Alba 632

The Alba 632 is a vintage, portable record player from the early 1970s, designed as a budget-friendly, all-in-one mono unit. It is notable for its plastic construction, blue and grey color scheme, and integrated amplifier and speaker. The model was aimed at the home market and is considered one of the last full-size transportable record players produced by Alba.

Key Technical Features

• Turntable Deck:
  Fitted with a BSR (Birmingham Sound Reproducers) 3-speed autochanger deck, typical for affordable British record players of the era.
  Supported playback speeds: 33, 45, and 78 rpm (does not support 16 rpm)1.
  The platter is noted as being black and made of plastic.

• Amplification:
  Solid-state (transistorized) mono audio amplification.
  Integrated speaker housed within the main unit.
  No external audio outputs or inputs; strictly a self-contained player.

• Controls and Operation:
  Manual controls with distinctive slide controls for volume and tone.
  No dedicated mains on/off switch; power is controlled by the deck’s stop/start mechanism.
  Indicator bulb for power status (often non-functional in surviving units).

• Construction and Design:
  Plastic case with blue front and grey body.
  Designed for portability, with a cable notch for storing the mains lead inside the case.
  Mono sound only; a stereo version (Alba 642) was also produced, featuring a secondary speaker in the lid.

• Other Notable Points:
  The sound is described as “tinny” due to the plastic construction and single speaker.
  The unit is loud enough for home use but can distort at higher volumes.
  The Alba 632 was replaced in many homes by more capable stereo models as the 1970s progressed.