Clearaudio compass Turntable, Silver

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

Silver is the lighter of the two finishes: a satin surface, a visible aluminium tonearm, a unit that doesn't disappear on the shelf. Technically it gives away nothing to the black version – the difference is the colour of the plinth, nothing else.

Why the compass?

Because Clearaudio leaves nothing to chance here, yet keeps nothing complicated. The 20 mm acrylic platter sits on a CNC-machined aluminium sub-platter, the hardened, polished steel spindle runs in a sintered-bronze bushing on a Teflon thrust pad. A decoupled 12-volt DC motor drives it via a ground flat belt; you choose the speed with a toggle switch on the underside of the unit, without moving the belt. Beneath the MDF plinth sits a solid steel base plate, and the feet are height-adjustable and decoupled. On top: the T1 radial tonearm, a compact derivative of the Satisfy, and the N1 MM cartridge – fully aligned in the headshell.

What you hear

Order. The compass sorts the music instead of seasoning it: vocals stay put in the centre, bass arrives dry rather than soft, and the soundstage reaches beyond the speakers. The N1's elliptical stylus on its aluminium cantilever works with more finesse than an entry-level class is really entitled to. You notice the quality of the bearing most clearly where nothing happens – in the quiet passages it simply stays silent.

Who is the compass for?

For newcomers and returning vinyl fans who want to listen to music tonight rather than learn tonearm geometry first – and for anyone looking for a decent second turntable. Plain talk: if you already know which tonearm you want and are after a bare drive unit to fit it to, you're better off with the concept Signature or the Emotion SE. The compass is deliberately a closed package. And it won't play 78 rpm shellac records.

Our verdict

The compass in silver is the shortest route to a genuinely good turntable: unpack, level, connect, listen. That Clearaudio hasn't skimped on the bearing or the platter only becomes clear after a few weeks – when nothing is still bothering you. Which phono input suits it and how the turntable sits on your furniture is something we'll briefly discuss 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, cantilever replaceable
• 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: Silver
• Model no.: TT071/S
• 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

Is the Clearaudio compass ready to connect out of the box?

Yes. The T1 tonearm and the N1 MM cartridge are fitted and aligned at the factory, and the acrylic cover is fitted too. You set the compass down, level it with the height-adjustable feet, connect it to an MM phono input – and you can listen to records right away.

Do I also need a phono preamp?

Only if your amplifier is missing an MM phono input. The N1 delivers around 2.9 millivolts and fits any MM input. Many modern amplifiers no longer have one – in that case a small external phono stage is added. We'll tell you which one suits your system.

Are silver and black technically different?

No. Drive, bearing, platter, tonearm and cartridge are identical on both versions, as is the MDF plinth with solid steel base plate. The only difference is the colour. It's purely a matter of taste and décor.

Can I upgrade the cartridge later?

Yes. The N1 has a replaceable cantilever, and the T1 also accepts other cartridges. The N1 is more than enough to get started; if you want more resolution later, you move up to a higher-grade MM or MC cartridge. We'll match the right combination to your phono stage.

Why buy the Clearaudio compass at HD Zürisee?

Because a good start into vinyl needs more than a box on the table. We work out the phono connection, placement and decoupling with you, set up the compass, and remain your contact as an authorised Clearaudio dealer for any later upgrade too. Call us on +41 44 680 22 00, write via WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or to shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Pairs well with

The right phono preamp is under Phono Preamps, cartridges for a later upgrade under Cartridges. Brush, tracking-force scale and cleaning fluid are in Turntable Accessories and under Record Cleaning. More models are under Turntables, and everything to do with vinyl is gathered under All About Vinyl.