Compass
high-end entry-level turntable - silver - Clearaudio

Turntable - Complete turntable - Made in Germany

For decades, Clearaudio from Erlangen has stood for the ultimate in analog music enjoyment - for turntables that carry five-digit price tags and set standards that the entire industry follows. The clearaudio compass is something else: the result of over two years of concentrated development work with the aim of translating exactly the same engineering philosophy into an accessible, ready-to-play complete package - without a single compromise in terms of sound. Not an entry-level device in the usual sense, but a turntable that carries the DNA of a manufacturer whose high-end turntables have reference status.

What immediately sets the compass apart from its competitors: All sound-relevant components - bearings, tonearm and cartridge - are manufactured in the clearaudio manufactory in Erlangen. The new T1 tonearm is a compact further development of the tried-and-tested Satisfy arm, which as a stand-alone product is more expensive than the entire compass package. The specially developed N1-MM cartridge with elliptical diamond cut and aluminum body comes factory aligned and assembled. The result: set up, adjust the counterweight, enjoy the music - without compromise.

The mechanical heart of the compass is a precision bearing which, as is typical for clearaudio, is designed for extremely smooth running: a polished, hardened steel axle runs in a sintered bronze bushing and sits on a Teflon mirror - a material mix that reduces friction to a minimum and at the same time does not introduce any mechanical interference frequencies into the system. At the top is a CNC precision-machined aluminum sub-platter on which the 20 mm thick acrylic platter rests. Acrylic is not a random material: it has a sound impedance very similar to vinyl and absorbs resonances instead of reflecting them.

The platter is driven by a decoupled 12-volt DC motor via a ground flat belt - the classic design for maximum running smoothness, as the motor remains acoustically separated from the bearing. The integrated power supply unit, which can be used worldwide, provides the drive for both speeds; the synchronization value of less than ±0.05 % is impressive for this price range and ensures that pitch fluctuations are simply not an issue when listening. The steel base plate gives the compass additional mass and supports the low-resonance playing behavior - the total weight of 8.4 kg speaks for itself.

The T1 tonearm is not a compromise solution, but an independent new development with real pedigree: its design principle is derived directly from the clearaudio Satisfy - an arm that has been the reference in the analog world for years and costs significantly more as a single component than the entire compass. With an effective length of 239.12 mm, an offset angle of 24.02° and an anti-skating cable system, it is precisely designed to minimize distortion at every point on the record. The aluminum body of the arm is balanced by a stainless steel counterweight; the interchangeable headshell allows a later cartridge upgrade without tools if required. The "clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS" signal cable ends in an MPC RCA plug.

The supplied N1-MM cartridge is a new development that clearaudio has designed especially for the compass - and which has some special technical features. The aluminum system body (14.3 g) is unusual in this price range; it combines rigidity with a low-resonance design. The elliptical diamond on an aluminum cantilever achieves a channel separation of 20 dB with a channel balance of ±2 dB - values that guarantee a clean, stable stereo image. With a tracking capability of 80 μm, the N1 reliably tracks even slightly warped records; the recommended tracking weight of 2.2 g keeps the mechanical load on the groove low. The output voltage of around 3.3 mV is compatible with almost any MM phono input.

The medium-density wood fibre housing is resonance-optimized and available in black or silver - a timeless, purist appearance that is complemented by the high-quality acrylic cover with stainless steel joints. Height-adjustable feet with integrated decoupling ensure optimum positioning even on less than perfect surfaces. Operation is extremely simple: a recessed toggle switch selects between 33⅓ and 45 rpm, and the arm is lowered precisely using a twisted aluminum lever.

In terms of sound, international tests attest to the compass's mature, controlled reproduction: a broad, cinematic sound image, stable and contoured bass as well as strong attention to detail in the texture - whether it's the strumming of a piano key or the plucking of an acoustic guitar. The sound is balanced and shows neither exaggerated highs nor softened lows. Anyone looking for a turntable that presents music objectively, calmly and with real depth of sound will find a convincing argument in the compass - all the more so when you consider that behind every component is the manufacturing philosophy of a manufacturer whose statement drive costs over 100,000 euros.