CLEARAUDIO COMPASS TURNTABLE LAUNCHES WITH AFFORDABLE HIGH-END APPEAL

German HiFi brand Clearaudio have introduced the Clearaudio Compass, a new entry-level turntable designed to deliver the brand’s Germanic build and sound quality at a more accessible price point.

The Compass comes ready to play, combining the newly developed Clearaudio N1 tonearm and N1 cartridge with the Clearaudio Compass Turntable.

CLEARAUDIO COMPASS TURNTABLE

The Clearaudio Compass features a resonance-optimised chassis made from medium-density wood fibre, available in sleek black or silver finishes. A steel bottom plate adds weight and stability, while decoupling elements help minimise external vibration. True to Clearaudio tradition, all components are milled to tight tolerances and built with longevity in mind.

NEW T1 TONEARM DESIGNED FOR THE CLEARAUDIO COMPASS

A key feature of the Clearaudio Compass is the new T1 tonearm, a compact sibling to Clearaudio’s established Satisfy arm. Constructed from aluminium with a stainless steel counterweight, the T1 offers external anti-skating adjustment and supports a cartridge balance range from 2.5g to 17.0g. It includes Clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS internal wiring, terminated with RCA connectors.

CLEARAUDIO N1 CARTRIDGE DEBUTS ON THE CLEARAUDIO COMPASS

The Clearaudio Compass is fitted with the new N1 moving-magnet cartridge, developed to complement the T1 tonearm. It features an aluminium body, elliptical stylus, and aluminium cantilever. With a 3.3mV output and frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz, the N1 is designed to deliver balanced channel performance and excellent tracking ability.

PRECISE MOTOR AND PLATTER DESIGN ENSURE STABLE PLAYBACK

A decoupled 12V DC motor, damped for resonance control, drives the Clearaudio Compass using a flat belt system. The main platter is a 20mm slab of acrylic, mounted over a CNC-machined aluminium sub-platter and supported by a polished steel spindle running in a sintered bronze bushing with a Teflon thrust pad. Speed accuracy is rated at ±0.05%, supporting 33⅓ and 45 RPM.

COMPACT FOOTPRINT AND USER-FRIENDLY FEATURES

Despite its refined engineering, the Clearaudio Compass maintains a compact profile, measuring approximately 435 x 340 x 120mm including the dust cover. The unit weighs around 8kg including tonearm and cartridge. Power consumption is low, and the external power supply is compatible with international voltages and frequencies, making it suitable for worldwide use.

CLEARAUDIO COMPASS AVAILABILITY AND PRICING

The Clearaudio Compass is expected to be available globally from September, suggested retail price is €1290, with international pricing to be confirmed.

HiFi PiG Says: Great to see this new entry level available for Clearaudio fans!