Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Clearaudio STATEMENT

The Clearaudio Statement is a belt-drive turntable system for 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm that the German company has kept in continuous production since 2005, now in V2 form. It stands on its own multi-level base and weighs about 350 kg, and it is supplied with the TT-1 linear tracking tonearm and the Goldfinger Statement cartridge. The UK price was GBP 92,500 for the turntable and GBP 18,500 for the TT1 arm, with setup by Clearaudio staff included.

Key specs that matter

Speed accuracy is better than 0.03 percent. Overall dimensions are 690 x 620 x 1325 mm with the TT-1 arm in place. The main platter is 98 mm of POM, dynamically balanced, with a stainless steel flywheel at its base. A high-torque 24 V DC motor is fed by a transformer-based 24 V DC unit. Consumption is 19 W maximum, 8 W while playing and 0 W in standby. The warranty covers ten years.

Engineering and use context

The platter is magnetically levitated and driven without contact. A belt turns a drive platter, and the driven platter above it is coupled to it only by magnets. The main platter links to the drive platter through Clearaudio's patented diamond-coated ceramic magnetic bearing, whose spindle in the V2 is wolfram carbide with a nano nitrate laser coating, made in two pieces. An 80 kg pendulum housed in a gyroscopic bearing self-levels the whole upper assembly, helped by oil damping devices. Speed is controlled optically in real time by an infrared sensor, and the microprocessor checks it 7,000 times per minute from a new circuit board. For the V2 the main platter moved from acrylic to POM, and the pulley and belt were redesigned. The stand has several levels of Panzerholz sandwiched between stainless steel plates and separated by stainless steel pillars. Its top platform holds the control electronics with a blue LCD display and touch controls for start and stop, speed choice and fine pitch. The TT1 carriage now hangs below its glass rail, and its carbon fibre tube carries a black anodised headshell.

Pairing

Record clamping is twofold, with the Statement clamp touching the label at three points and the 1.5 kg Outer Limit ring at the edge. Further pivoted arms, such as the Universal 12-inch, can be added. Finishes include piano black lacquer, natural wood, black or silver anodised aluminium, black POM, clear acrylic and stainless steel.

Alternatives

The Clearaudio Master Innovation weighs about 60 kg and takes up to three tonearms.