Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Clearaudio INNOVATION COMPACT

The INNOVATION COMPACT sits in the Innovation turntable series from Clearaudio electronic GmbH, placed above the INNOVATION BASIC with a far thicker platter and a taller chassis. It is supplied without a tonearm and has room for two arms, so owners can fit the arm and cartridge they choose.

Key specs that matter

Speeds are 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm, with measured speed accuracy under plus or minus 0.08 percent. The platter is dynamically balanced POM (polyoxymethylene), CNC-machined to a thickness of 70 mm. It is driven by belt from a high-torque 24 V DC motor, and all three speeds are selected electronically. The deck measures 460 x 485 x 157 mm and weighs about 12 kg without tonearm and power supply. A transformer-based 24 V DC supply is included, drawing 9.3 W at most, 2.5 W in operation, 2.5 W in standby and 0.0 W when switched off.

Engineering and use context

Under the platter sits the Clearaudio CMB, or Ceramic Magnetic Bearing, in the main platter and upper drive platter assembly, so the platter is magnetically levitated on an inverted bearing with a low-friction ceramic shaft. Electronic Optical Speed Control, or OSC, reads speed through an infrared sensor and corrects it in real time. The chassis is a resonance-optimised tri-star design that combines massive Panzerholz, a bullet-proof wood, with aluminium skins and pods; the maker states that the housing is meant to hold resonances away from audible frequencies. Finish options pair silver or black aluminium with Panzerholz in natural or piano black lacquer. Clearaudio covers the deck with a five-year warranty. The much thicker platter is the main physical difference from the Basic, and it accounts for much of the extra height and mass.

Pairing

Two tonearm mounts accept 9-inch or 12-inch arms, including Clearaudio Tracer and Universal radial designs, and the deck is also sold with the Universal 9-inch arm fitted. The option to mount a second arm allows a separate cartridge for 78 rpm records or for mono alongside a stereo setup. The Universal is a radial arm, while the Tracer uses a carbon fibre tube with a machined aluminium head shell and a hybrid sapphire and steel ball bearing. A cartridge and a phono stage matched to its output are still required.

Alternatives

The Clearaudio INNOVATION BASIC is the entry Innovation model, with a 40 mm POM platter, a lower chassis and the same three speeds and CMB bearing.