Clearaudio, a name long trusted by vinyl enthusiasts for its innovative high-end turntables, aims to reach a wider audience with the launch of its new entry-level model. The Clearaudio Compass turntable, priced at €1,290 ($1,470), brings Clearaudio’s luxurious German craftsmanship to a more affordable level. It features a newly developed tonearm, a resonance-dampening chassis, and a belt-drive system to deliver clear and great sound.
The Clearaudio Compass turntable has a medium-density wood fiber chassis, available in black or silver finishes. A heavy steel plate adds weight and keeps it steady, while decoupling elements reduce vibrations to improve sound. All parts are carefully made to last a long time.
A key feature of the Clearaudio Compass is the new T1 tonearm, a compact sibling to Clearaudio’s popular Satisfy arm. Constructed from aluminum with a stainless steel counterweight, the tonearm offers external anti-skating adjustment and supports a cartridge balance range from 2.5g to 17.0g. It includes Clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS internal wiring, terminated with RCA connectors.
The Compass turntable is also equipped with the new N1 moving-magnet cartridge with an aluminum body, elliptical stylus, and aluminum cantilever. The N1 has a 3.3 mV output and can handle frequency responses from 20Hz to 20kHz to ensure balanced sound and accurate tracking.
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The Clearaudio Compass uses a separate 12V DC motor, designed to reduce vibration. It runs on a flat belt system for smooth and steady performance. The main platter is crafted from a 20-mm-thick acrylic slab, mounted on a CNC-machined aluminum sub-platter. This assembly is supported by a polished steel spindle running in a sintered bronze bushing with a Teflon thrust pad for durability and smooth rotation. The turntable offers great speed accuracy, rated at ±0.05 percent, and supports both 33.33 and 45 RPM speeds.
Measuring about 435 x 340 x 120 mm, the Clearaudio Compass is compact and comes with a dust cover. It weighs around 8 kg with the tonearm and cartridge. The power consumption of the turntable is low, and its external power supply works with different voltages and frequencies, which means it can be used worldwide.
The Clearaudio Compass turntable creates a balance between quality audio and premium aesthetics. It is expected to be available globally from September.
