Turntables — Clearaudio CONCEPT

The Clearaudio CONCEPT is a belt-driven turntable sold as a complete, ready-to-use package rather than a deck to be built up piece by piece. Clearaudio designed it as an all-in-one first step into its turntable range, for buyers who want a serious deck without choosing a separate tonearm and cartridge. It is placed at the affordable end of the range, well below the Master Innovation and the Statement, which use more elaborate suspension and drive systems.

Key specs that matter

The CONCEPT plays at three speeds - 33, 45 and 78 rpm. Its platter is made of a high-density synthetic material rather than the acrylic or aluminium found further up the range. Power comes from a DC motor. The deck measures 420 x 350 x 125 mm and weighs 7.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

As a compact, self-contained deck, the CONCEPT keeps the drive system simple, with no separate suspension. With a 78 rpm setting, the deck also plays old shellac discs alongside LPs and singles.

Pairing

The deck arrives as a complete unit, so no tonearm and cartridge matching is needed before first use. It connects to a phono stage or to an amplifier with a phono input.

Alternatives

The Clearaudio INNOVATION COMPACT sits above the CONCEPT, moving to the brand's more elaborate suspension and platter technologies.