Clearaudio concept Signature Turntable, Wood

The Clearaudio concept Signature is a belt-drive turntable that's delivered without tonearm and cartridge – this version with a light-coloured plinth made of compressed solid wood.

The difference to Black and Silver is more than a matter of taste: instead of an MDF plinth, this version carries high-pressure-compressed solid wood layers. Mechanics, drive and control electronics stay identical, the material underneath doesn't.

Why the concept Signature?

Because Clearaudio has given the 2009 classic exactly what it was missing: a speed that keeps itself in check. Tacho-Speed-Control is the name of the technology, and it does what the name says – a sensor reads out the actual platter speed, and the control electronics correct accordingly. A belt that stretches over the years, or a room that's cooler in winter than in summer, no longer changes the pitch. The DC motor hangs decoupled in the IMS light suspension, held by six O-rings.

What you get

A drive unit that arrives fully assembled: a 30 mm platter made of high-density polymer, a CNC-machined aluminium sub-platter, a hardened steel spindle in a sintered-bronze bushing on a Teflon thrust pad, a ground flat belt and an external power supply that keeps its transformer out of the unit. You choose 33 1/3 and 45 rpm via an illuminated button that also steps through to standby. The light wood finish takes living rooms with oak, ash or beech along with it, rather than working against them – turning a piece of equipment into a piece of furniture without stripping out the technology.

Who is the concept Signature for?

For anyone who wants to choose their own arm and cartridge and is looking for a drive unit that can be seen in the room. It can be combined with the Clearaudio tonearms concept, Verify, Clarify, Satisfy Kardan, Tracer and Profiler, as well as with MM and MC cartridges up to the Talisman V2 Gold. Plain talk: a bare drive unit doesn't play out of the box – without arm, cartridge and phono stage it stays furniture. If you want a ready-made solution, a complete package is the better fit. Shellac records at 78 rpm aren't provided for either.

Our verdict

The wood version is the warmest of the four, without doing anything technically different – the solid-wood construction of the plinth is the only real difference from Black and Silver. What remains is a drive unit with grown-up speed regulation, a solid bearing and a platter that brings calm to the whole. Which combination of arm and cartridge suits it depends on your phono stage and your taste in music – that's exactly the calculation we're happy to work out with you at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil.

Technical specifications

• Type: belt-drive turntable chassis, without tonearm and cartridge
• Drive: ground flat belt
• Motor: decoupled, extremely quiet-running 12 V DC motor
• Motor suspension: IMS light – decoupling via six O-rings
• Speed control: Tacho-Speed-Control (TSC), automatically compensates for friction and temperature, self-calibrates on every start, manual recalibration possible
• Speeds: 33 1/3 and 45 rpm (no 78 rpm operation)
• Speed selection: illuminated button on the front, steps through 33 1/3 → 45 → standby
• Wow and flutter: ± 0.05 %
• Platter: 30 mm, high-density polymer, on a CNC-turned aluminium sub-platter
• Bearing: polished, hardened steel spindle in a sintered-bronze bushing on a Teflon thrust pad
• Plinth: high-pressure-compressed solid wood layers, light
• Top plate: satin, low-resonance polymer
• Base plate: medium-density fibreboard (MDF)
• Feet: height-adjustable
• Power supply: external plug-in power supply, 12 V DC, usable worldwide
• Power consumption: max. 3.6 W, 1.92 W in operation, 0.74 W standby
• Compatible tonearms: Clearaudio concept, Verify, Clarify, Satisfy Kardan, Tracer and Profiler
• Compatible cartridges: MM and MC cartridges from the concept mc up to the Talisman V2 Gold, as well as common MM cartridges
• Dimensions (W × H × D): approx. 420 × 125 × 350 mm
• Weight: approx. 7.5 kg (manufacturer figure incl. tonearm and cartridge)
• Finish: Wood
• Matching dust cover: AC174 acrylic dust cover (optional)
• Model no.: TT068/WD
• Warranty: 2-year manufacturer's warranty
• Included: drive unit with platter, sub-platter and drive belt, external power supply, instruction manual – tonearm and cartridge not included

Frequently asked questions

Is a tonearm and cartridge included?

No, the concept Signature arrives as a bare drive unit – with platter, sub-platter, bearing, belt and external power supply, but without arm and cartridge. You choose both yourself: the Clearaudio tonearms concept, Verify, Clarify, Satisfy Kardan, Tracer and Profiler fit, as do MM and MC cartridges up to the Talisman V2 Gold. We mount and align the combination for you.

Is the wood plinth just for looks, or does it do something technically too?

Both. On Wood and Dark Wood, the plinth is made of high-pressure-compressed solid wood layers; on Black and Silver, it's medium-density fibreboard. The satin, low-resonance polymer top plate is the same across all four, as are the drive, bearing, platter and control electronics. So the material change affects only the construction of the plinth.

How does the self-calibration work?

A tachometer picks up the actual platter speed and reports it back to the control electronics, which adjusts the motor accordingly. This calibration runs automatically on every start-up, and you can also trigger it manually. This keeps 33 1/3 and 45 rpm stable, even as the belt stretches over the years.

Do I need a phono stage in addition to the drive unit?

Yes. A cartridge delivers a very quiet signal with a cutting curve that only a phono stage equalises and brings up to line level. Some integrated amplifiers have a phono input built in, many don't. If the cartridge doesn't match the stage, you waste the potential of both – which is why we plan this part in from the start.

Why buy the concept Signature at HD Zürisee?

Because the real work with a drive unit that has no arm and cartridge only starts here. We choose the tonearm, cartridge and phono stage with you, mount and align everything in Wädenswil and remain your contact as an authorised Clearaudio dealer. 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

Matching arms are under Tonearms, cartridges under Cartridges, and the phono stage you need is under Phono Preamps. Clean grooves are handled by Record Cleaning, alignment accessories are in Turntable Accessories.