Customer Reviews

Jim C preamp review

Great preamp gives great warm sound

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Renewed Vinyl

Very pleased with purchase. My Bluetooth turntable got to where it wouldn't connect well to my system. Hooked it up directly and sounded ok, but was just not that great. Got this unit and hooked it up and man the improvement was incredible! Very much worth it.

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Cambridge Solo

Perfect. Sounds great

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Night and day over internal pre-amp!

I was looking to improve my vinyl's playback and so I spent many a day researching phono pre-amps. I'm certainly not made of money and had to get something that wouldn't put me in the dog house. I had it narrowed down between the Solo, the Emotiva XPS-1 (Gen 2), and the equivalent Rega (MK2?). While the Solo is pricey, it came recommended by reviewers and Crutchfield's expert as well. This was primarily for the value and Signal to Noise ratio. Indeed it has seriously cleaned up and amplified the signal. It is absolutely night and day over my Denon 300F's internal pre-amp (which in turn was better than my Yamaha's AVR). When they say it "opens up the soundstage", they're not lying. Music envelopes you in a way a stock phono stage cannot, and it cleans up muddied mids and really adds to the low end as well. I didn't end up ordering the Rega but I did order the Emotiva to A/B test. The Emotiva does a great job with the gain and really has a punchy sound to it, but it leaves something to be desired with clarity. If you prefer a punchier sound with at the expense of more noise in the signal, and want to save a couple bucks, get the Emotiva. It is a good unit. If you want the more balanced option and for your records to really sing, get the Solo.

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Duo

Noticeably better than the internal Yamaha TT-S303 amp connected directly to a Onkyo TX-SR604 receiver. Leaps and bounds? Wish I would have bought the Duo so I could have listened to my records via headphones while my wife is watching TV Since it's wired to the same receiver we have to share time.

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Super Quiet, Great Soundstage

Got the Solo delivered along with my CXA-81 a few months ago. Personally, I like that the amp has no phono input. This preamp sounds amazing. Super quiet, great depth, warm. I was previously using a Marantz 2238B receiver with the internal Phono stage and I thought that was as good as it could get. Turns out I was missing out on years of better quality vinyl enjoyment.

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Really nice!

Didn't realize how much better a pre-amp could be over the one built into my receiver! This Cambridge Solo has ZERO ZERO ZERO noise/static and an amazing rich bass and clear warm highs. A good sax is so clean and rich it is a joy to listen to the vinyl. Feel confident to get this pre-amp just by looking at a picture- mentally, not an easy thing to do. No wonder the solo is so excellent when you think it replaces the built in pre-amp that is about the size of a pea.

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Cambridge Solo Phono Pre Amp

Really opened up the sound stage over built in pre amp. Very happy with

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Cambridge Solo

Works well

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Cambridge Solo

I used to connect my Pro-ject Carbon evo to the phono stage on my Marantz sr7011 and needed to raise the volume about 5 to 10 ticks higher to get decent amplification. By adding the Solo in the mix amplification has increased but I guess I was expecting more. Have to add that my newer albums play better than my collection from the 70's but as I listen more closely and carefully I can hear a little more detail from my records. Don't expect the Wow factor, but you can expect subtle differences that improve overall sound quality.

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Cambridge Solo

Very high quality sound,better than my amplifier.Great phono stage.would buy again!

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Double Down!

I have been using a built in phono stage on my 1977 Pioneer SA-5200 and I thought it sounded fine. I ordered the Solo and doubled down on the Cambridge Audio sound by connecting it to a CXA81 and WOW! The sound is rich, warm and velvety! I'm thrilled with my purchase! I have a pair of 1978 Klipsch Heresy's, and this combo truly helped reign them in and bring their voices to exactly where I wanted them!

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Expected a bigger wow.

I purchased this preamp as an upgrade to my pro-ject phono box mm. I have a NAD c356bee amp with CSS criton1 speakers and a fluance rt82 turntable with an AT-VM95E cartridge. While it seems to be a very well made unit, I couldn't tell a difference from the pro-ject. I did numerous back and forth testing expecting to be impressed but to no avail. I did extensive research and chose this over the schiit, ifi, NAD, and others. Probably a great preamp but didnt make a difference to my mid-fi system or ears.

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Cambridge Solo

Lots of headroom - did not clip or distort on loud passages as with another preamp I tried. Claimed 90 db S/N ratio seems a bit high per my 'Kentucky Windage' estimate...did not bench-test the unit. Preamp noise is still below vinyl surface noise. Overall, a great preamp for most MM cartridges, loaded to a 'standard' 47kohms and 150pf-or-so.

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Great sounding phono preamp

Sounds slightly better than my previous phono preamp- Schiit Mani and significantly better than the phono input on my integrated amplifier. If you're a MM cartridge only person this gem is recommended.

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Cambridge Solo

This preamp has really upped the game of my audio system and convinced me to dust off my vinyl collection and keep improving my system.

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Cambridge solo phono preamp

Just want to upgrade the sound quality on my turntable. I have to use an external phono preamp to replacing the internal preamp. The Cambridge has a very good frequency response and sounds great. Right now I'm very enjoyable on my vinyl records. If I need the gear, I will think about Crutchfield is my first choice. Thanks

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Awesome

Absolutely incredible increase in quality of sound. Such a better pre amp than what is in my turntable. Do not hesitate and purchase this from the team at Crutchfield at once. Before it's sold out.

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Great Product

I was using a Schiit Mani phono pre amp. But this surpasses my expectations. Sound has noticeably improved. The mids, highs and lows have become much more precise and clear. Have it hooked up to my Cambridge CXA81 integrated amp. I am using a Fluance RT83 turntable with an upgraded acrylic platter and an Ortofon 2m Blue cartridge. I am very happy with the upgrade. Dealing with Crutchfield couldn't be easier.

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Cambridge Solo

Solid product, noticeably better sound quality and depth over my receiver's built in phono preamp. Great for stronger bass, and crisper vinyl sound.

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Cambridge Solo

This phono preamp sounds great, built well, easy to use, and looks good. Built in subsonic filter is great, too. Very neutral and does not color the sound much at all (pro or con, depending who you are)

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Great Buy!!!

I have a Cambridge Audio AX85 receiver and AR 22 speakers. I thought the sound was great from my record collection. I got the Solo yesterday and all I can say is WOW! Strangely it makes the music more melodic and flat and the sound is enriched with new highs and lows. I urge you if your on the fence about this amp.... buy it you won't regret it!

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Ask First!

I found out the hard way you don't connect a Pro-ject phono box to a Cambridge Audio integrated amp-you connect a Cambridge Audio Alva Solo phono pre-amp. What a blunder! I should of talked to your experts first, I probably would have saved money.

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Cambridge Solo

Works great

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Bad loud hum developed

Unit sounded great but developed a loud hum in one channel. Tried various grounding options but hum persisted. Sometimes it goes away but not always. It wad sporadic . Got frustrated and disconnected the solo and hooked turntable back up to my preamp phono preamp. No hum. UPDATED 8/21/21: Upon closer investigation with the assistance of Crutchfield's assistant AJ, I discovered that the hum I was experiencing was actually from a loose wire in my phono cartridge, NOT the Cambridge Solon as I originally reported. The Solo is performing fine and the sound is an huge improvement over what I heard before I installed the Solo. Great sound with a reasonable price point. I would highly recommend.

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Outstanding receiver.

If you are in need of a 2 channel stereo receiver that delivers fantastic sound this is the one. Paired with a Technics 1500C turntable, and Klipsch Heresy IV speakers, all purchased from Crutchfield, I have the sound I want and deserve without spending a king's ransom.

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Cambridge Solo

One year ago, I dragged my old LP's out from under the stairs, and bought a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable. For a year, I ran it hooked up directly to a Yamaha A-S501 amp, and it sounded good. I did not know if a phono preamp would be a worthwhile upgrade. This year, I bought the Cambridge Solo, and now almost all of my old records sound better. The biggest difference is in the soundstage. Sibilance is better controlled, and vocals are smoother. Over all, the improvement is significant. I've only had the Cambridge for two weeks, but I'm very pleased with it. Well worth it.

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Grounding issue

I had the same problem as another reviewer. The pre-amp doesn't ground my turntable properly so there's a hum. I returned the first one, and while the second one was a bit better on the grounding, it still had the problem. I know it wasn't the turntable because it was grounding perfectly to three other pre-amps I was evaluating. I did find a work around by connecting a second ground from my receiver to the pre-amp. That got rid of the hum entirely. The sound is very good, although I did pick up some distortion on a one of my tougher "reference" disks. I'm also evaluating the Pro-Ject Phono box S2 which is only a bit more, and it's been trouble free, no distortion, and sounds similar. The Solo was a bit warmer than the Pro-ject, but I feel the Pro-Ject was better on more complex material (most likely the reason it didn't distort on that tough disc), the Solo could get muddled like many of the other sub $200 pre-amps I've heard. I'm afraid the Solo will have to go back for good this time.

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a better vinyl experience

I added the Cambridge Solo phono preamplifier to my stereo system to improve my vinyl experience. Connecting it to my 1973 Technics SL1300 turntable and my Cambridge Audio AXR-85 receiver (bypassing the internal phono preamp on the receiver) produced more detail, a more spacious soundstage and more life-like sound from the instruments in the recordings. This is a good way to upgrade a basic system at a modest cost.

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Cambridge Solo

Purchased this since my Onkyo TX R7810 phono input was lacking in volume. I would have to turn the volume substantially higher when playing my pro-ject debut carbon. The Solo was easy to plug in and connect. Made a big difference on the clarity and now my pro-ject plays at a closer volume to my other audio inputs.

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Cambridge Solo

Easy setup and far superior to the phono stage on my amp.

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Cambridge Solo

Nice preamp. Would be nice to turn off the auto off feature and maybe different color lights for off and on. Overall great device.

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Cambridge Solo

I have been listen to both CD and vinyl, and I always felt that vinyl sounds more natural but lag of dynamic. I was using the build-in phono preamp at that time. When I started using the Cambridge Solo, the dynamic improved significantly. Now the dynamic is matching my CD system. I have since then listen more vinyl than CD.

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Cambridge Solo

The Solo appears very well made and is very easy to use. The sound has been been pleasantly neutral, as it should be. My vinyl collection goes back to the 60's, and I haven't found anything that draws attention as a flaw. An LP with clean sound remains that way.

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Cambridge Solo

Very nice preamp, it has just the right amount of gain for my 5mV cartridge. It has a very quiet internal power supply, no more trying to make your own battery packs to eliminate hum. I'm using it with a micro ridge stylus cartridge, and all of the details come out with crystal clear clarity. I would highly recommend this preamp if you plan on sticking with moving magnet cartridges like me, because it sounds good enough that you will want to keep it for awhile.

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Excellent

This thing is awesome! I've been using a variety of 70s vintage amps for years and this just blows them away. I have it paired with Klispch Heresy IIs and love it.

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Cambridge Solo

Good clean power. Simple. Would be 5 stars if it didn't have auto off feature which requires hitting power each time you start. Makes it so you can't put the device in a hidden spot.

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Nothing but good things to say

Excellent quality and great sound. This brings out the warmth that I love about vinyl. Awesome experience with Crutchfield as well. Super fast shipping time.

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Phono Upgrade

This is a great alternative if your receiver is older and the phono stage is not where you would like it to be. The unit is compact fits easily where you need to put it.

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Alva solo is amazing!!!

This is a beautiful piece with amazing sound. Nice and warm but still has good dynamics. I was using the built in phono on my Yamaha Aventage RX A1080 and knew a separate phono should improve it. The Yamaha has a surprisingly decent phono stage but the Solo is a while new animal. I am using a vintage Yamaha TT, a Nagaoka MP 110 and Kef Q350 speakers. The sound is amazing. Especially in pure direct mode. I'm sure the Rega MM phono would be better still but that is over twice the cash. I have heard it before in another system and would argue that this is 95% of the rega for less than half the price . I have used the Project Phono stage before as well and this is miles better. I will admit to being a bit of a Cambridge fan boy though. I like warm and lively sound. If it's too clean it get sterile and unpleasant. Sometimes warm can remove dynamics and punch. I find Cambridge Audio to marry warmth and dynamics as well as anyone. This is no exception.

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Cambridge Solo Preamp

It's simple to set up and the mids that were previously missing are now smoothly pronounced. It added lots of punch to my records. No added noise. Awesome preamp!

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Cambridge Solo

No complaints or issues so far, this pre-amp is a huge improvement to the on-board pre-amp that is in my AT-Lp60X turntable. Sound stage is better and the music sounds more detailed. My new U-turn Orbit with Ortofon OM5E should arrive tomorrow and I can't wait to see how that sounds with this pre-amp. The rest of my setup is a Yamaha RS-202 and KLH Quincy speakers. Only possible downside is that, at least according to the manual, the input voltage range is too small to take a high-voltage cart like the Ortofon 2M Red or Blue, that's why I went with the OM5E because the voltage is lower. U-turn wouldn't tell me definitively if this would be a problem, but I wanted to stay within the range specified by the manual to try and prevent any sound issues. I know sometimes people have complained of hum, I only hear a very very slight hum with no music playing, you really have to be close to the speakers to hear it. In my opinion, with this set-up it isn't an issue. Lastly, I really like the way the unit looks and the build quality, the upside-down text on the connections, so you can read them when you're looking behind it from the top, is a nice plus.

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Excellent choice

This is my first preamp. I am pairing it with a Sony PS-LX310BT through a Denon AVR-X2300W. The internal pre-amp on the Sony worked good. I didn't have anything to compare it to. The Solo is a big improvement over the internal Sony pre-amp. The vinyl has a bigger sound and deeper bass. There is also less static when playing older vinyl. A big selling point for me is that the Cambridge Solo has a standard plug and not a wall wart.

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Cambridge Solo

Works as advertised. I have a vintage Pioneer receiver with a phono stage but the Cambridge Solo sounds better than the stage in the receiver. Very easy to set up. I really like the balance adjustment. I can't imagine a more expensive phono stage sounding any better than this. I'm very pleased with it.

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Drastic sound improvement on modern or vintage component groups

My first dedicated preamplifier. I noticed an immediate difference on my modern system which includes an Outlaw 2160r, Project Debut Carbon and Forte'II speakers. What I observed was louder volume at the same dB levels on the receiver, less Klipsch harshness in the high end, incredible separation and a just plain better sound stage. Since that time, I have run older Technics and Pioneer turntables through a Sansui 7070 which I thought had a better preamp than the Outlaw and noticed the same almost night and day difference. My cartridge/stylus' are all under 300.00 and I felt like the preamplifier made the biggest difference on an Ortofon Red. Worth every penny.

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Cambridge Solo

Very Easy to set up and works as advertised.

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Cambridge Solo

LOVE IT

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Cambridge Solo

The phono preamp on my Onkyo TX-8020 was sufficient, but lacking. In an effort to improve the sound of my records, I bought the Cambridge Solo. The soundstage is larger and the sound is much better than my receiver's phono input. The Cambridge is also aesthetically pleasing. Simply seeing it next to my headphone amp makes me smile.

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Big step up from a built in phono stage.

For what I wanted it is perfect. After using the built in phono stage on my integrated amplifier for a few years I was ready for a step up. After getting some advice at a local record store, I decided that a more entry level model might not be much of a boost so I decided to go for this model. It really opens up the sound, everything has a much more expansive sound, very musical, very engaging, highly recommended.

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Fantastic

I demoed the ever popular Schiit Mani phono preamp and thought it was pretty good until I tried the CA Solo. The Solo crushed it, and is absolutely amazing. Another great Cambridge product and great service from Crutchfield.

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So far so good ??

Only have had this about 2weeks and don't really have any complaints and since this is my first pre-amp don't have much to compare it to,time will tell I guess.

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Excellent

Works fine plug and play. Exceptionally quiet and does its job without complaints.

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Just buy it!

I recently re-activated my interest in vinyl. Bought a vintage turntable but needed a phono preamp. First I bought a Schiit Mani. BIG mistake; it had white noise, hum, and received broadcast radio on the cheap power lead. Had to pay $30 to return it. So I bought a Cambridge Solo. I've had good luck with Cambridge in the past and the Solo is no exception. Plugged it in to my system, the same system the Mani gave problems with. No white noise. No interference. VERY minor hum but only if you put your head next to the speaker and turn the volume up when no record is playing. I'm picky so trust me, the hum is not an issue. Oh, and this is with a 35 year old NOS Sony turntable. The Solo sounds great! No fuss connection. A REAL engineered power supply that doesn't hum and isn't a wall wart like on so many other "audiophile" phono preamps. Just buy the Solo. You will be happy. Unless you need/want Moving Coil capability, in which case buy the Duo. Right now I'm listening to Pink Floyd's the wall on LPS I bought decades ago and it sounds great.

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Hmmm .... good sound but loud hum.

Sound was very good but there was a loud hum in the background. We tried two different units and I had the same issue with both. I was pairing it with the Cambridge CXA61 amplifier, so I was not expecting to have any issue like this. Ended up returning it.

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Good sound and quality build

This is my first stand-alone phono pre - it sounds better than the built-in pre on my integrated amp but I have nothing else to compare it too. The construction is sturdy and it feels like a well-built component. It also has a built-in power supply and uses a universal IEC power cable which is great and uncommon on a device this small. I am using it with a vintage Kenwood turntable. The auto power-off feature annoyed me so I disabled it per the user manual instructions (hold button for 5 seconds) so I can manually turn it on and off.

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Cambridge Solo

Product works as advertised! Great customer service.

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Cambridge Solo

Easy to use. Sound is good but not stellar.

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Great Quality, and sound

Wow! Major improvement to my Debut Carbon DC turntable sound! . My setup: Debut Carbon DC, Acrylic platter, Ortofon 2M Red, Cambridge Audio Solo, Peachtree novaSE

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Clear, Dynamic Sounds

The Cambridge Solo preamp was easy to install. I connected it to the output from my turntable and then connected its output to a pair of line inputs on the rear of my AV receiver. The records sounded much more alive and dynamic and I didn't have to turn the AVR's volume as high as did previously when the turntable was connected to the phono input. The high sensitivity and low noise ratings helped to produce clear sounds from the turntable, via the AVR. To truly experience the best sounds from the audio system, each component in the entire system must complement each other - great AVR or amplifier, great turntable with high quality audio cables and stylus, and of course, a great preamp like the Cambridge Solo. Highly recommended to anyone with a very good MM stylus and looking to listen to clear, dynamic sounds from records.

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Amazing sound upgrade!!!

Wow! Major improvement to my Debut Carbon DC turntable sound! From the very first listen: a noticeable reduction on surface noise and better sound separation. I have been finding I was missing music details in my records! This is my 3rd preamp (the previous two around the same price than this Cambridge Audio Solo). The Cambridge blew the other two away. My setup: Debut Carbon DC, Acrylic platter, Ortofon 2M Blue.

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Cambridge Solo

A great step upward for my Music Hall USB-1 turntable. (Dynamics & Resolution) Feeds Placette Audio pre-amp, Ayre VX-5 Twenty power amp & B&W 805 D3 speakers.

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Cambridge Solo

Thanks,Carlos!!!great!!!

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Works great

Works wonderfully. Low profile, simple operation. Exactly what I needed.

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Cambridge Solo

Excellent sound quality! Super easy setup. I just paired this baby with Sony 1080 receiver and my vinyls sound amazing! Highly recommended!

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Cambridge Solo

Seems to work pretty good. Sterio Review wrote many years ago that the ideal preamp would be a piece of wire with a gain. I think we have one like that here.

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Great Phono Stage

I could tell a difference from the first time I used it it. I was reminded of my Marantz 3300 pre amp and M 250 amp from 1973. Glad I purchased it and would recommend this phono stage to anyone wanting to upgrade. I currently have a Rotel RC-1570 pre amp and RB-1582 MkII amp. I prefer the Solo over the Rotel built in phono preamp.

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Breathe new life into your vinyl

The Cambridge Solo is the latest phono preamp to come from the folks at Cambridge. I am using the Solo to connect a vintage Bang & Olufsen 1700 turntable to a mid-range Onkyo receiver and refurbished Boston Acoustics speakers, and the results are great. To my ears the combination of Solo, B&O, and my vinyl deliver a sound that is balanced between detailed and rich. The Solo preamp itself appears to be well built and has a brushed stainless front with only a single On/Off button. BTW, the folks at Crutchfield were very helpful: An email question I submitted was answered promptly and with enough information to help me decide between the two or three Cambridge preamps I was looking at. At this price point I can highly recommend the Cambridge Solo for anyone looking to breathe new life into their vinyl.

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