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
Robert

You are just full of the enigmatic posts tonight ... Lmao.

Another 1200 in the stable?
Why am i not surprised...lol.
I'd recommend sticking with what you have, until you learn a little more about hifi (not condencending, I am a newbie too).  I originally had a project TT which was a few hundred bucks.  To really move up a level in turntables, I'd recommend a boutique brand.  Unfortunately all of the boutique brands are fairly costly.  I have a Dr. Feickert Blackbird now which completely rocks.  It can be completely assembled and disassembled by the owner (if you are willing:) (which I've done:).

Dr. Feickert recently released a fairly affordable higher end "entry-level" table at 3500 (iirc).  I have heard it and while its not a blackbird, it is really impressive compared to other tables in this price range.  It's double your budget, but I've found the key to the rabbit hole that is HIFI is efficiency.  IOW, upgrade to (gear you have heard personally), that you like, that offers the best bang for the buck as few times as possible.

I highly recommend Feickert tables.  Chris is a really cool guy, extremely well respected by his peers in the hifi manufacturing community, and the consumers of his products are fans (atleast I am :).  He is a down to earth guy, and his tables are nearly perfect (German tables FTW!).
I too am one of those who gets the weekly recap in my inbox and only come here when I see something that grabs my attention.  Wow what a lively thread and discussion here with a lot of good opinions, and even some drama to boot.  Plenty here for me to think about as I upgrade my turntable.  Thanks.