn't dismiss buying used when you are ready to upgrade on a budget, I suspect there's a lot of people who have bought into the Vinyl revival who later change their mind. Just factor in the cost of a new stylus when buying used and I'm sure you could get a serious upgrade on a reasonable budget but, as I said, you could have done a lot worse than the one you have.
At six hundred this approaches the price of a used Rega P3. Tons on the used market that wildly outclasses this. Not interested. Now the Dayzee from Geshelli, that could win my coin.
Your review on Turntable was very basic.... This is good. That is good......not Enuf.... Kindly give us more specs and insights into parts of the table which can improve the sound. Also pls compare the parts and sound with the famous PROJECT DEBUT CARBON EVO or REGA PLANAR 1.....😮
Hard pass on a Bluetooth turntable. Had a Fluance RT-85 and thought it was pretty bad. Cart was meh. The Fluance phono stage was terrible. Went with a Music Hall Classic.
I bet this is made by a famous TT company and not by CA. I would trade the nonsense bluetooth for a better cartridge or feet, This does not make sense at all. Who would use a TT with BT anyway?
If I were a newbie I would go with the Electrohome Montrose turntable ($85 on Amazon) & spend $500 on elpees. This turntable gets good reviews & Fluance is the parent company. Perhaps you could do a comparative review (using identical cartridges) vs the Cambridge?
And then complain that Vinyl sounds so bad? 🫤 Descent turntables start with the cheaper models of Pro-Ject, Rega, U-Turn, Fluance in the range of €200- €300 , and maby a Pioneer PLX-500 but the rest is junk.
While I agree that most cheap turntables are junk, that is not the case for the Montrose, it looks & performs better than others costing hundreds of dollars. I'd like to get the word out there, with the help of the Cheapaudioman, that it's the one to go for if you don't have a lot to spend. It comes with an Audio Technica cartridge that was once used by Rega.
@@trevorbartram5473 the arm is junk, there is so much play in the bearing of that thing that a cartridge can never perform at its best. I have had junk like this for repair hundreds of times and it is all junk
No auto return is a biggie for me, and I don't need built in phono stage nor Bluetooth. I'll pass on it. Nice for you to review turntables, a lot of us still go vinyl. And now a "touchy note", why have that kind of political ad on your video? Very disappointing!
When are you going to realise that a proper turntable shouldn't have a built in pre amp or Bluetooth nonsense. 95% of turntable quality is all about the tonearm, cartridge and bearings... This thing is a toy
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Cambridge Audio Alva ST bit.ly/4c0ob9t
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I was on a service call (hvac) , the customer and myself staryd talking about listening to music. He was having issues connecting to his bluetooth bluetooth, i helped him get connected wasnt a big deal, in show of his appreciation he gave me a vintage rega p2 from the 70's , installed on the rig was a deccs london tonearm with a grace f9 cartridge. When he offered it to me I ask are you sure he said yes, his wife gave me a look so i offered to wave the service call fixing their AC for the turntable. She was happy with that. Big win.
When the heatwave hits, Daddy's getting an audio upgrade!
If this were an option when I bought my Fluance RT85, I'd still have taken the Fluance. The Fluance turntables are really a great value.
I love my fluance.
You got that right.
Forsure
I've had two RT85s and it is a great value. The Alva ST is an exceptional value. Read up on the build quality -- it has the design and basic materials as their $1499 direct drive table.
@@bdsattern I am sure it is a good table , but to many sacrifices to make up compared to the 85. Just my opinion.
My cards are on the Fluance RT85 Turntable with Ortofon Cartridge, Acrylic Platter, Speed Control, and Vibration Isolation . Same price, but without the built-in pre-amp.
The VM95E is upgradeble by changing the stylus - no need to change to a different cartridge.
Get the red VM95ML stylus and say goodbye to inner groove and sibilant distortion.
Best upgrade I ever made.
Great stylus! I've had two of them but 1000 hours is not happinin, in my case anyway. I did get close to 800, however.
As a fellow Englishman, 😂, you should know the best all round starter TT’s are the Rega 1 and Rega 3. I know they probably get expensive once they cross the Atlantic. The 1 is a good starter, the 2 is a bit of a waste in the middle and the 3 is really, really good. If you want to try vinyl, get a 1. If you want a great starter that could be your end game, get a 3.
I am sorry that is a joke. What is the wow and flutter on the P1 or P3.......... i will wait. They dont post....... why is that. Also the lighter is better philosophy in turntables is just something i just can't get behind.
@@budsmoker4201120They sound good. Very musical. And Rega arms are some of the best in the business. Much, much, better than the aluminium platter all in one starters.
@@budsmoker4201120if you think they would stay in business and win countless awards with shoddy products, that’s fine. Go and listen to one and then tell me they are no good.
Thank you Randy for doing a TT video. I know they probably don't get as many views but some of us really appreciate them!
Looks like a nice turntable for the money. I think you might be able to get better sound for about $50 usd more by going with a Fluance RT85 and a Schiit Mani+ though. That tone arm on the Cambridge looks highly quality though. Great to have choices in this price range! I wish more manufacturers would offer turntables option cheaper without cartridges
The tonearm is what stood out to me. Looked solid.
No. The phono preamp on the Cambridge Duo and Solo have both better sinad and headroom to deal with clicks and pops. If the phono preamp in this is as good as the Solo or Duo, swap out the cartridge and some sound isolation feet and you're good to go.
I’m glad somebody else finally discovered the Alva ST. Stellar bang-for-your-buck. I like Fluance just as much as anyone - I’ve had two RT85s. Here’s the thing though - just like an RT82 is the same basic turntable as an RT85, the Alva “ST” is the same basic turntable as the $1,499 Alva “ST.” You’re actually getting something closer to a Technics SL-1500c than a Fluance RT85. The design budget on the ST went into the dense plinth + better tonearm + fully dampened platter. And AT95E upgrades are easy - you can get a nude elliptical, ML, or even a Shibata cut with a stylus swap. Keep your Fluance if you’re happy but the Alva ST is a sweet deal and smartly reviewed here, IMO. I’ve had mine for a few months/sold my Fluance and bought more albums 💰🙂💰
Spring style feet with only one spring works incredibly well.
The turntable will seem unstable but walking near will not cause skipping.
With no feet, they could offer an accessory 4 pack of matchbook shims that have the screened names of famous music venues on the covers: Casbah, Blue Note, Cavern Club, Village Vanguard, Leeds, Universal Amphitheater, Fillmore East, etc.
This would compliment the vintage vibe of vinyl and be truly old school, especially when the needle jumps across because the gin joint is jumpin!
It's not cheap, but it really does look like a good value for a well built turntable. It's an endgame turnable for a lot of music lovers who don't obsess able the gear like I do.
I don't like the way the Ortofon OM Red sounds on my system at all, and yet I find the Ortofon Concord Mix to be perfectly enjoyable on the same system. I'm told I need to try the OM Blue but I'm wary for some reason.
What I'd really like to try is the new Concord Music Premium Black (shibata stylus). But that costs more than this whole turntable, and yet I don't think I'd hesitate to put a cartridge like that on this turntable. I don't think a turntable, especially not a belt turntable, needs to cost $1,500 to turn a record in circles effectively. The tonearm on this is also perfectly good. I seriously doubt anyone is going to listen to this and say, "I like it, but the tonearm sounds dry and congested." No one is going to be able to hear the tonearm compromises.
This is an amazing turntable that personally own. The built quality is very premuim and sleek that you only find on very expensive TT.
I agree on most of everything mentioned here. Despite the high end quality built i was really surprised by the plastic dust cover hinges. Considering all the is high end you expect them at least to be aluminum ! They could have gone for a better cartridge, and black or silver colored costumized one to match the whole thing as this green is ruining the overall classy thing . I bet they expect you to swap it soon for better sound quality and look ...
I really doubt non vinyl enthusiast are going to drop $600 for this table. So many cheaper options out there and they won't care about build quality or whatever else makes this a nicer table than those $150-$200 Bluetooth built in pre-amp tables. Like you said, as a vinyl enthusiast I wouldn't even consider it. It fills a spot that no customer sits.
I might agree with you if this cost $350 or maybe $399 but at $599, nope. I get that some people will want the bluetooth and built in preamp - for those, the LP60x is fine, they're not going to be interested in upgrading the cartridge, etc. This almost feels like a paid sponsorship to recommend a "good enough" turntable at a price way higher than good enough.
Blue Tooth no thanks built in pre-amp, no thanks, first line of defense is the cart, everyone stick with the RT85.
Right? No adjustable feet, hard pass.
What’s wrong with built in pre-amp? You can just deactivate it if you don’t want to use it
@@traviswilliams4994you’re paying for something you’re not going to use.
@@traviswilliams4994just not a fan of built in preamps, and if I am not going to use it way pay for it. Personal preference I guess.
@@traviswilliams4994
But why pay for something you’re not going to use?
I just ordered a Fluance RT85N last night. Excited to get it delivered
I think Cambridge make good honest gear, I have their original Stream Magic 6 here and I love it, sounds lovely and looks cool. As for turntables, well, we have more choices now than we ever did during vinyl's heyday and I think they're all pretty good from this price point and up and I've listened to a few, but to my ears my Rega Planar 2 from 1985 still holds up, it is quiet and the RB250 is a good arm, worthy of pairing with a more expensive cartridge, but the same could probably be said about this Cambridge and many others too. I think what makes the Cambridge stand out would be the Bluetooth feature, that might clinch the deal for a lot of potential owners and if I was shopping for a new low cost turntable today I would definitely consider this one.
I’ve been happy with my pro-ject debut carbon evo. I did upgrade the steel platter.
A $500 turntable with a $50 Audio Technica ia an interesting compromise by Cambridge Audio. I bought a brand new Project S Phono turntable here in the UK for just short of £500 and they supplied a £160 Sumiko Ranier phono cartridge with it but made compromises by using a resin sub platter and a steel platter. I upgraded to Project's alu sub platter, acrylic platter and better power supply a few months after buying it. It is a nice turntable an I'm happy with it now. I suppose manufacturers have to make compromises to offer features at a certain price point though
Yes they do. Rega also an excellent alternative here in UK 🇬🇧
I recently swapped out my Rega Planar 2 for my Project Debut S l. The Rega was excellent and so was the tonearm but rolling cartridges not so easy without risking damaging the tonearm lead wires. As my project debut S has a S shaped tonearm it is more suited to my requirements. I would recommend both Rega and Project turntables as they are both made in Europe. Rega like other manufacturers do make compromises to reach price points like any other manufacturer. Roy Gandy of Rega said as much during analogplanets tour of the Rega factory. Worth watching on TH-cam look it up if you have chance.
I want my old Technics 1200 mk2. I wish I never sold it.
Yep, so glad I bought a second hand one 15 years ago. Put an Ortofon 2m Blue on it and sounds great.
I had one with an SME arm and Stanton 681EEE. Wish I never sold it.
I would never buy any of this new stuff. I'll stick with my nearly 40 year old Technics.
I still have 2 also use to have 2-1210's
I'm kinda confused because you didn't like the Audio-Technica LP-120XUSB. From memory, because of the built in phono preamp. But, this has the same problem. At least the AT has feet and metal spring cover hinges. Plays 33-1/3, 45, or 78 rpm and more features... like tracking. Removable headshell and same stylus? And it is $350 every day. I actually got mine for sub $300 blackfriday deal a bunch of years ago. So confused.
I've noticed too, that Randy is not too enthusiastic about Audio-Technica. My experience is, that AT-LP120 and AT-LP5x are of better build quality than my previous Pro-Ject Debut iii and now a S-Shape SB. Cambridge stuff never had too nice feeling or haptic feel, sounded ok though.
@@TheVTRainMan - having had both an Audio Technica LP5 (a couple of steps over the LP120) and now having an Alva ST, I can say one of the big differences is the density of the plinth. Audio Technica TTs feel hollow, where Cambridge has multiple layers and considerably more dampening throughout. It’s comparable to what you see in Technic turntables. FYI.
Yeah, no thanks. The Fluance RT85 is an unbeatable deal at $500. This video is a disservice to anyone in the market for a TT at this price level. There is so much lacking in the Cambridge, it's just not worth it at all.
I agree for the fluance 85 is way better. I mean no feet.
I've had two Fluance RT85s and sold the last one when I got the Alva ST. It's a huge upgrade in build-quality. More on par with the Technics SL-100c/1500c
@@bdsattern minus the feet, subchase, etc........ I am sure it is a fine table. Still going with the 85.
The AT-VM95 cartridge is compatible with many different styli that AT makes, which increases the ability to customize for a cheaper price than buying a whole new cartridge, but 🤷
I’m happy with my project debut carbon
Funny how, to this day, the AR I begged my mom to buy me for a C-note in 71 is still well-respected and often sells for a few times that to this day. Simplicity itself. That, and my Philips 212 still trip my trigger.
I have the Fluance RT 81 elite as per your review . I love it' build quality is excellent , appearance is beautiful in piano black and aound is awesome . Thanks Randy !
You got the better table for sure
Does it have auto-return? Does it shut down at the end of the record, or just let the record spin until you get off the sofa, and lift the tone arm manually?
Should have looked at the Audio-Technica AT-LP5X. It's closer to the Cambridge at $450 (but can be found for $400 some places) and has direct drive to boot. Has the same cart/stylus combo. No Bluetooth, though. But it probably would have been a closer comparison. Sounds amazing in my setup.
The biggest difference between the Cambridge ST and Audio-Technica LP5 is the plinth. The ST has an aluminum clad deck and a two layer core. It passes the knock test where the LP5 sounds hollow.
I could be wrong but I think this should be a full automatic for this price point and given it has Bluetooth and a built-in phono preamp. The Nagaoka MP-110 would also be the better choice too, the 0.4 × 0.7 elliptical and moving iron design is more forgiving.
Great video! I'm excited to hear what you think about the Wiim Ultra! I'm ready to buy, but I wanted to hear your thoughts first.
Totally agree on the interconnects.
The more you described this thing, the happier I am that I bought an RT-84. Trigger words were "Good enough" and "considering". You are always railing against bluetooth, yet it's a "feature" on this table. I didn't get a turntable just to send its signal over bluetooth. FLUANCE ALL THE WAY!!!!
Yep
This is just an added feature, you can just ignore it and keep everything old school .
@@maxwaver777 it will eventually become a problem with resonance and other issues. There is a reason why all decent tables don't have internal preamps or Bluetooth capabilities. It is just more stuff to make noise. That is why if you are looking for a table go with the 83 if you don't want the 85 and pick up a reciever with a phonostage or get a separate cheap phonestage and upgrade later. You will be better off in the long way. Plus the motor placement on the 83,84, 85 is way better being placed as far away from cart as possible and not a sub platter design. I can keep going on, but I will stop there. Fluance for the win IMO
@@budsmoker4201120 -- the Cambridge ST is practically zero resonance. The plinth is two dense layers + an aluminum deck + the underside of the platter is completely dampened. The internal phono preamp isn't bad/same as the Cambridge Solo, but I use a Rega Fono MM.
@budsmoker4201120 I already have the Alva st, you seems have a way more knowledge than me regarding how internal preamp could affect the TT on the long run ...I'm wondering would be it the case even if I switch the preamp off and use an external one ? I don't use Bluetooth, and it's switched off, pointless for an analog sound seaker, of course.
Man, having bought the Fluance RT85 two days ago, I was slightly concerned for a second. 😅
you bought the best
Don't be. You got the way better one. The only thing you got to do now is get ready to spin your days spinning records 😀. Give the 2m Blue about 20 hours to really bloom. Then it really begins to sing! Have fun.
@@budsmoker4201120 it better! I just rearranged my whole living room. 😄
There should be a video about what to do with cats that are very interested in all things spinning. 😑
Now all I need is a longer RCA cable and I'm finally good to go.
@@bdsattern that's clearly true. But how does it compare on the sound level?
@@bdsattern except it is a direct to consumer item. Your Cambridge you pay for distribution as well as store over head. Spin what makes you happy. The servo motor on the 85 is also a nice feature. As well as the auto stop. As for having a preamp or Bluetooth in my turntable, that is a no thank you. It will only get in the way. Have fun and Keep'em spinning.
Hey, is the hitachi ht 1 record player that I got from my parents good or not, is it from 1984, I ordered a new belt because the old one is weathered, what do you recommend for this hobby, thank you for your answer
I think a turntable “most people” that aren’t for “hard core” vinyl people should be automatic or at least semi-automatic.A better choice would be something like the Denon DP-400, available at Chrutchfield. It’s semi automatic, lifting the arm at the end of the record, has adjustable feet, better arm geometry looks better in my opinion. It’s also $100 cheaper than the Cambridge.
looking at the mug i can say with confidence that the last few videos were all filmed at the same time 🤣
Still stick to my old Sony PS-X6 from 1978. Its also not a audiophile or enthusiast turntable.
It has no bluetooth or inbuild phonopre,but its fully automatic (it can also be used as a semi automatic)
has gel-filled height adjustable rubberfeet that actualy work well in resonanzabsorbtion and its chassis
is made out of SBMC. It sounds very good with a VM95ML or SH. And even better with a DV Karat.
I was thinking it looks very similar to a Fluance....right when you mentioned them!! 😂
For a little bit more I would get the Rega P1. It's far better built table. However it is a manual table and no pre-amp.
Agree to disagree haveing had a Rega P1 and the Alva ST. Rega has the edge on the tonearm but the rest of the turntable parts are all very entry-level feeling. Especially the platter.
78% English, you're almost a brother.
Seems to be missing too many key features for my taste at this price point... for my money, a good "everyday" turntable that's not audiophile grade is the Audio-Technica AT-LP3XBT. Automatic, bluetooth, Line/phono out, similar design the Cambridge and cheaper plus is comes in two colors
You can defeat the built in photo stage and use one from you amp or a separate one.
Hi Randy great and interesting video, it’s look well built , how does compare with rega planar 3 , I wonder . I agree the cartridge should a bit better in what’s supplied. Regards mark
Are you planning on doing a review of the Brennen B3+ ?
I'll take my Fluance RT-85 over this TT every day of the week! Why are you shilling Randy?!
A turntable with bluetooth. Analog to compressed digital to analog again. 1/3rd the quality of spotify with 3x the effort.
Bluetooth can be nice when you want to listen on a wireless headphone, and let people enjoy their hobby the way they like to. 🙂
Odd you chose Spotify as a comparison….
Tidal or quobuz would have made more sense since Spotify only upgraded to cd quality not long ago. Before that it was mp3 forever while other streaming services offered hi-res streaming….
Just saying….
That coffee cup is very well seasoned
In another version, without blutooth and preamp, I'd be interested.
Rocktopus hit some turbulence.
@@SnapperX3
lol!
This turntable is way overpriced. An Audio Technica LP120XUSB with a rubber platter mat and a 2M blue would be cheaper and sound better.
But the Audio Technica is so plastic fantastic, and it has an arm that can't cope with high quality cartridges
@@theaudiofool5475 do you really say that the Ortofon 2M blue is not a quality cartridge?
@@theaudiofool5475 what cartridges did you try it with?
@@theaudiofool5475 Which High quality cartridges did you try? My experience is it performs perfectly well with mid compliance cartridges - like the included VM series cartridge (obviously) and Ortofon OM and 2M series.
Once you touch every high finish cold soothing metal feel of every part of it you will understand ! This thing dosent feel like a toy ....
This and similar items make no sense to me. The only reason to go vinyl is because you "think" it sounds better than CDs/digital rips/streaming/etc. But to then take the analog vinyl signal and pump it through a bunch of digital conversions - bluetooth, usb dac, etc - seems (to me) to negate any perceived vinyl advantage. At this point all you're left with is the ritual of vinyl. And having grown up with and collected a sizable vinyl collect I don't miss the ritual or the inevitable clicks and pops in the quiet space of music. The only thing I miss is 12" album cover art and their accouterment.
Phono cartridge is the single most effective way to upgrade any turntable. Just get this turntable and upgrade the cart. Done.
As you are 72% British ought you not to review the Rega 1,2 and 3? ;)
Idk man for the money,i dont think you can beat the 1byOne turntable with the AT cartridge under $150 from amaazon and Bluetooth
Playing vinyl - the hobby where you can spend thousands and still feel mildly disappointed.
I’ve enough relatives.
Way too much money for what's essentially a toy. Of course I haven't listened to it. This 'table has three strikes: 1) Bluetooth, 2) internal preamp, 3) no adjustable feet. Are you kidding?
Reminds me of my Sony except with a much much better tonearm and cart. Worth over 2x the price? Yeah, probably. I ended up moving to a Pro-ject before too long, might have stayed in a TT like this longer.
Like a fully automatic one personally
The people (subscribers) have spoken. Fluance RT85 is the best all around. Yes, I’m partial. I have one and it is Awesome!!! Get the acrylic platter. Any in the Fluance 80 series is great start.
I’d rather listen to people who have actually owned both turntables. The Alva ST is built like a tank in comparison to the Fluance RT85. A better comparison would be a Technics SL-100c/1500c.
no thanks, we will stay with the $499.00 US$ Fluance RT85 Turntable, Dust Cover + Hinges, Bubble Level, Headshell with Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, Counterweight, Acrylic Platter with Belt, 100-240V (50/60Hz) AC Power Adapter, 3ft RCA Cable, 2x 3ft Ground Wire, 45 Adaptor, Motor Pulley Cap, Auto-Stop, Cotton Gloves, User Manual, Lifetime Customer Support, 2 Year Manufacturer's Direct Warranty
a 600.00 turntable should be amongst the best available! If not... its a rip off at that price! Sorry... This is about 300.00 overpriced in my humble opinion!
under blind listening i garantee you almost nobody would hear the difference between that 600 dollar table and a 100k table.. all a scam.
Lp120 maybe a little disappointing but the lpw40wn is the same price and feels a lot nicer. You lose a little build quality with the 120 for the direct drive motor
No.
If you want something cheap but decsnt-ish to "just play them on" get an AT LP60. That plus some powered speakers will do for the majority of people.
If you want proper hi-fi start with a Rega Planar 1 and work upwards to suit your budget.
If you want to spend money on something that looks nice on your coffee table but sound is a lower priority, go for your Fluance, Project, etc.
If you want a DJ table on the cheap get an AT LP120. If you want a DJ table on the not-so-cheap get a Technics.
Personally, can't stand the AT-VM95E - dull, no highs. I'd either save some money and buy a Fluance RT-85 or spend another $50 for the MusicHall "Classic." I've had both of them in house and think they're the best bargains on the market.
So much better than Audio-Technica but it uses what it seems to me tone arm, cartridge and stylus from Audio-Technica.
Yes, the Japanese and European tables are superior!!!!
I'm in the market for a turntable. Nothing looks as good as the uturn theroy at this point in my search.
how about the Fluance RT85?
I’ve owned the Theory (2m Bronze cart) for about a year now. It’s great, no regrets.
If you’re a vinyl enthusiast like me you don’t want Bluetooth or an internal phone preamp (although the Theory can be bought with it).
It has a much better cartridge, has adjustable feet, excellent tonearm, acrylic platter and is made from solid wood.
Only draw back might be not having a removable head shell. That wasn’t a deal breaker for me since I don’t plan to swap cartridges around. It also doesn’t offer a vertical tracking angle adjustment. Again, wasn’t a big deal to me.
I don’t think you can go wrong with the U-Turn Theory or Fluance RT85 if you wanted to save some money.
Great vid Randy but I’m not interested in vinyl (that’s what I keep telling myself), I’m sure I’ll fall into that rabbit hole at some point, yay?😅
The two main attractions of vinyl for me are the expense and the inconvenience. 😂
@@billywindsock9597LOL, I was going to type that exact saying.
With the number of years I have left, I'll put my money to a Tidal subscription and explore way farther down (and wide) the rabbit hole of music than the same amount of money spent on records could ever provide.
Pro-JECT debut carbon evo is the same price.
Ok, I can see why its good to level a turntable, though I've never had a piece of vinyl that lay perfectly flat.
Why over the RT81 + by Fluance
thats a 200 dollar plastic turntable, honestly, and the tonearm isnt worth 400.. pass. thanks for a great video though man. fluance rocks
So should I sell my semi automatic vintage '70's technics sl-1400 and buy this? 😉
nope
Noooooo, the classic SL-1400 is a far superior turntable.
@@tylerpanteleeff8581 no, you should post a winking smiley indicating that you will be holding onto it. Most folk do hold on to their vintage TTs, which is why there aren't enough classic vintage TTs for sale in the first place to satisfy demands of those wanting a turntable - hence people prefer to watch videos of new models.
Hi randy been watching from the beginning. Be sure to check the DNA on the turntable
I own the RT-85 blue tooth why? Built in pre amp nope. RT-85 superior no doubt. All I one turntable very convenient I get that. Good job Cambridge.
$599 in the USA and £850 in the UK! That's outrageous! and isn't Cambridge Audio a UK company? A total ripoff of the UK customer base. Hopefully it flops in the UK market because of this.
Which Alva model are you looking at? St or TT? The TT is over $1400.
@@SnapperX3 The Alva ST which is the one that is being reviewed here. It retails for $599 in the USA and £849 in the UK, and these are the prices listed on Cambridge's own website for all to see!
You can get it for 550 usd from .hhv from Germany ! They ship with DHL and fedex for 100 usd though, the TT is 10kg , but very well packed and shipping is very fast !
The lack of adjustable feet would be a deal breaker for me. Also, I don't like a removable angled headshell on a straight tone arm. It's not a matter of if, but when someone will stick a normal headshell for an S shaped tonarm on that turntable, Oy Veh😂
Agreed!
That tonearm screams Chinese OEM
That platter screams Chinese OEM
Probably also the main spindle/bearing and also probably the motor.....
All scream cheap China 😂
Put the shibata cart in Wow ..
im stuck with my lp60x, thats all i can afford right now
You could have done a lot worse at that price point. There are a lot of toy turntables at or even well above the cost of an LP 60x. I very nearly got one myself when I wanted to see if my records still played after being boxed up for nearly 30 years whilst not wanting to spend a fortune to find out. Ended up with a LP 120xusb because someone local was selling an almost new one at a really good price because for some strange reason he wanted a turntable with Bluetooth. One big advantage you have over mine is that the LP 60 is automatic. I certainly wouldn't dismiss buying used when you are ready to upgrade on a budget, I suspect there's a lot of people who have bought into the Vinyl revival who later change their mind. Just factor in the cost of a new stylus when buying used and I'm sure you could get a serious upgrade on a reasonable budget but, as I said, you could have done a lot worse than the one you have.
Solid starter turntable in my opinion.
Rega Planar 3......
I’m a Fluance guy
At six hundred this approaches the price of a used Rega P3. Tons on the used market that wildly outclasses this. Not interested. Now the Dayzee from Geshelli, that could win my coin.
Your review on Turntable was very basic....
This is good. That is good......not Enuf.... Kindly give us more specs and insights into parts of the table which can improve the sound.
Also pls compare the parts and sound with the famous PROJECT DEBUT CARBON EVO or REGA PLANAR 1.....😮
I like my project III
does it play my 78s?
@@timbacchus
Because most people own 78s 🙄
@@johnstump2433 I am old and yes have a stack of them
Hard pass on a Bluetooth turntable. Had a Fluance RT-85 and thought it was pretty bad. Cart was meh. The Fluance phono stage was terrible. Went with a Music Hall Classic.
Cart was meh - well that's BS
Cart is a ortofon how is that meh !?!?!
@@fredmoucatel2058 wtf are you comparing it to?
I put down Atomic Habits to watch this video!
Converting analog vinyl to Bluetooth is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of.
For most people? I doubt it.
I bet this is made by a famous TT company and not by CA. I would trade the nonsense bluetooth for a better cartridge or feet, This does not make sense at all. Who would use a TT with BT anyway?
made in China?
If I were a newbie I would go with the Electrohome Montrose turntable ($85 on Amazon) & spend $500 on elpees. This turntable gets good reviews & Fluance is the parent company. Perhaps you could do a comparative review (using identical cartridges) vs the Cambridge?
And then complain that Vinyl sounds so bad? 🫤
Descent turntables start with the cheaper models of Pro-Ject, Rega, U-Turn, Fluance in the range of €200- €300 , and maby a Pioneer PLX-500 but the rest is junk.
While I agree that most cheap turntables are junk, that is not the case for the Montrose, it looks & performs better than others costing hundreds of dollars. I'd like to get the word out there, with the help of the Cheapaudioman, that it's the one to go for if you don't have a lot to spend. It comes with an Audio Technica cartridge that was once used by Rega.
@@trevorbartram5473 the arm is junk, there is so much play in the bearing of that thing that a cartridge can never perform at its best.
I have had junk like this for repair hundreds of times and it is all junk
I have 2 words for you: Pro - Ject
we have 1 word for you: Fluance
@@TrueAudio you mean flatulence?
@@dougdavis8986 jealous
Disagree. The Fluance RT81 with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge is better and cheaper.
Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN is cheaper and almost same quality MHO
You got the one and done thing right. I had this TT one day and I was done with it . Major POS for the price.👎👎👎
No auto return is a biggie for me, and I don't need built in phono stage nor Bluetooth. I'll pass on it. Nice for you to review turntables, a lot of us still go vinyl.
And now a "touchy note", why have that kind of political ad on your video? Very disappointing!
Alba sounds very Chineesy 😂 if so I wouldn't take it for free.
When are you going to realise that a proper turntable shouldn't have a built in pre amp or Bluetooth nonsense. 95% of turntable quality is all about the tonearm, cartridge and bearings... This thing is a toy