If you’ve ever fancied owning and high-end turntable to play your vinyl on but found the price of the top-end models a little too salty, then news from the German manufacturer Clearaudio may be of interest.
Clearaudio has announced the launch of its Compass turntable. This is a new and entry-level model that’s designed to bring high-end audio quality within reach of many more people without compromising on quality.
The new Compass is a ready-to-play turntable with a brand-new T1 tonearm, which is a smaller version of Clearaudio’s Satisfy tonearm. The Compass turntable also includes a newly developed N1 moving magnet cartridge.
The compact Compass is available in sleek black or silver finishes and comes with a detachable acrylic lid to keep dust off your records. Using precision-milled components made from premium materials, the Compass is the epitome of German engineering and is designed for long life and years of listening.
Clearaudio CEO, Robert Suchy, says: “Clearaudio has always stood for uncompromising quality, ultimate precision, and exceptional design. Now we are welcoming a wider audience for our high-end technology and performance with Compass: a ready-to-play turntable delivering a vinyl-listening experience that far exceeds expectations in this price range.”
At the core of the Compass turntable is a precision bearing that works in combination with a specially manufactured platter and sub-platter. All three items have been manufactured with the same attention to detail that Clearaudio applies to all its products.
Pricing and Availability:
You can read up on the full technical specifications for the turntable, tonearm and cartridge below. The Clearaudio Compass is just entering production and will be available to buy worldwide by September 2025 and will carry a suggested retail price of €1,290. Pricing in other currencies will be confirmed closer to the launch date.
Tech Specs:
- Plinth: Medium-density wood fiber.
- Finishes: Silver or Black.
- Bottom plate: Steel.
- Speed options:33 ⅓, 45 RPM.
- Drive unit: Decoupled and resonance-damped 12V DC motor.
- Drive: Flat belt.
- Power supply: Plug-in multi-voltage.
- Bearing: Polished and tempered steel spindle in a sintered bronze bushing, running on a Teflon thrust pad.
- Platter: 20mm /0.787 inches acrylic with CNC machined aluminum sub-platter.
- Speed accuracy (measured): +/- 0,05%.
- Power consumption: Max 4W.
- Total weight: 8kg (incl. tonearm and cartridge).
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 435 x 340 x 120mm (incl. dustcover).
- Warranty: 2 years.
- Tonearm: Radial T1 tonearm with external anti-skating counterweight.
- Material: Aluminum (black/silver), counterweight: stainless steel.
- Cartridge balance range: 2.5g – 17.0g
- Overhang: 17.12mm.
- Total length: 305mm
- Effective length: 239.12mm.
- Mounting distance: 222.00mm.
- Offset angle: 24.02 degrees.
- Wiring: 1.1m Clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS terminated with RCA.
- Tonearm weight: 390g (incl. counterweight).
- Cartridge: N1 cartridge moving magnet.
- Total mass: 14.3g (± 0.2g).
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz.
- Output voltage (1kHz, 5cm/s): ~ 3.3mV.
- Channel separation (1kHz): 20dB.
- Channel balance (1kHz): 2dB.
- Tracking ability: 80μm.
- Recommended tracking force: 2.2g (± 0.3g).
- Coil impedance (1kHz): 0.66kΩ.
- Coil inductance: 400mH.
- Load resistance: 47kΩ.
- Load capacitance: 100pF.
- Cantilever/stylus shape: Aluminum / elliptical
- Compliance: 15μ/mN.
- Cartridge body: Aluminum.
- Manufacturer’s warranty: 2 years.
