Cambridge Audio TT50

By Michael Wong

June 2008

Cambridge Audio TT50 turntable. $899


Cambridge TT50 turntable, shown here without the perspex lid (click for larger image)

Back in the 1990’s vinyl playback appeared to be on its last legs. Now it seems vinyl records will outlive their successor, the Compact Disc and its successors, the ill-fated SACD and DVD-Audio. It’s hard to believe that today’s buyer has never been offered a better selection of turntables. From affordable turn-key models to the exotics that cost more than a good luxury car. Into this burgeoning market budget audio specialist Cambridge Audio has introduced the first turntable in their 40-year history.

For assistance Cambridge Audio went to the established leaders in affordable turntables, Project Audio. This was a smart move as using Project’s expertise in the field was more efficient and less of a drain on time and resources than attempting a new ground up design solo.

Collaborative design

The result of this collaboration was the TT50, a basic manual turntable/arm/cartridge combination which bears a strong resemblance to the recently reviewed Project 1Xpression 3. The Cambridge takes several Project design features; the glossy piano finished plinth with removable clear perspex lid, rubber suspended belt drive motor and stepped pulley for manual speed selection, outboard power supply, MDF sub-platter and power on/off switch tucked under the left front corner of the plinth Project style.

From here the Cambridge takes a slightly different direction. Instead of the 1Xpression 3’s damped aluminium cones we have the standard Debut type plastic feet. Replacing the carbon fibre tonearm is a Cambridge branded arm using Project’s one-piece aluminium armtube with integrated headshell and removable fingerlift. The bearing assembly is uniquely Cambridge with a magnetic anti-skate mechanism, whereas Project uses a thread and falling weight. Finally, Cambridge chose a rubbery elastomer coated acrylic platter instead of the usual naked acrylic platter. This leaves the platter grippy and not needing a mat but without a label recess some records may not sit flat on the platter. As with the Project, a simple clamping system would be beneficial.

Setup

Following the clearly written and illustrated instructions, the initial setup was a matter of simply placing the turntable on a level surface (I used a Linn turntable table), removing the transit screws, fitting the platter, balancing the arm and setting vertical tracking force (VTF) and anti-skate. A check of the factory cartridge alignment showed it was spot-on. Like the Project 1Xpression, the Cambridge does not have a captive arm lead, the plinth being fitted with RCA output sockets, giving the user freedom in choice of interconnect. Diluting the experience is the omission of even a basic interconnect, although a separate earthing cable is supplied.

As usual with turn-key turntables, the Cambridge was auditioned with the supplied cartridge, an Audio Technica AT95E, a richer, warmer sounding cartridge than the usual Ortofon OM freebie. This fed my regular vinyl playback chain of the Plinius Jarrah phono stage, Krell integrated amplifier, Magnepan MG1.6 speakers. XLO cabling, including a dedicated phono cable was used throughout.

Killing me softly with his song

The Cambridge reproduces music in a softly, softly fashion. Music is engaging, with good rhythm and punch. Soundstaging was good with speaker to speaker width, good height and reasonable depth. There’s good presence and palpability to the sound but the imaging is slightly out of focus and missing the three-dimensionality and immediacy of more expensive turntables. Tonally, the Cambridge gets the basics right; in typical budget fashion the highs are rolled off robbing music of air and sparkle but the all-important mids are smooth with a touch of lower mid warmth, the lows don’t go very low or are all that well defined but satisfy thanks to help from those warmish lower mids. Dynamically the Cambridge noticeably softens leading edges but maintains a good sense of timing with a variety of music. Detail and transparency is a little less than the norm for this price point. Overall no real nasties, only relatively minor sins of omission, make the Cambridge a musically rewarding turntable.

Comparatively, the Cambridge’s performance holds up fairly well with the other turn-key turntable systems I’ve reviewed over the years. It betters the Project Debut ($499) and the original Project 1Xpression, being roughly on par with a Rega P1 ($699). However it doesn’t do quite so well against the Project 1Xpression 3 ($899) or the benchmark Rega P3 ($1249).The Cambridge sounding less refined and providing a more narrowly focussed band of musicality.

It’s a fine plug and play turntable but it doesn’t offer the same class-leading performance or value for money as other Cambridge Audio products.

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