Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Beautiful engineering and carbon fiber craftsmanship
- Designed for flexibility and cartridge compatibility
- Nicely designed counterweight system with precise fine-tuning
- Easy and precise azimuth adjustments
- Reduces resonance considerably, resulting in a quiet and solid background
Product Considerations
- The review mentions a VTA on the fly option is available, implying the reviewed unit did not have it, which might be a consideration
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Clearaudio Satisfy Carbon Fiber, the Universal allows the system to sound better, with more detail and precision
- Compared to DaVinciAudio Grand Reference Grandezza, the system sounded nearly as good with the Universal
Takeaway: The Clearaudio Universal tonearm is a well-crafted and engineered radial-tracking tonearm that can improve the sound of a system. It offers a detailed, precise, and relaxed sound, making it a worthwhile upgrade.
All
Universal
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Construction: Radial tonearm with ultra low friction bearings
- Material: Aluminium (black/silver), stainless steel, carbon tonearm tube (black/silver)
- Available Lengths: 9-inch and 12-inch
- Cartridge Balance Range (9-inch): 2.9g – 24.8g
- Cartridge Balance Range (12-inch): 2.9g – 21.0g
- Overhang (9-inch): 17.00mm
- Overhang (12-inch): 13.01mm
- Total Length (9-inch): 345.00mm
- Total Length (12-inch): 420.00mm
- Effective Length (9-inch): 239.00mm
- Effective Length (12-inch): 308.01mm
- Mounting Distance (9-inch): 222.00mm
- Mounting Distance (12-inch): 295.00mm
- Offset Angle (9-inch): 24.89°
- Offset Angle (12-inch): 18.85°
- Wiring: 1.1m Clearaudio Super Sixtream terminated with RCA
- Weight (9-inch): 745g (incl. counterweight)
- Weight (12-inch): 760g (incl. counterweight)
- Warranty: 5 years
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Clearaudio turntables are often sold as complete packages, including a pre-mounted and aligned tonearm and cartridge, allowing for a simplified, plug-and-play setup experience.
- The brand utilizes Panzerholz, a dense, resonance-damping "bulletproof" wood, often sandwiched with aluminum in their plinth construction, contributing to a unique sonic signature.
- Clearaudio is an early adopter of ceramic magnetic bearings (CMB), implementing them to reduce friction and noise in their turntables for improved speed stability and transparency.
- They offer various tonearm options, with carbon fiber variants to reduce resonance and improve performance, including innovative, often magnetic, anti-skating designs.
Select products
Concept
- Positioning: The entry-level turntable, designed to offer high-end features at an affordable price.
- Description: Features a friction-free magnetic bearing tonearm for low distortion. Unlike the more advanced models like the Performance DC, it offers a simpler setup with a focus on plug-and-play simplicity, making it ideal for small rooms and those new to high-fidelity audio systems.
Performance DC
- Positioning: Positioned as a mid-range model, offering a step up in performance and features from the Concept.
- Description: Known for its excellent tracking and speed accuracy, includes a ceramic magnetic bearing for enhanced resonance control. Compared to the Concept, it offers a more robust build, with options for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.
Master Jubilee
- Positioning: A high-end model, offering advanced features and a luxurious design.
- Description: Features a unique motor suspension system and a heavy-duty chassis for exceptional resonance control. It offers more advanced motor control and the ability to mount a second tonearm, setting it apart from the Ovation.
Master Innovation
- Positioning: A premium model, designed for ultimate performance and flexibility.
- Description: Distinguished by its dual-platter system and magnetic decoupling, providing excellent speed stability. It allows for up to three tonearms, offering more versatility than the Master Jubilee.
Statement
- Positioning: Clearaudio's flagship model, representing the pinnacle of their turntable technology.
- Description: A masterpiece of engineering, featuring a massive 350 kg build and advanced optical speed control. It offers groundbreaking sound reproduction, far exceeding the capabilities of the Master Innovation, and is designed for the most discerning audiophiles who demand the ultimate in audio performance.
Our take on the brand
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Our interview with the brand
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Used
clearaudio
What if you spend more?
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- The Discovery RS brings a 'naturalness' and 'effortless' quality to the music, making it more 'soulful' and 'engaging'
- The Discovery RS opens up the soundstage, providing a broader and more expansive listening experience
- The Discovery RS delivers a significant reduction in 'groove rush,' resulting in nearly complete silence between cuts and in the lead-in groove
- The Discovery RS provides more refined and better-delineated bass extension with a more faithful sense of speed and texture
- The Discovery RS is designed with a unique resonance suppression system to minimize unwanted mechanical and acoustical contributions
Product Considerations
- One reviewer had trouble getting the right alignment, because the cartridge was too light for the tonearm
- The upgrade offer for existing Kronos owners won't be available much longer, so do not miss out
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Black Beauty tonearm, the Discovery RS brought a significant improvement to the entire sonic tapestry of the turntable
Takeaway: The Discovery RS is an exceptional tone arm with innovative technology that really gets the music out of your records. It provides a monumental improvement in LP playback.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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Phantom III is the same specification as the Phantom II, but has an updated arm wand, new internal wiring for arm wand and bearing housing. The Phantom III has exceeded our highest expectations, surpassing even the highly-rated Phantom II. And when compared to other tonearms on the market, tests and preliminary user comments have confirmed that the Phantom III is in another, altogether higher level of performance.
Compared to the original Phantom, as well as the Series II, the III has a similar outward appearance, but has important internal differences. In addition to the refined Magneglide (tm) stabilizer, new internal wiring for even better detail and improved freedom from any mechanical resistance, an upgraded pivot design for even greater dynamics, and a new titanium armwand, the III has incorporated a new pivot housing assembly.
This assembly, comprised of a constrained layer combination of brass and tungsten, provides greater energy control and damping, along with improved bearing performance. Incorporating a slightly reshaped counterweight to allow for great cartridge weight ranges and lower moment of inertia, the result is greater transparency, broader soundstaging (both side to side and front to back), with greater bass impact and extension.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- The Phantom III does not impose a consistent signature or coloration on the music, leaning towards an ideal of neutrality that allows cartridges to express their individual character more overtly
- Offers a proportionate blend of resolution, detail, bass response, soundstaging, and imaging—creating 'wholeness' in musical reproduction
- Provides stable and repeatable adjustments for fine-tuning tracking force, azimuth, overhang, zenith angle, and VTA/SRA
- Facilitates easy daily operation
Product Considerations
- The price point may be prohibitive for some
- Initial leveling may need to be checked and adjusted after a few weeks due to settling
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Graham Engineering Phantom II Supreme: The Phantom III's bass reproduction was far more robust and controlled
Takeaway: The Graham Engineering Phantom III is a high-quality tonearm that allows for precise adjustments and stable performance, letting the true character of cartridges shine through. Its ability to trace grooves accurately and portray subtle differences in recordings makes it a worthwhile investment for serious audiophiles.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The KV9 Max Tonearm features a unipivot bearing design and uses a unique Kevlar tube construction, which provides lightness, stiffness, and internal damping capabilities that other materials cannot match. The tonearm incorporates oil damping, a proprietary VTA smooth adjustment mechanism, and uses a combination of premium materials including aluminum, bronze, brass, and stainless steel. The design allows for easy calibration and adjustment of attenuation, anti-skating, azimuth, and VTA which can be adjusted while listening to music.
The KV Max series represents an evolution from previous models, featuring a new, lighter and stiffer Kevlar tube, improved tube filling, and a new zirconia-based bearing. The design uses two types of bronze in place of aluminum elements, has improved VTA and azimuth adjustment accuracy, and features enhanced counterweight precision. The arm's wiring uses 24K Gold plated 6N OCC Copper.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Unique, highly engaging, and factual rendition of the music
- Design builds on the best aspects of the KV12 tonearms, and takes performance to an even higher level by reducing weight and increasing rigidity
- New, unique bearing is made of zirconium oxide, and improved damping guarantees maximum stabilization of the tonearm with unsurpassed tracking
- Most of the aluminum elements of the arm are replaced with bronze, contributing to an increase in stability and a further reduction of resonances to an exceptional level
- Ability of unique playful interaction with the cartridge and turntable opened up a deeper interaction with the music, that is normally associated with pricier tonearms
Product Considerations
- Significantly more expensive than other models in its category
- Returning the tonearm after testing it without the hope of purchasing it will be difficult
- Even poor releases are clearly shown for their weaknesses
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs KV12: KV9 Max offers even better resolution, even better differentiation, even better insight into the smallest details and subtleties of every recording, or into even the most delicate tonal shifts and texture changes
- Vs KV12: KV12 is the clear winner when it comes to macro-dynamics
- Vs KV12: On the Dead Can Dance's Spiritchaser, what the KV9 Max did with the powerful, deep, almost subsonic electronic bass was brilliant—truly impressive, but the KV12 added even more mass and powerful slam to these deepest, lowest sounds
Takeaway: The J. Sikora KV9 MAX Zirconium is a high-performing tonearm that delivers exceptional sound quality, with great detail and clarity. This tonearm could be a worthwhile investment for those seeking the best in analog audio reproduction.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Unique bi-axis design separates horizontal and vertical movements, offering a stable platform for the cartridge and excellent tracking ability, even with warped records
- Extremely well-built, matching the high standards of SME tonearms in terms of fit and finish, with a robust and solid construction
- Cartridge swapping is made easy due to the detachable headshell and simple setup process
- Demonstrates wide cartridge compatibility, working well with both low and high compliance cartridges
- Sonically neutral and uncolored, allowing the characteristics of different cartridges to shine through
Product Considerations
- Heavy, best suited for turntables with solid plinths, making it potentially incompatible with suspended turntables
- DIN plug/cable exits straight down, requiring adequate clearance (around 70mm)
- VTA adjustments are not micrometric
- The detachable headshell, while convenient, introduces a joint in the armtube
- Soundstaging may not be as wide or airy as some other tonearms, tending to present a strong central image
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The DV 507 MkII matches SME standards in fit and finish and allows each cartridge to give its best
Takeaway: The Dynavector 507 MkII is a well-engineered, versatile tonearm with a unique design that promotes excellent tracking and neutral sound. Its solid build, easy cartridge swapping, and wide compatibility make it a worthwhile investment for serious vinyl enthusiasts.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The EMT 912-HI tonearm, along with the EMT JSD 6 cartridge, made every record sound dramatically more exposed, clearer, and punchier
- The EMT 912-HI tonearm looks sleek, sexy, and more refined in machining and finish compared to earlier EMT arms
- The EMT 912-HI tonearm seems better built than the 997s
Product Considerations
- Adjustments took a couple of weeks to settle in comfortably with the new EMT sound
- Comparing the 909 remake with the original 929 is essential to identify differences and limitations
- The EMT 912-HI with fixed headshell costs $6995 with fixed wire, $7409 with the DIN connector
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The EMT 912-HI arrived and, together with the EMT JSD 6 cartridge, threw everything he thought he knew out the window, compared to when he was using Thomas Schick 10.5' tonearm
Takeaway: The EMT 912-HI tonearm can significantly improve the sound of records, making them clearer and more dynamic. Its sleek design and improved build quality make it a luxurious addition to any high-end audio system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The design allows for fine-tuning to maximize sound quality
- Instructions are included outlining how to tune by various degrees of screw tightening
Product Considerations
- There are options for screw tightening
Takeaway: The Schröder CB tonearm allows adjustments to get the best sound. It's designed to work with modern turntables.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Compact with a sleek, low profile look
- Built like a tank
- Easy to use and set up
- Sounds great, producing fast, clean, well-extended, and solid low frequency performance
- The EMT 909 HI tonearm integrates modern bearing manufacturing technologies into the traditional arm design
- Setting up the 909 HI tonearm was a pleasure
Product Considerations
- The EMT JSD Pure Black MC cartridge does not include a stylus guard
- When placing the EMT 909 HI tonearm into the arm rest, being careful is important to prevent it from springing forward
Takeaway: The EMT 928 II turntable and EMT 909 HI tonearm combo is easy to use, great to look at, and sounds amazing, making it well worth considering. It's a compact—explosive-sounding—disc player.
Video review
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