British audio brand Cambridge Audio has unveiled the Spira, a vinyl turntable designed to work with almost any existing hi-fi set-up, a pair of active speakers, a Bluetooth speaker or headphones. Spira just needs to be unboxed and connected to a system to play classic vinyl recordings.

One reason vinyl has seen such a revival in recent years is down to the ritual of playing a record. Unlike the soulless process of streaming a song, with vinyl you get to choose a record, take it out its sleeve, cue it up on the turntable, slowly lower the stylus and wait for glorious analog sound.

The new Spira turntable has been designed to provide the physical gratification that only an analog record can provide. It’s being sold as a complete turntable package ready to play straight out of the box. It also offers a few simple upgrade paths that record collectors can adopt as their music collection grows and their listening needs develop.

Spira can work with almost any audio system, whether that’s an existing hi-fi setup, active speakers, a Bluetooth speaker, or a pair of headphones. The turntable comes pre-fitted with an Audio-Technica cartridge that is already set up and correctly aligned.

You can upgrade the stock cartridge with an Audio-Technica 3600LE elliptical stylus for improved tracking performance. A removable headshell on the tonearm also makes changing over cartridges easier and quicker.

Spira also features a built-in phono stage and Bluetooth transmitter to create a “just-add-speakers” system by connecting directly to an amplifier or active speakers without a separate preamp. For listeners who want to use Spira as the foundation of a traditional hi-fi system, the phono stage can be bypassed to output a raw line or phono signal, allowing an upgrade to an external phono stage such as Cambridge Audio’s Alva Solo or Alva Duo.

The Spira’s built-in Bluetooth transmitter reduces cable clutter by beaming favorite records directly to a wireless speaker or pair of headphones. The turntable also features an aluminum alloy tonearm with an adjustable counterweight, alongside an adjustable anti-skate setting for precise control over tracking.

The turntable’s plinth is made of solid, lacquered wood and houses the motor with a belt-driven sub-platter. The 1.8kg steel platter improves rotational stability and reduces vibration. A felt mat controls resonance and prevents records from slipping mid-play, while a ground connector and vibration-absorbing feet keep hum and rumble out of the signal.

Cambridge Audio’s Spira includes a single dial to switch electronically between 33 and 45rpm speeds when changing from LPs to singles. There’s also a hinged, smoked dust cover that protects records and the stylus from dust.

Pricing and Availability:

The Spira turntable is available now from Cambridge Audio in a choice of Black, White, Blue, Green and Orange finishes, which match the hues of Cambridge Audio’s L/R active stereo speakers. The Spira is priced at $499 / £329 / €349.

  • Audio-Technica cartridge, pre-fitted and aligned.
  • Upgradable to Audio-Technica 3600LE elliptical stylus
  • Built-in phono amplifier, bypassable to upgrade to an external phono stage
  • Built-in Bluetooth transmitter
  • Aluminium alloy tonearm with removable headshell
  • Adjustable tracking force and anti-skate
  • Belt drive with one-dial 33/45rpm speed switching
  • High-mass 1.8kg steel platter
  • Felt mat
  • Hinged dust cover
  • Lacquered wood plinth