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Should I keep the Turntable or sell it?

I’ve been back and forth on this decision for about a month, and the more I learn, the harder this decision gets.

Backstory: I won the brand new Cambridge Audio Alva TT turntable in an online contest in mid-May, and while it sounds great, I decided to list it for sale a couple weeks ago. I’ve always wanted to try out a Rega P6 or P3 with a really nice cart, because I feel like I’m not getting enough out of my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. Prior to winning the Alva TT, I switched the Red Ortofon out for the Blue, and there was a great improvement in sound quality. But after comparing the Pro-Ject to the Alva TT and hearing what a $1700 turntable can sound like, I definitely am interested in exploring more high fidelity turntables. The issue is that I feel like I prefer the sound of tubes over solid state, and the Alva TT uses an integrated Alva Duo phono preamp for the RCA out, and their own DAC for the Bluetooth out if I want to go that route. I don’t have a ton of experience with tubes, and maybe it’s just the “cool factor” I actually like and I’m just having a placebo effect.

So I decided to list it for sale to try and get a Rega, because I heard so many great things about them. But over the last week or so, I’ve learned more about the Alva TT and how it uses Rega’s famous tonearm. I looked up the cart and it is listed at $500 separately, which is probably why it sounds better than the Pro-Ject w/ Ortofon Blue. I’ve also read on these boards about direct drive being better than belt, which the Alva has as well. It also has the added bonus of Bluetooth that go directly to my KEF LS50 Wireless, but I would most likely just use interconnects.

So I would love to get some advice from you all. I’ve gone back and forth about keeping the Alva or selling it, along with my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, and buying/trading for something like a Rega P3 or P6. If you had my first world problem, what would you do?
bignamehere
bignamehere OP
56 posts
 
I thought we were still talking automobiles. ;)

The “Alva” TT is listed on eBay and on Audiogon here:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9f141-cambridge-audio-alva-tt-turntable-aptx-bluetooth-turntables


I’ll let you know what finally lands on my console soon.

robelvick's avatar
robelvick
619 posts
 
I retract my Technics suggestion/recommendation. Keep what you have, you’ll be happier and that’s most important.
bignamehere OP
56 posts
 
@robelvick I thought long and hard about what I currently own, and neither table meets my needs. If the Alva TT had a straight Phono line out, I would definitely keep it. But I want to use my current tube phono preamp, which I can’t. I prefer tube to Solid State (I’ve tried a few SS under $500), and the Alva TT uses the Cambridge Audio Duo, which is solid state.
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
@tzh21y Neat. Feel free to post a study or peer reviewed article to support the claim that direct drive is better, and I’ll read it.

You asked the question to why many believe that the Technics is better technology than other mid priced decks... I answered, it's the motor.  There are many of discussions about the motor of these new decks.  What more do you need to know....?  Is it better than belt drive?  Depends on the belt drive.  Belt drive is different  than direct drive  I have both.  I like both.  I prefer the Technics 1200G.  You may like belt drive better.  Listen for yourself.  No peer reviewed article is better than your ears.  If you like belt drive better, then thats your choice and vice versa.
bignamehere OP
56 posts
 
@tzh21y actually, I made a statement... and that statement was in regards to experts and professionals in the industry... the engineers that design and make the equipment we buy, or even an article or video from a renowned source. I can find hundreds of fanboy posts on forums about Technics, Clearaudio, Rega, SOTA, etc being totally superior because of belt drive or direct drive motors, and here on Audiogon, I have found just that. And when I ask for opinions, the the response (from some) is because XYZ technology is “crap”, I tend to be highly skeptical. Hence the statement... "I haven’t read anything about Technics yet to make me think their technology is superior to any other midrange table".

I was implying reading industry reviews (not marketing) by renowned critics or studies/technical pieces by engineers that state direct drive is a superior technology. If that implication wasn’t clear enough, that’s my fault, but I don’t recall the context of that statement at the moment. 

From the opinions on boards like this, direct drive is more consistent (but noisy) compared to belt drive (but possibly inconsistent). To be honest, I can’t say I have trained my ears enough to be able to notice either of those two issues, but I can definitely recognize tube vs solid state and better quality carts. So that is what I have chosen to focus on. 

In regards to statements by many on here like “Just trust your ears.”, I think that is a ridiculous comment to make when a person is asking any question online. Clearly, if that individual had the means to order and compare the equipment in their home or could listen to all of the choices in question locally at a dealer, then they wouldn’t be asking a bunch of random folks on the internet for advice. We ask these questions to narrow down choices to a select few that we can then try to listen to in person. 

Anyway, I’ve narrowed down my choices, and a Technics is not something I’m interested in.
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