CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT SIGNATURE TURNTABLE FROM GERMANY

Clearaudio their upgraded ‘Concept’ turntable package with the new Clearaudio Concept Signature.

The Clearaudio Concept Signature Turntable is the new plug-and-play     upgraded edition of Clearaudio’s Concept series.

As an entry-level high-end turntable package, Clearaudio’s Concept has been in production for more than 10 years, in a variety of ever-evolving formats and finishes. Now, Clearaudio has ramped the whole ‘concept’ up a notch with the new Concept Signature, which replaces all previous editions of the package.

CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT SIGNATURE TURNTABLE

The fundamental idea behind the Concept Signature, which is distributed in the UK by Sound Fowndations, remains true to the series’ original purpose: to offer an entry point into high-end HiFi, in which accessibility and ease-of-use are as paramount as sonic performance. To that end, the ‘package’ comes with tonearm and cartridge, and all key technical parameters are optimally pre-set, allowing the buyer to simply plug in, press play.

TACHO SPEED CONTROL

Concept Signature features a whole new approach to speed control technology, crafted to achieve enhanced consistency and impulse stability. Clearaudio’s new ‘Tacho-Speed-Control’ (TSC) constantly monitors the platter’s rotational speed and provides real-time feedback to the control electronics, enabling the system to immediately respond to changing influences such as decreasing belt tension, friction from the platter bearing or temperature fluctuations.

Additionally, TSC performs an automatic calibration at every restart. Manual recalibration is also possible at the push of a button at the rear of the turntable.

NEW BODY OPTIONS

The core of the Concept Signature’s resonance-optimised body is constructed from MDF or, as an upgrade option, from solid wood layers bonded under high pressure. The turntable’s top layer is formed from a high-tech satin-finished plastic, a composition designed to further minimise resonances as well as ensuring a sleek visual appearance.

CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT SIGNATURE FEATURES

An illuminated touch controller allows for intuitive operation of the turntable and adds to the elegant design. The 30mm main platter sits atop a high-density, precision-machined aluminium sub-platter. The bearing comprises a polished and tempered steel spindle in a sintered bronze bushing, running on a Teflon thrust-pad

A resonance-damped DC motor with polished flat belt drives the platter. In a design borrowed and modified from the brand’s £17k Reference Jubilee turntable, the motor is completely decoupled from the main chassis by way of a scaled-down version of Clearaudio’s ‘IMS / Innovative Motor Suspension’. A generously dimensioned and highly stable external power supply unit delivers power.

MODULAR DESIGN

Finally, the Concept Signature is designed to be highly modular, offering customers a wide array of choices and combinations from Clearaudio’s range of tonearms and phono cartridges to complete this superb new package.

CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT SIGNATURE TURNTABLE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Speed options 33 ⅓ rpm, 45 rpm

Speed accuracy (measured) < ± 0.05 %

Power consumption Max. consumption: 3.6W

Consumption in operation: 1.92W

Standby: 0.74W

Off mode: 0.0W (switched off at rear)

Weight Approx. 7.5 kg (incl tonearm and cartridge)

Dimensions (with tonearm) Approx. 420 (w) × 350 (d) × 125 (h)

Warranty 2 years (provided warranty card completed and returned to Clearaudio within 2 weeks of purchase)

CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT SIGNATURE PRICING & AVAILABILITY

The Clearaudio Concept Signature turntable is available now, priced as follows (including VAT):

Turntable only (without tonearm or cartridge)

• Concept Signature £1,200

• Concept Signature Wood £1,450

Package example (many more available):

• Concept Signature / Verify tonearm / Concept V2 MM cartridge £2,223

HiFi PiG Says: The Clearaudio Concept Signature is an affordable gateway into the German HiFi brand’s vinyl universe.