After 15 years of research into its high-end models, German company Clearaudio has updated its famous Concept turntable. Named Clearaudio Concept Signature, this newcomer incorporates significant improvements, starting with an optimized speed controller. Priced significantly higher than the last generation, this greatly improved version remains true to the brand’s DNA, while promising to deliver a more stable and musical sound reproduction.
Introduced in 2009, the Clearaudio Concept turntable quickly became a benchmark in the audiophile world. With its understated, finely crafted design, this entry-level model, priced at less than €2,000, has sold over 20,000 units and won numerous awards.
Taking after its predecessor with its rounded corners and compact dimensions, the Concept Signature retains the elegance that made its predecessor so famous. The main visible change is the new push-button control wheel, which now lights up in blue, revealing the rotation speeds on a small screen. It should be noted that Clearaudio has abandoned the 78 rpm speed on this model, which was considered too marginal among music lovers to warrant its inclusion on this Signature version.
The turntable’s resonance-optimized body is made of medium-density fiberboard or, optionally, layers of solid wood bonded under high pressure, on which rests a specially satin-finished plastic platter. The latter fits onto an aluminum sub-platter driven by a belt, connected to a completely decoupled DC motor, with the aim of minimizing the transmission of noise and resonance, thus ensuring high sound inertia.
TSC CONTROLLER AND IMS SUSPENSION
The heart of the Concept Signature shines with the inclusion of Clearaudio’s new speed control technology, designed to achieve significantly improved consistency and pulse stability. Connected to a new belt-driven pulley, the
“Tacho-Speed-Control” (TSC) continuously monitors the turntable’s rotational speed and provides real-time feedback to the control electronics. This allows the system to react immediately to changing influences such as belt tension reduction, platter bearing friction, or temperature fluctuations. At the same time, the controller performs an automatic calibration at each restart, with manual recalibration also possible at the touch of a button on the rear of the turntable next to the power switch.
Another new feature is the use of an improved motor suspension, consisting of several O-rings (IMS) that effectively decouple motor vibrations and chassis resonances, taken from a modified version of the Jubilee Reference turntable. These new features provide greater precision in the reproduction of timbres, taking the Concept Signature to a higher level of sound quality than the original Concept.
TONEBAR AND CARTRIDGE
Still available in several packs, the Concept Signature can be adapted to many of the brand’s tonebars and cartridges. For our test model, we chose the excellent Satisfy Kardan tonearm, made of black anodized aluminum, which features a unique direct wiring system that allows the audio signal to travel unimpeded to the phono preamp.
The vertical bearing consists of a polished tungsten spindle embedded in a meticulously balanced sapphire bearing. The two horizontal bearings are made from an extremely strong and durable ceramic material. This tonearm has also been designed for flexibility, in that it can be combined with a wide range of turntables and cartridges, and can be easily incorporated into many systems.
Paired with the Jubilee MM cartridge with elliptical stylus, renowned for its channel separation and balance, this combination forms a coherent, quiet, and precise duo, seeking great neutrality in reproduction. In addition, its high output and 47 kΩ load make the cartridge compatible with the vast majority of phono preamps on the market, almost all of which are capable of reading moving magnet cartridges.
EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY: CLEARAUDIO PROFESSIONAL POWER 12 V
Although the Signature turntable comes with a switching power supply, we also tested it with the Clearaudio Professional Power 12 V. New to the Smart Power 12 V range, this stabilized 12 V DC external power supply is based on a high-quality transformer, designed to offer improved filtering compared to the standard power supply.
The unit’s construction includes professional-grade electronic components and a resonance-optimized transformer to ensure that no mechanical interference is transferred through the case, in addition to enhancing the turntable’s performance by protecting it from short circuits and power surges, even during charging. These improvements provide a much purer power source, with sound quality significantly enhanced by improved dynamic response and greatly increased precision.
THE SETUP OF THE CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT SIGNATURE TURNTABLE
Like all turntables from the German brand, all key technical settings on the Concept Signature are pre-set to optimal levels with meticulous care in the manufacturer’s workshops. It should be noted that azimuth alignment is made easier thanks to a pre-mounted aluminum shell, while anti-skating is adjusted magnetically with precision, then secured by an easily accessible locking screw located next to the tonearm bearing.
For our test, we placed the Clearaudio Concept fitted with the Hana EL cartridge on the Concept tonearm side by side with the new Concept Signature with Satisfy Kardan tonearm and Jubilee cartridge. Vertere and Lehmann Black Cube SE II preamps were used. The addition of the Professional Power 12 V power supply allowed us to verify the contribution of the small box to our listening experience.
Finally, we also placed a Clearaudio leather platter cover on each of the turntables. Offering optimal coupling with the platter and significantly dampening resonance by limiting the harmful effects of static electricity, this €159 accessory proved to be far from superfluous, further optimizing the quality and clarity of the playback.
THE SOUND OF THE CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT SIGNATURE TURNTABLE
As soon as the record is placed on the turntable, the Concept Signature impresses with its clarity and emphasis, its overall presentation endowed with a sophisticated warmth. Whatever record you choose, the pleasure is undeniable. In this respect, its effective blend of assertive dynamics and refined timbres places it well above the previous Concept, which was already very impressive in this area. Thanks to its stable and natural playback, with no detectable wobble, the Signature seems to want to push control even further, with the turntable always enveloped in deep silence.
With the addition of the new controller, the rendering is more analytical, which is not to our displeasure, as the Signature delivers energetic transients without sacrificing purity. The reproduction quality of the different registers is also beyond reproach, with respect for amplitudes and nuances even at frenetic tempos, in addition to a refined airiness around the instruments.
This is where the Signature and its tonearm-cartridge combination differ from the previous Concept. Although the latter proudly asserts its effortless reproduction, Clearaudio’s latest addition gains extra expressiveness and definition, with the soundstage unfolding in an immersive and holographic way, and the clarity of complex musical passages finding a superior environment in which to fully blossom. The midrange and treble benefit from a refined and polished presentation, with the bass lacking just a hint of firmness on occasion, without detracting from the overall listening pleasure.
Added to the two turntables, the external power supply has further enhanced expressiveness and provided a level of silence, significantly accentuating the separation of vocals and instrumental accompaniment.
OUR CONCLUSION
We had high expectations for this new version of the Clearaudio Concept, and we were not disappointed. While its design remains virtually unchanged, it has been improved in terms of finish and choice of materials, and the integration of the new speed controller allows this Concept Signature to shine with faithful sound reproduction, coupled with particularly deep silence, especially when paired with the Professional Power 12 V external power supply.
The higher price tag is justified by the cost of research and the quality of the materials used, with the musical result now superior to that of a Performance DC. In this new version, we hope that the Concept Signature will quickly find its place on the market and establish itself as the German brand’s new entry-level flagship.
Author(s): Nicolas Chestier
Technical Sheet: CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT SIGNATURE PACK JUBILEE MM
- Origin: Germany
- Price: €3,950
- Dimensions: 420 x 350 x 125 mm
- Weight: 7.5 kg (including tonearm and cartridge)
- Rated speeds: 33/45 rpm
- Drive: 12 V DC motor, decoupled and resonance-damped
- Speed accuracy: ±0.05%
- Effective tonearm length: 239.12 mm
- Overhang: 17.12 mm
- Cartridge balancing range: 2.5 g – 17 g
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