Previewed to the press during a visit to Clearaudio headquarters, the Compass is Clearaudio’s new entry-level turntable.
With the new technologies of the recent Concept Signature (cf. VU#54 review), the German company has had to raise the price of its entry-level turntable. So, to stay within the 1 000 € price range, the brand headed by Robert Suchy has added a new model to its catalog.
Named Compass, this model retains Clearaudio’s visual signature and many of the brand’s referential elements, such as the acrylic platter, though thinner and therefore lighter than that of the Concept. The chassis, available in grey or black, is also simpler than the one of the top plate, but remains in MDF (Medium Density Fibeboard) with a steel bottom plate, designed to increase weight and rigidity. As always for the manufacturer, the rotation, available in 33 and 45 rpm (78 rpm remains the prerogative of higher-end models), is belt-driven.
As usual, the manufacturer has rethought the whole concept of its new turntable to accommodate a new arm and a new cell. Included in the package, the N1 is a moving magnet (MM) cartridge that sits beneath the Concept V2 and uses a new formwork, without compromising the quality of the materials. Launching very soon, the Clearaudio Compass will be priced at 1 290 €, with arm, cartridge and cover.
02/06/2025
