What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
01 OCT 2009
Clearaudio Concept
Turntable Product of the Year 2009
Plug and play' is a term seldom associated with audiophile turntables.
Most decks arrive in kit form and need some assembly before you can get going. The Clearaudio Concept is a rare exception.
Apart from putting the platter and drive belt in place – platters have to be shipped unmounted to avoid damaging the main bearing – the Concept is as fully assembled as turntables get. The package includes an innovative new arm called the Verify and a Classics moving magnet cartridge.
Factory-set deck
Everything from the cartridge weight to bias adjustments is set at the factory. Shipping an arm with balancing weight and cartridge attached is not normally a good idea, but the Verify arm's clever magnetic main bearing not only ensures low friction but resists damage, too.
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All turntables benefit from careful positioning on a rigid, non-resonant surface placed well away from the speakers, and this Clearaudio is no different. It's a solid design lacking any form of suspension, so getting the support right is essential.
At home with all records
Once installed, this deck turns out a superb performance. It's fast, agile and detailed in the manner of most Clearaudio decks, and it sounds at home with everything from Bruce Springsteen and Nirvana to an old mono recording of Ravel's Bolero. Dynamics are strong and there's a good amount of heft to low frequencies.
Timing, not always a brand strength, is crisp enough to deliver the hard-charging momentum of Nick Cave's Babe, I'm on Fire with verve, and the deck stays composed throughout.
The Clearaudio Concept is a great all-rounder: it's easy to set up, easy to use and sounds great. At this price point, it's king.
Watch our Awards video of the Clearaudio Concept
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