Turntable Reviews

Description: Non-suspended, belt-drive turntable. Available with Concept MM V2 or Concept MC cartridges, Satisfy Black (aluminum armwand) or Satisfy CF (carbon fiber armwand) tonearms. Highly compressed chassis of Baltic Birch ply with finished edge, with an upper layer of Makrolon polycarbonate. Speeds: 33.3, 45, 78rpm. Motor: Decoupled, resonance-damped DC, plug-in power supply unit designed for worldwide use with all networks and power frequencies.
Tonearms: Satisfy Black (aluminum) or Satisfy Carbon (carbon fiber) with three-point mechanical bearing with polished, tungsten points against ruby thrust pads, with magnetic antiskating control. Mounting style: Linn/Clearaudio. Satisfy Black: Weight: 350gm (including counterweight); Length: 302mm; effective mass: 8gm. Satisfy Carbon: Weight: 335gm (including counterweight); Length: 302mm; effective mass: 7gm.
Cartridges: Concept MM V2 or Concept MC. Maestro MM V2: Frequency range: 20Hz–20kHz; output voltage: 3.3.mV; tracking force: 2.2gm; load resistance: 47k ohm; load capacitance: 100pF; cantilever: aluminum; stylus: elliptical; body: aluminum; weight: 8.4gm. Concept MC: Frequency range: 20Hz–40kHz; output voltage: 0.4mV; tracking force: 2.0gm; load resistance: >100 ohms; cantilever: boron; stylus: Microline; body: aluminum-magnesium alloy with ceramic surface layer; weight: 8gm.
Turntable: Connections: Gold-plated RCA with passive, variable volume, and fully active options. Platter: 2.25lb CNC-machined polyoxymethylene, 30mm thick; 1.18" (30mm) aluminum subplatter. Speed accuracy (measured): ±0.05%.
Phono preamp: Fully discrete class-A circuit for MM or MC cartridges; switchable subsonic filter. Input loading: 47k ohms (MM), 110 ohms (MC). Gain: low, 40dB, mid, 45dB; high, 56dB. THD: –74dB (MM), –64dB (MC). Finishes Black with light or dark wood.
Dimensions: 16.54" (420mm) W × 13.78" (350mm) D × 5.51" (125mm) H. Weight: Approx. 17lb (8.0kg) including tonearm and cartridge.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 67111800379.
Price: $3700 with Satisfy Black tonearm and Concept MM cartridge; $4600 with Satisfy Carbon Fiber tonearm and Concept MC cartridge. Number of US dealers: 75 Warranty: Two years if registered with Musical Surroundings.
Manufacturer: Clearaudio Electronic Gmbh, Spardorfer Strasse 150, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. Tel: +49 9131 40300100. US Distributor: Musical Surroundings, 5662 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609. Tel: (510) 547-5006. Web: musicalsurroundings.com.