Cambridge Duo headphone amplifier & phono preamp | Crutchfield

The Cambridge Duo is a phono preamp and a headphone amplifier that lets you dig into your record collection two ways. It's a fantastic preamp for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, and when it gets late you can settle in with your favorite headphones.

Like all Cambridge gear, the Duo keeps it simple: a button on the front to switch between cartridges, and a large volume knob next to the 1/4-inch headphone jack. Also typical of Cambridge, the Duo amplifies your phono signal without introducing distortion or noise.

The rear of the Duo gives you connections for sending the signal to an amplifier, plus a knob for fine-tuning the left-right balance. Its a component with two jobs to do, and it does them very well. If you want to switch between listening to your vinyl collection over your speakers and listening over headphones, the Cambridge Duo is ready for years of faithful service.

0:00 Intro
0:27 Why do I need a preamplifier for my turntable?
0:53 Works with moving magnet & moving coil cartridges
1:13 What's the advantage of the Duo?
1:55 Sometimes only vinyl will do
3:06 Hooking up to your amp/powered speakers
3:33 Cambridge Solo phono preamp
4:06 Outro

[beatlesfansam]

Cambridge Audio makes good phono preamplifiers. I've been using their Azur 551P (which I believe is similar to their current Solo) model for several years, and I've been pleased with it. I like the headphone amplifier on the Duo, which is great for the desk setup Eric has.

[maxwaver]

I have the CA Alva st 2 turntable that have the alva solo built in preamp, hooked to. Wiim amp with a pair of klipsch r51. Do you think upgrading to the external Alva duo will make a big difference using the sane system offcourse ?

[bear]

Hi great interesting video an thinking ti get the solo model, I noticed you have sennheiser headphones just wondering what ones you using . Regards mark

[Innuband]

Thanks for sharing! Does the volume knob allows you also to "level" the signal output of the turntable to the CD player, when connecting the device to an integrated stereo amp?

[uprajsingh]

Hi Crutchfield, are there integrated amplifiers that can run 4 speakers instead of 2? I know I can achieve this in AVR's but I was thinking of adding two more speakers to my stereo speakers, perhaps something like Michi can handle or are they all for bi-wiring only?

[kaitaylor]

Does the volume knob on this also adjust the volume of your powered speakers when you are not using headphones?

[Aroundthefire]

I have a Fluance RT85 and powered speakers and separately a Fluance preamp that does not have volume setting. I only have volume on my speakers. I would like to switch to a preamp for headphones but when I’m not using it for headphones I want to be able to have it for my powered speakers. Because this preamp that is being presented has a volume on it I don’t want to blow my speakers out. Can Is it okay to use a preamp with volume dial if I have powered speakers with their own volume?

[raynegron]

Hey crutchfield looking to get a external phono pre amp for my lp 120x usb. Would the Cambridge be good or should I go for a more cheaper option?

[mfloyd]

His review is based on Ortofon Red lol and Headphones.

[golds]

Is the volume loud enough for headphone as stand alone? Someone wrote needs a separate amplifier. Ty

[endofanera]

I got mine yesterday and I find that it doesn’t drive my headphones very much. At full volume it sounds about 50 percent of my Bluetooth earbuds. I’m using beyerdynamic 770 pros. 250ohm. Is this an issue with the ohms? What headphones do you recommend to pair with the Alva duo?

[nedlowe]

The gear you're using for the test is not good enough to reveal the differences in the two preamps. In order to make a meaningful assessment, you need a much better turntable, tonearm and cartridge, to start. Plus, the headphone amp in both units is terrrible, you can't tell anything by using it. Use an amp and speakers, properly set up.