ClearAudio Mini level gauge
Clearaudio Mini Level Gauge, the headshell spirit level
A well-balanced tonearm and correct tracking force are not enough if the cartridge approaches the groove at an angle. The cartridge’s tilt, viewed from both the front and the side, determines how the stylus rests against the two groove walls. This small Clearaudio spirit level sits on the headshell to check and adjust two parameters that are difficult to judge by eye alone: azimuth and vertical tracking angle.
Two angles that are difficult to judge by eye
Vertical tracking angle, often referred to by its English abbreviation VTA, is viewed from the side. It is the cartridge’s inclination relative to the record surface, and it depends on the tonearm’s height. The usual starting point is to get the arm tube and headshell parallel to the record when the stylus rests in the groove, then fine-tune from this baseline by raising or lowering the tonearm base. A difference of one or two millimetres at the base is enough to alter the tonal balance, making the treble harsher or the bass thicker.
Azimuth is viewed from the front. The cartridge must sit perfectly perpendicular to the record; otherwise, the stylus presses more heavily against one groove wall than the other. The inner wall carries the left channel and the outer wall the right channel: a tilted cartridge results in a channel imbalance, reduced stereo separation and uneven stylus wear. Placed flat on top of the headshell, the Mini Level Gauge reveals a tilt of a few degrees that would go unnoticed by the naked eye.
Sized to fit the headshell
Clearaudio offers several spirit levels, each for a specific purpose. The calibrated Level Gauge comes in a basic version, with a V2A stainless steel housing or in gold-plated stainless steel, and is used to level the turntable’s platter and plinth. The aluminium High Precision Level Gauge is calibrated by hand on a surface plate at the Erlangen factory; with a hole through its centre, it slips over the platter spindle and also serves as a record clamp. These models are too bulky to fit on a headshell. The Mini Level Gauge uses the same principle in a smaller format that fits on a tonearm’s headshell or on top of a flat-bodied cartridge.
The Mini Level Gauge therefore complements the brand’s other setup tools rather than replacing them: the platter is levelled with a larger model, the tracking force is set with a scale, and the Mini Level Gauge takes over once the cartridge is fitted.
A simple method, with its limitations
A spirit level measures tilt relative to the horizontal. A reading taken on the headshell is only meaningful if the platter itself is level: the check therefore starts with the turntable before moving on to the cartridge. The next check is performed with the stylus resting on a stationary record and the platter still, placing the level gently on top. Its mass briefly adds to the tracking force and slightly compresses the cantilever suspension: the reading is taken quickly, then the level is removed before making any adjustment.
The level reads the tilt of the headshell or cartridge body, not that of the stylus itself. If the tip is mounted very slightly askew on its cantilever, a perfectly horizontal headshell does not guarantee accurate azimuth. The Mini Level Gauge provides a reliable mechanical baseline, which can then be fine-tuned by listening or measurement. For this second stage, Clearaudio offers the Azimuth Optimiser, which electrically measures the cartridge’s behaviour. For VTA, the brand’s VTA-Lifter allows repeatable adjustments in steps of one hundredth of a millimetre, on Clearaudio tonearms as well as those from Rega, Linn and Pro-Ject.
Technical Specifications
Dimensions
- Length: 45 mm
- Width: 15 mm
- Depth: 15 mm
Materials
- Transparent plastic body
- Red float
- Black plastic support
Specifications
- Maximum temperature: 80 °C
- Maximum pressure: 1 bar
- Compatible fluids: water, oil, coolant
- Vertical mounting only
Installation
- Secured with 2 M4 screws
- Seal included
- Mounting position: vertical ± 5°
Compliance
- Protection rating: IP65
- Certified CE, RoHS
Frequently asked questions
Can the Mini Level Gauge be used to level the turntable?
It indicates a tilt wherever you place it, but its small contact surface covers only a limited area of the platter. For the platter and plinth, a larger spirit level, placed in the centre and checked in several orientations, gives a more representative reading. The Level Gauge or High Precision Level Gauge from Clearaudio serve this purpose.
Should there be a record on the platter during the check?
Yes. VTA depends on the height of the stylus above the platter, and therefore on the thickness of the record and the platter mat. It is best to adjust it using a record of typical thickness in your collection. A 180 g pressing, which is thicker than a standard record, raises the rear of the cartridge very slightly.
Is the Mini Level Gauge suitable for all tonearms and cartridges?
It requires a flat surface to rest on. Most headshells provide one. On a curved or ribbed headshell, the top of the cartridge body, if flat, or the tonearm tube for checking VTA can serve as an alternative surface.
What should I do if the bubble is not centered on a tonearm without azimuth adjustment?
A tilt often comes from the mounting itself: unevenly tightened mounting screws, a cartridge poorly seated against the headshell. Loosening the screws, reseating the cartridge flat, then tightening them alternately is often enough. On tonearms with an SME-type removable headshell, the headshell can also rotate slightly in its collar before tightening.
Does a spirit level replace a tracking force scale?
No, the two tools check different settings. The level checks angles, while the scale measures the weight the stylus exerts on the record. Clearaudio offers the Smart Stylus Gauge and the Weight Watcher touch digital scale for this measurement.
When should the settings be checked again?
After any cartridge or stylus change, after moving house or repositioning the turntable, and whenever you change the platter mat, whose thickness affects the record’s height and therefore the VTA. An occasional check takes just a minute and reveals any headshell that may have rotated or any screw that may have loosened.
- Manufacturer reference: AC001
- GTIN / EAN: 4015166940004
