ClearAudio Pack Concept Edition MC 2024 silver

Born in 2009 and the winner of numerous awards (including the German Design Award), the Concept range has embodied for fifteen years the ambition of the Erlangen workshops: to make high‑end vinyl playback accessible without sacrificing technical standards. This 2024 edition in silver finish combines the Concept turntable with a Profiler tonearm and an in‑house MC cartridge, forming a ready‑to‑use package whose settings come factory‑calibrated.

A chassis designed for silence

The Concept’s base is built on a medium‑density wood fiber core wrapped in brushed aluminum, all covered with a satin plastic layer. This combination of heterogeneous materials is intended to dissipate vibrations before they reach the groove. The 2.3 kg polyoxymethylene (POM) platter adds its own inertia to the assembly, while its bronze spindle rotates on a silent bearing, contributing to the particularly quiet background regularly highlighted by reviewers. The whole weighs around 7.5 kg and occupies a footprint of 42 × 35 cm, tonearm included a reasonable size for integration into most hi‑fi furniture.

Drive is provided by a precision‑ground flat belt stretched between a DC motor and the aluminum sub‑platter. This motor, mechanically decoupled from the chassis, draws its power from an external regulated power supply. The physical separation between the motor and structure limits the transmission of mechanical vibrations. The electronics achieve a speed stability measured at ±0.04% wow and flutter, a figure usually found on more expensive turntables. Power consumption remains modest: 0.5 W in operation, 1.5 W at maximum.

The Profiler tonearm: synthesis of two generations

ClearAudio developed the Profiler by combining the strengths of the Satisfy Kardan and Tracer tonearms. The radial structure uses sapphire bearings for the horizontal axis and a ball bearing for vertical movement, ensuring precise guidance with no perceptible friction. A resonance‑control dome caps the entire bearing block, limiting parasitic vibrations.

The aluminum alloy armtube incorporates specific damping points to control its resonant modes. With an effective length of 239.58 mm and a pivot‑to‑spindle distance of 222 mm, the geometry follows industry standards, allowing for fine adjustment of overhang (17.58 mm) and offset angle (24.5°). The tracking force range extends from 3.5 to 17 grams, making the tonearm compatible with a wide variety of cartridges, from lightweight models to heavier transducers. The Direct Wire PLUS wiring provides a solder‑free connection between the headshell and the RCA connectors over a length of 1.10 m.

An MC cartridge with a boron cantilever

The Concept MC cartridge incorporates technologies usually reserved for the brand’s higher‑end models. Its boron cantilever, a material with exceptional rigidity, carries a micro‑line stylus capable of tracking the finest groove modulations. The OFC copper coils are mounted in a V‑shaped configuration, inherited from the symmetrical system patented by ClearAudio back in 1978.

The aluminum‑magnesium alloy body receives a ceramic coating that helps control internal resonances. With an output voltage of 0.4 mV (at 5 cm/s), the cartridge requires a phono preamplifier with an MC stage offering sufficient gain or a step‑up transformer. Its 11 Ω impedance makes it compatible with most MC phono stages on the market, although ClearAudio recommends a 100 Ω load for optimal operation.

Channel separation exceeds 30 dB, while channel balance remains within 0.5 dB, figures achieved thanks to the manual selection of the magnets. The frequency response extends from 20 Hz to 40 kHz, and the 80 µm compliance combined with a tracking force of 2 g (±0.2 g) ensures predictable behavior on most pressings.

Three speeds and simplified setup

A side rotary selector lets you switch between 33, 45 and 78 rpm, providing access to contemporary LPs as well as vintage 78s or 12” 45 rpm maxis. This versatility avoids the need to purchase a second platter dedicated to older formats.

The main appeal of the package lies in its plug‑and‑play nature. ClearAudio factory‑sets the tracking force, anti‑skating and cartridge mounting geometry, preventing calibration errors that can compromise playback or damage records. It is still advisable to check that the turntable is level using a spirit level and to verify the tracking force before the first listen simply as a confirmation of the factory settings.

Technical specifications

Concept turntable, black finish with silver chassis

• Drive: internal belt
• Motor: decoupled DC motor with low-noise bearing
• Speeds: 33, 45, 78 RPM
• Construction:
  • Black anti-resonant aluminum chassis
  • Platter spindle in bronze
  • Platter in polyoxymethylene (POM)
• Performance:
  • Wow and flutter: ± 0.04%
  • Maximum power consumption: 1.5 W
  • Power consumption in operation: 0.5 W
• Physical dimensions:
  • Weight: approx. 7.5 kg
  • Dimensions (W × D × H): 420 × 350 × 125 mm (including tonearm)

Profiler tonearm, black aluminum

• Type: radial tonearm with sapphire bearings, horizontal and vertical
• Construction:
  • Ball bearing
  • Materials: black aluminum, stainless steel
  • Black/silver aluminum tube
• Technical specifications:
  • Adjustable tracking force: 3.5 g - 17.0 g
  • Overhang: 17.58 mm
  • Overall length: 300.00 mm
  • Effective length: 239.58 mm
  • Pivot-to-spindle distance: 222.00 mm
  • Offset angle: 24.5°

Concept MC moving-coil cartridge

• Physical characteristics:
  • Weight: 8.0 g
  • Body: aluminum-magnesium alloy, ceramic coating
  • Cantilever and stylus: boron, micro-line profile
  • Coils: copper
• Audio performance:
  • Frequency response: 20 Hz - 40 kHz
  • Output voltage (at 5 cm/s): 0.4 mV
  • Channel separation: > 30 dB
  • Channel balance: < 0.5 dB
  • Compliance: 80 μm
  • Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g (± 0.2 g)
  • Impedance: 11 Ω