Clearaudio compass Turntable, Black

The Clearaudio compass is a belt-drive turntable with the tonearm and cartridge already fitted and aligned at the factory – this version in black.

Set it down, level it, drop the needle: the compass takes care of exactly what usually makes getting into vinyl unnecessarily complicated – matching arm and cartridge. What's left is a drive unit from Erlangen that doesn't sell precision as an accessory list, but delivers it as standard.

Why the compass?

Because nothing here is improvised. The 20 mm acrylic platter sits on a CNC-machined aluminium sub-platter and turns on a hardened, polished steel spindle that runs in a sintered-bronze bushing on a Teflon thrust pad – a bearing assembly you rarely find executed this cleanly in this class. The whole thing is driven by a decoupled 12-volt DC motor via a ground flat belt; you switch between 33 1/3 and 45 rpm with a toggle switch on the underside of the unit, without moving the belt by hand. The MDF plinth sits on a solid steel base plate, and the feet are height-adjustable and decoupled. Add to that the T1 radial tonearm, a compact derivative of the Satisfy, and the N1 MM cartridge, fully aligned in the headshell.

What you hear

Quiet in the background and a soundstage that opens up wider than you'd expect from this class. The compass plays things tidy rather than showy: vocals sit stable in the centre, bass arrives dry and fast, with no artificial warmth mixed in afterwards. The N1's elliptical stylus on its aluminium cantilever pulls more fine detail out of the groove than an entry-level cartridge really should. And because the bearing works so quietly, the decisive moments happen in the pauses – where it simply stays silent.

Who is the compass for?

For newcomers and returning vinyl fans who want to play music today, not spend a weekend with alignment protractors. Also for anyone looking for a decent second turntable. Plain talk: if you already have a dream tonearm in mind and want a bare drive unit to fit it to, go for the Emotion SE or the concept Signature instead – the compass is deliberately conceived as a closed package, and that's exactly where its strength lies. If you want to play old shellac records, this isn't the right model either: 78 rpm isn't available.

Our verdict

The compass is the most unfussy way to get started with Clearaudio: no tinkering, no accessories to buy afterwards, just a factory-matched drive unit with arm and cartridge that's up and running in ten minutes. It doesn't want to be the flashiest turntable in the room, but the least conspicuous one – for a turntable, that's a compliment. Which phono input suits it and how to decouple it on your furniture is something we're happy to talk through with you at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil.

Technical specifications

• Type: belt-drive turntable, ready to connect straight from the factory
• Drive: ground flat belt
• Motor: decoupled, resonance-damped 12 V DC motor
• Speeds: 33 1/3 and 45 rpm, switchable via a toggle switch on the underside of the unit (no belt repositioning)
• Wow and flutter: ± 0.05 %
• Platter: 20 mm acrylic with CNC-machined aluminium sub-platter
• Bearing: hardened, polished steel spindle in a sintered-bronze bushing, running on a Teflon thrust pad
• Plinth: medium-density fibreboard (MDF) with solid steel base plate
• Feet: height-adjustable, decoupled
• Tonearm: Clearaudio T1, aluminium radial tonearm, compact derivative of the Satisfy
• Effective length / overhang: 239.12 mm / 17.12 mm
• Cartridge: Clearaudio N1 (MM), elliptical diamond on an aluminium cantilever, factory-fitted and aligned
• Cartridge output voltage: approx. 2.9 mV (1 kHz)
• Recommended tracking force: 2.2 g (± 0.3 g)
• Tonearm cable: Clearaudio Direct Wire Plus, 1.1 m, RCA
• Power supply: external plug-in power supply, usable worldwide
• Power consumption: max. 5.56 W, 2.81 W in operation, 0 W standby
• Dust cover: acrylic, with stainless-steel hinges
• Dimensions (W × H × D): approx. 435 × 120 × 340 mm (incl. dust cover)
• Weight: approx. 8.4 kg (incl. tonearm and cartridge)
• Finish: Black
• Model no.: TT071/B
• Warranty: 2 years (registration required)
• Included: compass with T1 tonearm and N1 MM cartridge fitted, acrylic dust cover, external plug-in power supply, Direct Wire Plus phono cable (1.1 m)

Frequently asked questions

Does the Clearaudio compass come with a tonearm and cartridge?

Yes, both are included. The T1 radial tonearm and the N1 MM cartridge are fitted and aligned at the factory. You set the compass down, level it, connect it to a phono input – and the first record can play. There's nothing left for you to align.

Do I also need a phono preamp?

Only if your amplifier doesn't have an MM phono input. The N1 is a moving-magnet cartridge with an output of around 2.9 millivolts and fits any MM input. If yours is missing one, you simply add a small external phono stage. We're happy to talk you through which one suits your amplifier.

Which speeds does the compass support?

33 1/3 and 45 revolutions per minute. You switch via a toggle switch on the underside of the unit, without having to move the belt. 78 rpm for shellac records isn't available. Wow and flutter is ± 0.05 percent – a figure you won't perceive as wavering in practice.

How much space does the compass need?

With the cover on, it measures around 435 millimetres in width, 340 millimetres in depth and 120 millimetres in height, and weighs about 8.4 kilograms complete. Leave a bit of room at the back for the cable and power supply. The height-adjustable feet easily compensate for a slightly uneven piece of furniture.

Why buy the Clearaudio compass at HD Zürisee?

Because a turntable only shows its true level with the right surroundings. We work out the phono connection, placement and decoupling with you, set up the compass, and remain available afterwards as an authorised Clearaudio dealer. Reach us on +41 44 680 22 00, via WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or at shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Pairs well with

Still need a phono preamp? Find one under Phono Preamps – Clearaudio itself offers two obvious partners there with the nano phono V2 and smart phono V2. Brush, scale and cleaning fluid are in Turntable Accessories and under Record Cleaning. More models are available under Turntables, and everything to do with vinyl is gathered under All About Vinyl.