Analog Gear News

Clearaudio sure have a notable signature style when it comes to their high-end turntables, and they’ve just announced a special edition of their Concept Signature table — redubbed more simply as the Signature turntable — that has been made both specifically and exclusively for the U.S. market, and it will be distributed stateside by Musical Surroundings.

The Clearaudio Signature table is available only in what has been earmarked as “triple black” finish, and it comes with two tonearm options: a) the Tracer Black Carbon Fiber tonearm, and b) the Signature Black Satisfy Carbon Fiber tonearm. Both Signature tab;e options come supplied with the Signature Professional Power 12v black outboard linear power supply.

Musical Surroundings adds that, if you combine the Signature table with any MS Brand cartridge from Clearaudio, Hana, or DS Audio, they will offer up to a 25% discount on that cart’s SRP. (All related pricing info appears at the end of this story.)

The Signature table is said to combine the “technological and material science advancements” from the entire Clearaudio turntable line, highlighted by the AiR 12v DC coreless motor with a new speed control circuity that has been derived from their Reference Jubilee turntable.

The Signature incorporates a newly developed Tacho-Speed-Control (a.k.a. TSC) that constantly monitors the rotational speed and provides real-time feedback to the control electronics, enabling the system to “immediately respond to dynamic influences” such as stylus drag, belt tension, friction, and/or temperature.

A version of the O-Ring IMS (i.e., improved motor suspension), which is also derived from the Reference Jubilee turntable, isolates the AiR DC coreless motor for, according to the company, “enhanced vibration control.”

As noted earlier, the Signature comes with a choice of two tonearms — the Tracer Black and the Black Satisfy models. Both arms feature black carbon fiber armtubes that are said to be exceptionally lightweight and rigid for reducing resonance and enhancing clarity.

More specifically, the Signature Black Satisfy Carbon Fiber tonearm is said to be Clearaudio’s “established reference point,” now appearing in all black, including the carbon fiber armtube. Its Clearaudio Direct Wire tonearm cable is hardwired and terminated with gold-plated RCA plugs to “assure music signal integrity.”

Meanwhile, the Tracer Black Carbon Fiber arm features a precision bearing, an aluminum headshell with a large mounting surface for easy azimuth alignment, and an optimal center of gravity counterweight. The Tracer is hardwired with Clearaudio Sixstream cables terminating in gold-plated RCA plugs.

Physical isolation for the Signature turntable is attained by way of convenient leveling feet from the Performance DC table, while the aforementioned Professional Power 12v linear power supply (itself an $800 value) assures “purer” power for the Signature AiR motor and sophisticated self-regulating electronics. It is a transformer-based linear power supply developed to “maximize” the AiR motor.

Finally, the Clearaudio Signature table’s availability is set for Q2 2024, with pre-orders to begin March 11, 2024. The overall SRP options are as follows: The Clearaudio Signature turntable with the Tracer Black Carbon Fiber tonearm runs $5,000, while the Signature table with the Signature Black Satisfy Carbon Fiber tonearm runs $4,000, and both models come with the included Professional Power 12v black outboard linear power supply.

And, as mentioned at the outset of the story —and worth reiterating here — Musical Surroundings confirms that, if you combine the Signature table with any MS brand cartridge from Clearaudio, Hana, or DS Audio, they will offer up to a 25% discount on that cart’s SRP.

For more about Clearaudio, go here.
To find an authorized U.S. Clearaudio retailer, go here.