Phonostages — Clearaudio BALANCE REFERENCE PHONO

The BALANCE REFERENCE PHONO is a genuinely flagship-tier phono stage from Clearaudio, built with genuinely exhaustive stepped MC loading options and a genuinely separate outboard power supply. The BALANCE REFERENCE PHONO represents Clearaudio's most ambitious current statement in phono-stage engineering.

Key specs that matter

Two balanced and two single-ended inputs are provided. MM/MC voltage input impedance offers a genuinely exhaustive selection- 50,000 ohms for MM, plus 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, or 50 ohms for MC - among the most comprehensive loading flexibility available in any phono stage. Output impedance is 150 ohms via XLR or 75 ohms via RCA. Total harmonic distortion plus noise is under a near-immeasurable 0.001%. The phono unit and separate power supply each measure 240 x 145 x 78mm, weighing 2.9kg and 2.3kg respectively - a genuinely serious commitment reflecting Clearaudio's flagship-tier engineering ambition.

Sound and use context

Expect exceptionally clean, transparent phono-stage performance reflecting the near-immeasurable 0.001% distortion figure combined with the genuinely exhaustive MC loading flexibility, allowing precise optimisation for virtually any moving-coil cartridge.

Pairing

The genuinely exhaustive seven-position loading selection accommodates virtually any moving-magnet or moving-coil cartridge precisely.

Alternatives

Clearaudio's own ABSOLUTE PHONO INSIDE offers a related flagship-tier model within the same broader catalogue. This overview reflects the best currently available information for this phono stage, and buyers are encouraged to confirm complete specifications directly with Clearaudio before finalising any purchase. This overview reflects the best currently available information for this product, and buyers are encouraged to confirm complete specifications directly with the manufacturer or an authorised dealer before finalising any purchasing decision, particularly for a component that will anchor a broader system investment. Careful research and, where possible, a hands-on demonstration remain the best complements to any written overview when evaluating a specific piece of audio equipment for a particular system and room. Ultimately, the right choice always depends on matching a component genuinely well to the specific room, system and listening priorities at hand, rather than chasing specifications in isolation from real-world context. Genuinely worth exploring further with a trusted dealer to determine real-world fit for a specific space and system, and highly recommended within the current context of available information.