Тонармы — Clearaudio CLARIFY

Clearaudio of Germany designed the CLARIFY as a radial tonearm built around the company's friction-free magnetic bearing technology. It combines a carbon fibre arm tube with an aluminium and stainless steel body, a counterweight that is set in micrometer-style steps and a headshell whose azimuth can be adjusted. Clearaudio states that its magnetic design removes friction between mechanical parts, and it names the OVATION turntable fitted with one of its own moving coil cartridges as the intended partner.

Key specs that matter

Effective length is 239.25 mm, which places the CLARIFY in the 9 inch class, and the total length of the arm measures 330 mm. The pivot sits 222 mm from the spindle, overhang is 17.33 mm and the offset angle is 25.45 degrees. Cartridges from 2.5 g up to 17 g can be balanced. Without its counterweight the arm weighs 320 g, rising to roughly 410 g once the weight is fitted. A second counterweight of 35.75 g is supplied separately for heavier pickups. Signal leaves the arm through 1.1 m of Clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS, terminated with RCA plugs.

Engineering and use context

In place of conventional ball races or a pivot point, the bearing holds the arm in position by magnetic force, so no parts rub against each other as the arm sweeps across the record. Clearaudio claims that this lets the arm pass very small signals without interference and keeps it free from resonance effects. The headshell is made so that azimuth can be corrected during cartridge alignment, while tracking force is dialled in with the micrometer-style weight at the rear. Anti-skating is preset at the factory and can be changed through a screw on the underside of the arm, with a maximum of five turns in either direction. A cueing lift is fitted, and Clearaudio advises working it four or five times after long periods of rest so that its grease stays fluid. The arm is fixed through an aluminium clamping ring with stainless steel hardware, using three M4x10 hex screws and one M6x8 grub screw. Buyers who register the arm within 14 days receive two years of warranty cover, and the arm is manufactured in Germany.

Pairing

The pivot to spindle distance matches the mounting geometry that Clearaudio uses for its own arms of this class, so an armboard drilled for that standard accepts the CLARIFY. The maker points to its moving coil cartridges and the OVATION deck as the combination for which the arm was developed, though the balance window covers most standard cartridge weights.

Alternatives

The Clearaudio concept / Verify is another magnetic bearing radial arm from the brand, with an aluminium tube and a 239.56 mm effective length.