Jeff Dorgay - ToneAudio
I found it to be very exciting and I haven’t tired of it in the least. If you’ve been craving the perfect fusion of dynamics and fine detail, the Clearaudio Da Vinci is the cartridge for you.
Switching back to some straightforward rock, MoFi’s Santana was another incredible experience. I’ve been listening to this record for about 35 years and it’s never sounded better. On the last track, “Soul Sacrifice,” when the bongos fade up over the drums, they sound somewhat blurry. But now they had their own distinct soundstage in the mix. I didn’t even hear that while I listened to the master tape at the MoFi studio last year!
The Da Vinci was so revealing, it made it easy to hear the differences between each of the four phono preamplifiers.
Unlike some so-called “audiophile” products that only shine with your best records, the Da Vinci extracts every bit of information from the grooves on whatever records you are playing. [more]
Lawrence Devoe
If one accepts the principles of audio Darwinism, then Clearaudio cartridges have survived because they have continued to adapt to the higher resolution playback systems that can brutally expose the flaws of moving coils, cantilevers and stylus tips. In the 1990’s, the Clearaudio Insider Wood changed how I listened to vinyl. It extracted information from the well-traveled grooves of my lps that had been kept waiting in the wings for the proper cues.
The GF2 was equally at home with big orchestral recordings. The opening of the legendary Solti/VPO recording of Wagner’s Das Rheingold (Decca) exposes an unearthly progression of low string chords that gradually build to a crescendo before the first Rhinemaiden’s voice is heard. This effect is nearly inaudible with lesser cartridges but is rendered beautifully by the GF2. The original 3-microphone Mercury recordings are another great way to road test the GF2; it and the original model were the first to tame the aggressive Dorati recording of Aaron Coplands’s Rodeo on Mercury.
For those of you that delight in microdyamics, Mamba Percussions (Pierre Verany) is one of my touchstone albums for many years. It features unusual South American instruments and a big soundspace. The GF2 brings these sounds at you with an immediacy that is rhythmically engaging and an in-your-room image that is the essence of “being there.”
In summary, many would not consider a US$10k (NZ$16750) cartridge a “best buy.” However, if you audition this cartridge in a properly set up playback system, be prepared to redefine your priorities. I suspect you will immediately begin working on a strategy to amass the requisite capital for its purchase. [more]
Frederic Beudot
....as it turns out, the Nano is such a good bargain that I decided it was worth sharing the news.
.....but what keeps amazing me is how well the Nano performs at just a fraction of the price.
....but responded with greater bass weight and extension, better macrodynamics, sweeter treble and lower noise.
The Nano confirmed that it performs on par or even slightly ahead of the phono boards inside my McIntosh MA2275 and Musical Fidelity A5 integrateds. That may seem like faint praise but the phono stages in those two are actually well regarded and often compared to phono pres costing to US$700. Hence the performance of the half-priced Nano was more than respectable.
I would be hard-pressed to name anything that will give you more bang for the buck than this unique combination of built quality, versatility, low price and sweet dynamics. [review
link] [more]
Several other features stand out. First and foremost, the Double Smart Matrix cleans both sides of a record at once. Not only does it cut cleaning time in half, you never need to worry that the "just cleaned" side of a record will pick up new contaminants when the record is flipped and placed face down on the "mat" of a single-sided cleaning machine. Another great feature is the flip-down brushes which discharge static electricity as a final step.
The Double Smart Matrix collects spent cleaning fluid in a built-in tank (a sensor that shuts off the machine if it reaches capacity). During operation, a clamp covers the label at the center of each LP to create a solid connection and protect the label from the cleaning fluid. Clearaudio's Double Smart Matrix represents quality German engineering in an attractive (for an appliance), easy-to-use package.
Sound "A precision instrument that’s designed to present the music as it is, rather than as it could be with just a bit of ditorializing"; "the mids and highs…were precise, clear and detailed, but not overly bright"; "the Champion did, however, infuse the upper mids with a tiny bit of additional energy, which enhanced the sense of detail."
Features The Champion's plinth is "a large, perfectly polished chunk of 1"-thick GS-acrylic," "the three cone feet are also acrylic," and "the platter is made from 1" thick silicon-acrylic"; Level One and Level Two upgrades are available for no cost penalty if not purchased from the start.
Use "The treble region proved very sensitive to both supporting shelf and cartridge choice. Once the Champion was placed directly on a light, stiff shelf, things meshed perfectly."
Value "An excellent value" that "could save you money compared to buying an inexpensive ‘table now and selling it at a loss later when you want to upgrade."
Our Comments:
Behind the clearaudio team are dedicated to the world of artistic creation and the finest engineering.
Features:
Features include: • CMB-Ceramic Magnetic Bearing • Non-resonant GS-acrylics • Separate motor drive • Precision polished materials • Upgradeable to your choice and taste.
Paul Bolin
Clearaudio has chosen carefully and sensibly among the sonic compromises necessary to build to a price that's moderate for a high-end turntable. The Champion 2 will provide very good overall performance when teamed with a well-considered match of tonearm and cartridge, the Clearaudio offers a commendably solid package and a lot of performance for a very reasonable tariff. That should be more than enough for most vinyl lovers. [review
link] [more]
Jason Thorpe
Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past decade, the name Clearaudio undoubtedly rings an audiophile bell. This German company has been at the forefront of both statement-level cartridge production and turntable design for a number of years. But with the Champion, Clearaudio has thrown its hat into the affordable turntable arena, while managing to maintain their customary precision machining and attention to detail.
Operationally, the Champion performed flawlessly throughout the review period.
The Champion rides this fine line with a firm, yet delicate hand, and it incorporates this accuracy without sounding sterile. The sonic signature of this Clearaudio ‘table reminds me of that of a good CD player -- one with soul. All of the attributes that draw me toward LP playback are there -- the richness, life and intimacy -- but many of the drawbacks of CD have been minimized.
Partnered with an appropriate cartridge and careful placement, the Clearaudio Champion succeeds in marrying gorgeous appearance with top-notch sound. I moved my rack over from behind one of the speakers just so that I could see the Champion from my listening seat. Damn, it looked good. More importantly, it sounded good too. [review
link] [more]
"All about dynamics, snap, and excitement"; "the attack on percussion instruments, which is the function of quick start/stop and wide dynamic range, was far beyond my expectations"; " bass was certainly tight, clean and tuneful…notable for the way in which it portrayed the size and reach of instruments such as acoustic bass."
Our Comments:
The Smart Emotion package is Clearaudio's highly popular second tier turntable supplied as a complete ready to play package. The Smart pack consists off an Emotion clear turntable + Satisfy tonearm + Aurum Classic wood MM cartridge + Smart phonostage. The price includes free NZ delivery.
The Satisfy tonearm uses a combination of sapphire and ceramic bearings in the horizontal and vertical bearings respectively.
Made from clear acrylic, the Emotion is a stunning turntable, both in sound and build. It features a fully isolated motor, ensuring the cartridge is isolated from any slight motor noise. The motor pulley is connected to a 20mm thick acrylic platter which rotates on a high quality low tolerance bearing, resulting in excellent speed stability. 33 and 45 RPM speeds are selectable by simply moving the belt on the pulley.
Overall, the Emotion is an excellent sounding and stylish turntable package offering Clearaudio quality engineering at an excellent price.
You can also add an Emotion Dust Cover to your order at the special price.
Features:
"A striking turntable by any standard"; "the [Emotion's] plinth is manufactured from a solid piece of GS acrylic, as are the three cone footers and the 20mm thick platter"; "the Satisfy tonearm is manufactured by Clearaudio…"; its "horizontal bearings are the same as the jewels used in watches, while the vertical ones are made from long-life ceramic"; the Aurum Classics Wood moving-magnet cartridge is "at the bottom of Clearaudio’s extensive line" and has a "3.3mV output and a total mass of 6 grams."
Jason Thorpe
Sound "All about dynamics, snap, and excitement"; "the attack on percussion instruments, which is the function of quick start/stop and wide dynamic range, was far beyond my expectations"; " bass was certainly tight, clean and tuneful…notable for the way in which it portrayed the size and reach of instruments such as acoustic bass."
Features "A striking turntable by any standard"; "the [Emotion's] plinth is manufactured from a solid piece of GS acrylic, as are the three cone footers and the 20mm thick platter"; "the Satisfy tonearm is manufactured by Clearaudio…"; its "horizontal bearings are the same as the jewels used in watches, while the vertical ones are made from long-life ceramic"; the Aurum Classics Wood moving-magnet cartridge is "at the bottom of Clearaudio’s extensive line" and has a "3.3mV output and a total mass of 6 grams."
Use "I give credit to Clearaudio for the ‘table’s high-quality packaging, clear instructions and ease of setup" -- Jason "had the whole thing up and running in fewer than 30 minutes, including mounting the cartridge."
Value A budget-priced turntable/tonearm/cartridge package that sounds decidedly non-budget in many ways. "Everyone loves to be pleasantly surprised, and that’s just what happened to me with the Clearaudio Emotion turntable, Satisfy tonearm, and Aurum Classics Wood cartridge." [more]
- 'Rhythmic control is first rate, the Emotion's iron-fist-in-velvet-glove routine driving music along with class-leading momentum and integration—it's so much easier to sit back and enjoy the music when your turntable can so demonstrably discipline even a wayward performance into a lucid, vivid whole'.....
- 'Even though it is the baby of the Clearaudio family of turntables, the breeding showed through, with the deck having a mature, even-handed way of reproducing sound that proved to be very easy to live with.... An extremely likeable and user-friendly deck, with an exemplary standard of build and finish that promises longevity and an unmistakable whiff of class in its sound'
Hi-Fi Choice magazine)
- 'All-in-all a great result for a beauty of a deck. It does what is says on the tin, brings out the emotion from your vinyl and as a bonus it delivers the detail and presence too'.
"All about dynamics, snap, and excitement"; "the attack on percussion instruments, which is the function of quick start/stop and wide dynamic range, was far beyond my expectations"; " bass was certainly tight, clean and tuneful…notable for the way in which it portrayed the size and reach of instruments such as acoustic bass."
Our Comments:
The Emotion STA package is Clearaudio's highly popular Emotion clear turntable supplied fitted with a Satisfy tonearm (less cartridge). The price includes free NZ delivery.
The Satisfy tonearm uses a combination of sapphire and ceramic bearings in the horizontal and vertical bearings respectively.
Made from clear acrylic the Emotion is a stunning turntable, both in sound and build. It features a fully isolated motor, ensuring the cartridge is isolated from any slight motor noise. The motor pulley is connected to a 20mm thick acrylic platter which rotates on a high quality low tolerance bearing, resulting in excellent speed stability. 33 and 45 RPM speeds are selectable by simply moving the belt on the pulley.
Overall, the Emotion is an excellent sounding and stylish turntable package offering Clearaudio quality engineering at an excellent price.
You can also add a Cartridge and / or a Dust Cover to your order at a special price.
Features:
"A striking turntable by any standard"; "the [Emotion's] plinth is manufactured from a solid piece of GS acrylic, as are the three cone footers and the 20mm thick platter"; "the Satisfy tonearm is manufactured by Clearaudio…"; its "horizontal bearings are the same as the jewels used in watches, while the vertical ones are made from long-life ceramic"; the Aurum Classics Wood moving-magnet cartridge is "at the bottom of Clearaudio’s extensive line" and has a "3.3mV output and a total mass of 6 grams."
- 'Rhythmic control is first rate, the Emotion's iron-fist-in-velvet-glove routine driving music along with class-leading momentum and integration—it's so much easier to sit back and enjoy the music when your turntable can so demonstrably discipline even a wayward performance into a lucid, vivid whole'.....
- 'Even though it is the baby of the Clearaudio family of turntables, the breeding showed through, with the deck having a mature, even-handed way of reproducing sound that proved to be very easy to live with.... An extremely likeable and user-friendly deck, with an exemplary standard of build and finish that promises longevity and an unmistakable whiff of class in its sound'
- 'All-in-all a great result for a beauty of a deck. It does what is says on the tin, brings out the emotion from your vinyl and as a bonus it delivers the detail and presence too'.
Jason Thorpe
Sound "All about dynamics, snap, and excitement"; "the attack on percussion instruments, which is the function of quick start/stop and wide dynamic range, was far beyond my expectations"; " bass was certainly tight, clean and tuneful…notable for the way in which it portrayed the size and reach of instruments such as acoustic bass."
Features "A striking turntable by any standard"; "the [Emotion's] plinth is manufactured from a solid piece of GS acrylic, as are the three cone footers and the 20mm thick platter"; "the Satisfy tonearm is manufactured by Clearaudio…"; its "horizontal bearings are the same as the jewels used in watches, while the vertical ones are made from long-life ceramic"; the Aurum Classics Wood moving-magnet cartridge is "at the bottom of Clearaudio’s extensive line" and has a "3.3mV output and a total mass of 6 grams."
Use "I give credit to Clearaudio for the ‘table’s high-quality packaging, clear instructions and ease of setup" -- Jason "had the whole thing up and running in fewer than 30 minutes, including mounting the cartridge."
Value A budget-priced turntable/tonearm/cartridge package that sounds decidedly non-budget in many ways. "Everyone loves to be pleasantly surprised, and that’s just what happened to me with the Clearaudio Emotion turntable, Satisfy tonearm, and Aurum Classics Wood cartridge." [more]
"All about dynamics, snap, and excitement"; "the attack on percussion instruments, which is the function of quick start/stop and wide dynamic range, was far beyond my expectations"; " bass was certainly tight, clean and tuneful…notable for the way in which it portrayed the size and reach of instruments such as acoustic bass."
Our Comments:
The Emotion STA CC package is Clearaudio's highly popular Emotion clear turntable supplied fitted with a Satisfy tonearm & Aurum Classic wood MM cartridge. The price includes free NZ delivery.
The Satisfy tonearm uses a combination of sapphire and ceramic bearings in the horizontal and vertical bearings respectively.
Made from clear acrylic the Emotion is a stunning turntable, both in sound and build. It features a fully isolated motor, ensuring the cartridge is isolated from any slight motor noise. The motor pulley is connected to a 20mm thick acrylic platter which rotates on a high quality low tolerance bearing, resulting in excellent speed stability. 33 and 45 RPM speeds are selectable by simply moving the belt on the pulley.
Overall, the Emotion is an excellent sounding and stylish turntable package offering Clearaudio quality engineering at an excellent price.
Features:
A striking turntable by any standard"; "the [Emotion's] plinth is manufactured from a solid piece of GS acrylic, as are the three cone footers and the 20mm thick platter"; "the Satisfy tonearm is manufactured by Clearaudio…"; its "horizontal bearings are the same as the jewels used in watches, while the vertical ones are made from long-life ceramic"; the Aurum Classics Wood moving-magnet cartridge is "at the bottom of Clearaudio’s extensive line" and has a "3.3mV output and a total mass of 6 grams."
- 'Rhythmic control is first rate, the Emotion's iron-fist-in-velvet-glove routine driving music along with class-leading momentum and integration—it's so much easier to sit back and enjoy the music when your turntable can so demonstrably discipline even a wayward performance into a lucid, vivid whole'.....
- 'Even though it is the baby of the Clearaudio family of turntables, the breeding showed through, with the deck having a mature, even-handed way of reproducing sound that proved to be very easy to live with.... An extremely likeable and user-friendly deck, with an exemplary standard of build and finish that promises longevity and an unmistakable whiff of class in its sound' [review
link]
- 'All-in-all a great result for a beauty of a deck. It does what is says on the tin, brings out the emotion from your vinyl and as a bonus it delivers the detail and presence too'.
Jason Thorpe
Sound "All about dynamics, snap, and excitement"; "the attack on percussion instruments, which is the function of quick start/stop and wide dynamic range, was far beyond my expectations"; " bass was certainly tight, clean and tuneful…notable for the way in which it portrayed the size and reach of instruments such as acoustic bass."
Features "A striking turntable by any standard"; "the [Emotion's] plinth is manufactured from a solid piece of GS acrylic, as are the three cone footers and the 20mm thick platter"; "the Satisfy tonearm is manufactured by Clearaudio…"; its "horizontal bearings are the same as the jewels used in watches, while the vertical ones are made from long-life ceramic"; the Aurum Classics Wood moving-magnet cartridge is "at the bottom of Clearaudio’s extensive line" and has a "3.3mV output and a total mass of 6 grams."
Use "I give credit to Clearaudio for the ‘table’s high-quality packaging, clear instructions and ease of setup" -- Jason "had the whole thing up and running in fewer than 30 minutes, including mounting the cartridge."
Value A budget-priced turntable/tonearm/cartridge package that sounds decidedly non-budget in many ways. "Everyone loves to be pleasantly surprised, and that’s just what happened to me with the Clearaudio Emotion turntable, Satisfy tonearm, and Aurum Classics Wood cartridge." [more]
The Solution sounds fantastic out of the box, but should you get the itch in the future, it allows you to upgrade the bearing, platter and plinth. Realistically, the Solution can be hot-rodded to equal the Master Solution, the Maxumin Solution, or the Master Reference. Please inquire for details.
Our Comments:
A turntable should not have a sound of its own. In keeping with this philosophy, painstaking research and development led to a combination of exquisite materials for the construction of the Clearaudio line. This is true for their entry-level model, the Solution, as much as for our Master Reference top model.
Through optimizing the form and layout of all chassis, they minimize resonances and ensure unpolluted sound, even when you really turn up the wick. Clearaudio supplies a number of tonearm mounting boards; besides their successful parallel-tracking tonearms, all pivoted designs can be used without any problems which allows the owner complete freedom of choice.
The Solution turntable is your entry into the world of multi-arm systems. It uses a 30mm platter and a three point plinth like the Master Reference. This design allows you to mount up to three different tonearms at once! Many arm/table packages are available. Please talk with us for more information on what's available. Once you have purchased a Solution, you have the ability to upgrade it to either the Master Solution or the Maximum Solution levels.
Features:
Features CMB-Ceramic Magentic Bearing, 30 mm thick platter, resonance optimized shape, stainless steel, multilayer wood in sandwich construction between 4mm aluminium layers, Unify 10.5" carbon fibre tonearm & 1x tonearmbase.
NZ$6,500.00/ea
incl GST
Original RRP $9,999.00
Add to enquiry/ shopping
h: 140 mm w: 500 mm d: 400 mm
Reviews
Wayne Garcia
The essential sound of these Clearaudio models is, well, clear, with a fine sense of quickness and transient speed. “The concept is to take away from the products what you don’t need, i.e., a huge base,” Leerer said. “By removing the large plinth you improve clarity, and by spreading out the feet the tripod effect brings greater speed and clarity.”
Occupying the middle ground in Clearaudio’s range of acrylic-centric turntables, the Solution Series is available in three different incarnations—the Solution, Master Solution AMG, and Maximum Solution. While each shares the same three-point star-shaped plinth, three-arm capability, a new CMB-Ceramic Magnetic bearing, and belt-driven outboard motor, the Solution uses a 30mm platter, while the Master and Maximum feature 70mm platters. [more]
Gary Pearce - Tone
There is no doubt the Clearaudio is a fine plattenspieler indeed. Perhaps it isn’t suited to really heavy metal, but play anything else and the Solution Wood AMG will delight. And let’s not forget the stunning looks and outrageous build quality. [review
link] [more]
This is the Clearaudio LP clamp I have been using in combination with their “Outer Limit Turntable Ring” for the last three years. This combination has proved to be quite satisfactory. The combination deals with warp records as good as anything I have ever used, including turntables that use vacuum hold down systems. As far as sound goes the combination gives you quieter backgrounds, a more stable image, better musical flow and slightly better bass than you get without it. The Clearaudio “Outer Limit Turntable Ring” also gives me better speed stability and more drive. The Twister Clamp is a very nice basic clamp, especially considering the price.
Jack Roberts
This is the Clearaudio LP clamp I have been using in combination with their “Outer Limit Turntable Ring” for the last three years. This combination has proved to be quite satisfactory. The combination deals with warp records as good as anything I have ever used, including turntables that use vacuum hold down systems. As far as sound goes the combination gives you quieter backgrounds, a more stable image, better musical flow and slightly better bass than you get without it. The Clearaudio “Outer Limit Turntable Ring” also gives me better speed stability and more drive. The Twister Clamp is a very nice basic clamp, especially considering the price.
if you have a starter turntable I would get the Clearaudio Twister and when I could afford to spend more, I’d spend it on my turntable or cartridge before I spent a lot on more a clamp. [more]
Lawrence Devoe 
Frederic Beudot 
Features: 
Paul Bolin 
Jason Thorpe 
Features: 
Hi-Fi Choice magazine) 
Features: 
Features: 
Features: 
Wayne Garcia 
Jack Roberts