Clearaudio Introduces New Innovation Basic Turntable
The new 'table features an aluminum Panzerholz wood sandwich plinth, custom optically controlled DC motor system, POM platter and magnetically levitated ceramic ball-based bearing system. Cost is $6000 without arm.
The arm shown in the photo is the latest generation tangential tracker from Clearaudio that rides on a glass tube. Instead of lifting vertically to access the platter, the new arm swivels out of the way, which is both more convenient while producing a more stable positioning system. The arm costs $3750.
Clearaudio also introduced the Essence a new $1500 MC cartridge.
Also in the Musical Surroundings room I was shown upgrades to the DS Audio W1 optical cartridge that include a new wire suspension designed to produce a compliance better suited to today's high mass tone arms.
Two new DS optical cartridges will be introduced probably at High End Munich in May. The DS Master 1 will include a sapphire cantilever and microridge cartridge as well as an upgraded equalizer that will offer both single ended and balanced outputs as well as three output options: "flat", a 50Hz "hard cut off" and a 50Hz gradual cut off @6dB/octave. Price not announced.
A less expensive model is also planned. The DS 001 will feature an aluminum cantilever and line contact stylus.