Clearaudio Smart Power 12V Battery Power Supply, Black

The Clearaudio Smart Power 12V is a battery power supply that fully disconnects a 12-volt turntable from the mains during operation and feeds the drive motor from a NiMH battery with pure DC current.

As long as you're listening, the power comes from the battery – no mains hum, no voltage spikes, none of what the fridge and LED dimmers send back into the line all day long. When the charge runs low, the unit recharges itself automatically and keeps feeding your turntable in the meantime. The stylus notices nothing.

Why the Smart Power 12V?

A belt-drive turntable lives on a steady speed, and that depends directly on how cleanly the motor is fed. The mains is a poor supplier for that: switching power supplies, dimmers and chargers all leave traces. In battery mode there's simply no connection left for any of that to travel over. Add to that the battery's very low internal resistance – it delivers current faster and with a flatter discharge curve than any plug-in power supply ever could.

What you hear

The so-called "night effect", just around the clock: a quieter background, instruments that keep their place, and bass that grips dry rather than spreading out. It's most obvious in quiet passages – where there seemed to be nothing before, you suddenly hear space.

Who is the Smart Power 12V for?

For you, if you own a Clearaudio Concept or a Performance DC and want to squeeze out the last bit of speed stability without swapping the whole turntable. Plain talk: the voltage has to match – turntables in the Ovation, Innovation and Statement series run on 24 volts and need the larger model. And batteries are wear parts; after a few years capacity drops. That's not a drama, just a service appointment.

Our verdict

One of the few accessories where the effect isn't a matter of imagination. The Smart Power 12V brings a Concept or Performance DC sonically closer to the next league up, without you having to change anything about placement, alignment or cartridge. If you want to keep your turntable anyway, this is the least spectacular sensible step forward.

Technical data

• Design: battery power supply with complete mains isolation during operation
• Battery: nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), 5000 mAh
• Output: 12 V DC, max. 1.6 A, electronically fused (slow-blow)
• Charging: 19 V plug-in power supply, 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, max. 1.6 A
• Power consumption: 6.5–33 W in operation, 0 W when switched off
• Compatibility: clearaudio Concept, Concept Active and Performance DC
• Housing: aluminium, black
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 110 × 46 × 350 mm
• Weight: approx. 2.2 kg
• Warranty: 2 years (battery excluded)
• Included: Smart Power 12V with 160 cm power cable, 19 V plug-in power supply, instruction manual, warranty card

Frequently asked questions

Which turntables suit the Smart Power 12V?

The Smart Power 12V is built for clearaudio turntables with a 12-volt input, specifically Concept, Concept Active and Performance DC. Turntables in the Ovation, Innovation and Statement series run on 24 volts and need the larger Smart Power 24V. If in doubt, check the label on your original power supply or just ask us.

What happens if the battery runs flat while listening?

Nothing you'll notice. The unit automatically switches to charging or buffer mode and keeps feeding your turntable in the meantime – the record keeps spinning without interruption. You get the last bit of quiet by unplugging the charger while listening and running purely on battery.

How is it different from the Professional Power 12V?

The Professional Power 12V is a linear power supply: it cleans and stabilises the power but stays connected to the mains. The Smart Power goes one step further and cuts that connection completely during operation. Both improve speed stability; the battery solution is the more consistent – and more elaborate – one.

Why buy the Clearaudio Smart Power 12V from HD Zürisee?

Because we've been setting up, aligning and servicing Clearaudio turntables for many years – and we handle the battery service in-house later on, instead of sending you off to a service centre. First we'll tell you honestly whether your turntable really benefits from it. Call us on +41 44 680 22 00, message us on WhatsApp at 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or at shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

The right turntable is found under Turntables, the matching amplification under Phono preamplifiers. More around the turntable is found under Turntable accessories, everything about power under Mains filters & power conditioning.