Clear Audio Phono Stages
Clear Audio phono stages, including the Statement, Absolute, Balance and Basic v2 are available for demo and purchase at our expansive showroom. For more information or questions about Clear Audio phono stages, call the shop at (619) 223-8151
STATEMENT PHONO
The statement phono is at home at the absolute top – where the air is thin, but the sound quality reaches its maximum density. From the deepest bass to the highest treble, from the additional bass octave of an imperial grand piano to the piccolo flute of a full church organ and beyond, the statement phono presents sounds exactly as they are. It takes nothing away and does not add anything, but embodies the ideal of pure music reproduction.
Silver mica capacitors ensure that the signals are handled without loss. Only the most noise-free resistors and capacitors, carefully selected, are worthy to take their place on the circuit boards of this monumental twelve kilogram phonostage.
This phonostage does not compromise. But it does allow you to connect and control the volume of all major sources via two phono inputs and two additional analogue inputs. For power, an external battery power supply is used, so that interference from the mains electricity grid does not exist.
The statement phono embodies the ultimate truth of listening, and with its switchable input resistors and freely adjustable equalisation curves, addresses the needs of discerning analogue fans that want to extract the best sound from their records. This sound laboratory in miniature is unique and unmatched in the analogue world.
ABSOLUTE PHONO INSIDE
The absolute phono inside uses the absolute phono's innovative circuit design including the current amplification first gain stage. However in the Inside, this is incorporated within the phonostage's main body. Through careful fine tuning, Clearaudio have been able to deliver many of the improvements bought about by the absolute phono in a more conventional phonostage configuration. Both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR inputs are provided for connection to any tonearm on the market. These feed the fully balanced current amplification first gain stage, avoiding any need to set cartridge loading and thereby ensuring a perfect synergistic match with any moving coil cartridge. This amplified signal then passes to the specially designed main RIAA phonostage, along a signal path free of the usual relays and coupling capacitors, which again enables a more clean, pure and accurate sound. The signal is then equalized and fed to the balanced XLR outputs. The result? The signal to noise ratio is significantly enhanced, almost matching the headshell-mounted absolute phono's ten decibel improvement.
The absolute phono inside is built without compromise, incorporating an anti-resonance sandwich construction machined from solid blocks of aluminium and panzerholz wood. The sophisticated power supply, located in a second, similar, matching, chassis, keeps mains interference to a minimum. Hand-selected state-of-the-art non-magnetic silver Clearaudio Glimmer capacitors positioned at key areas of the circuit further ensure excellent clarity and purity of sound. Like the absolute phono, a single multi-function switch for 'On', 'Off' and 'Mute' modes ensures a sleek finish.
ABSOLUTE PHONO
Clearaudio's absolute phono is the world's first active headshell moving coil phonostage. A tiny circuit board installed in the headshell of the tonearm amplifies the highly sensitive output signal from the cartridge at its source. Now the delicate signal only has to travel a few millimeters rather than along the usual 1-2 metres of internal and external arm wiring before being amplified to a more resilient level. This amplified signal then passes to the specially designed main RIAA phonostage, along a signal path free of the usual relays and coupling capacitors, which again enables a more clean, pure and accurate sound. The signal is then equalized and fed to both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR outputs, each with its own output driver to ensure the utmost fidelity. The result? The signal to noise ratio is improved by approximately ten decibels across the entire audio spectrum.
The absolute phono is built without compromise, incorporating an anti-resonance sandwich construction machined from solid blocks of aluminium and panzerholz wood. The sophisticated power supply, located in a separate chassis, keeps mains interference to a minimum. Hand-selected state-of-the-art nonmagnetic silver Clearaudio Glimmer capacitors positioned at key areas of the circuit further ensure excellent clarity and purity of sound. A single multi-function switch for 'On', 'Off' and 'Mute' modes ensures a sleek finish.
The absolute phono is suitable for all Clearaudio tonearms and is designed to work perfectly with any moving coil cartridge from any manufacturer. This is ensured due to the selected current amplification control which eliminates the need to set the correct load resistance and load capacitance. The optimum operating condition is always set automatically.
BALANCE REFERENCE PHONO
The new balance reference phono was developed especially for the phono enthusiast, featuring completely independent phono inputs for connecting moving coil and moving magnet phono cartridges. It provides total freedom in selecting balanced (XLR) or single-ended (RCA) inputs and outputs with the total flexibility of adjusting the input impedance for most cartridges.
The sophisticated volume and input circuitry are accessible with the supplied remote control. The high-performance design provides 2 headphone connections. A dual-mono power supply housed in its own dedicated aluminium chassis assures the highest sound quality.
The balance reference phono is truly a world-class phono stage for analog aficionados.
BALANCE V2
How do you balance simplicity with complexity? Clearaudio’s balance plus phono stage managed it with ease and now the new balance V2 advances its technologies while losing none of the equilibrium. On the one hand, its design remains elegantly unfussy and its operation effortlessly intuitive. And yet at the same time, the balance V2 offers an array of options to adjust and fine-tune its performance to your particular system and preferences.
The sleek casing is crafted from precision-milled aluminium, which is also available with an anodized black finish. As well as the usual RCA outputs, the balance V2 features balanced XLR outputs and a 6.3 plug headphone output. All RCA inputs and outputs are gold-plated forsuperior signal transmission.
Besides the manual volume control you can choose between mute and automatic mode by button. A simple switch allows you to choose between moving magnet and moving coil mode. From there, the balance V2 will automatically harmonize with almost any highend phono cartridge without you needing to make any further adjustments.
High precision RIAA equalization achieves an accuracy of within 0.1 dB, while an optional subsonic filter attenuates any unwanted low frequency noise. A separate power supply in its own aluminium casing keeps any potential unwanted interference at bay. With this small yet high-performance package, Clearaudio effectively balances audiophile-quality technology with a simplicity that can be enjoyed by any music enthusiast. Just take a seat and enjoy.
BASIC V2
There’s nothing basic about the basic V2 phono stage. Don’t be fooled by its cool, minimalist design. Within that sleek aluminum casing (with silver or black anodized finish) lies an inner world of highly refined features. Its predecessor, the basic plus, was a multiaward winner and with the V2 we’ve taken all of that coveted ‘Plus’ technology up a notch.
On the outside, we’ve kept it very simple. There’s just one visible control, a single power switch on the upper surface that opens up a raft of possibilities. On the underside you can switch between moving coil and moving magnet mode. From there, you can easily enjoy the basic V2 with almost any high-end phono cartridge without making any further adjustments.
Or, you can choose from a range of performance enhancing settings to fine-tune its parameters to your system and your heart’s content. An optional subsonic filter attenuates any unwanted low frequency noise, while RIAA equalization accuracy is within 0.1 dB.
All of which adds up to the basic V2 being the perfect all-rounder for both audiophiles and music lovers.
SMART PHONO V2
A minimalist aluminium housing that contains one of the best sounding phonostages in its market. Up to 54 decibels gain at one kilohertz and an extremely linear frequency response deliver unprecedented quality at this price point. For MM and MC cartridges there are two separate circuit designs using SMD technology, which are selected by a slide switch on the underside.
The smart phono headphone V2 additionally contains a powerful headphone amplifier within the solid aluminium housing for private listening at the highest fidelity.
NANO PHONO V2
Its meticulously selected SMD components are assembled by hand in Erlangen and tested several times. The reward of these efforts is a signal to noise ratio of up to 84 decibels. The input impedance is set using plug-in links, so there is no loss of quality when using different moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.
The nano phono headphone V2 additionally contains a powerful headphone amplifier within the solid aluminium housing for private listening at the highest fidelity.
