Clearaudio Ovation Turntable, Silver / Black

The Clearaudio Ovation is a belt-driven turntable that unites a Panzerholz-aluminium sandwich plinth, the patented CMB magnetic bearing and Optical Speed Control (OSC) – this version with silver aluminium parts on a black piano-lacquer plinth.

The two colour terms refer to two different parts: first the aluminium plates, then the Panzerholz in between. Silver on black is the most technical of the four combinations – light edges, dark core, a visibly engineered device rather than a piece of furniture. Anyone who sees their rack more as a workbench than a display case will likely land here.

Why the Ovation?

The plinth isn't a board but a sandwich: precision-milled Panzerholz between two aluminium plates, with around 100,000 small metal balls worked in. Resonances lose their energy in there before reaching the stylus. On top sits an inverted bearing with a ground, polished ceramic shaft in a sintered-bronze bushing – most of the load is taken off it by Clearaudio's patented CMB magnetic bearing. Drive comes via a ground flat belt from a high-torque 24-volt DC motor sitting decoupled in the plinth. Optical Speed Control continuously reads the speed via infrared sensor and corrects it: under ± 0.03 % wow and flutter.

What you get

A pure turntable – you decide tonearm and cartridge yourself. The interchangeable armboard takes almost any common 9-inch arm; from the factory Clearaudio specifies Clarify and Tracer, the TT5 tangential arm additionally needs the Swing Base. You select speed via small buttons at the front left, no belt-shifting required. In the box: turntable body, platter with aluminium sub-platter, upper bearing housing, flat belt, bearing oil, white gloves and an aluminium screwdriver.

Who is the Ovation for?

For anyone who buys the foundation of their analogue chain first and chooses arm, cartridge and phono stage afterwards, at their own pace. 13.5 kilos on 420 × 350 millimetres demand a torsion-resistant, level surface – a springy shelf undoes all that engineering work. Straight talk: if you want to simply play records tonight, a pre-fitted turntable like Compass or Concept serves you better. The Ovation wants a decision, not haste.

Our verdict

Silver on black makes visible what the Ovation is anyway: a tool, not decoration. The technology underneath – CMB bearing, OSC, Panzerholz sandwich – only starts at this level at Clearaudio and effortlessly carries the cartridge after next, too. Named Turntable of the Year 2011 by The Absolute Sound. Tell us which arm and cartridge you have in mind, and we'll honestly work through the whole chain at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil.

Technical data

• Type: belt-driven turntable, without tonearm and cartridge
• Plinth: resonance-optimised sandwich of precision-milled Panzerholz between two aluminium plates, damped with around 100,000 embedded metal balls
• Bearing: inverted, ground and polished ceramic shaft, sintered-bronze running bushing, patented Clearaudio magnetic bearing technology (CMB)
• Motor: high-torque 24 V DC motor, decoupled in the plinth, drive via ground flat belt onto the sub-platter
• Speed control: electronically controlled, Optical Speed Control (OSC) with optical sensor
• Speeds: 33⅓, 45 and 78 rpm, electronically switchable by button; fine adjustment via three trimmers on the rear
• Wow and flutter: < ± 0.03 %
• Platter: 40 mm, high-density engineering plastic (POM), CNC-precision-milled surface, on aluminium sub-platter
• Arm mount: interchangeable armboard for almost all common 9-inch tonearms (one tonearm)
• Recommended tonearms: Clarify, Tracer, tangential arm TT5 (with Swing Base)
• Power consumption: max. 8.6 W, operating 2.5 W, standby 2.5 W, off 0.0 W
• Finish: aluminium parts silver / Panzerholz plinth black (piano lacquer)
• Dimensions (W × H × D): approx. 420 × 135 × 350 mm, without tonearm
• Weight: approx. 13.5 kg
• Warranty: 5 years with registration
• Matching dust cover: AC024 (optional)
• Model no.: TT036
• Scope of delivery: turntable body, platter with aluminium sub-platter, upper bearing housing, flat belt, bearing oil, white gloves, aluminium screwdriver, quality and warranty card – tonearm and cartridge separate

Frequently asked questions

Does the Ovation come with a tonearm?

No, Clearaudio supplies the Ovation as a pure turntable without tonearm and without cartridge. Via the interchangeable armboard you mount almost any common 9-inch arm, such as Clarify or Tracer. We'll put together arm, cartridge and phono stage to fit and hand over the turntable fully aligned.

What is the Ovation's platter made of?

Of 40 millimetre thick, high-density engineering plastic – POM, CNC-precision-milled – sitting on an aluminium sub-platter. Aluminium is thus just the basement, not the playing surface. The whole thing is carried by the patented CMB magnetic bearing with a ceramic shaft in a sintered-bronze bushing, which takes most of the platter's weight off it.

How do you change speed on the Ovation?

Via small buttons at the front left of the turntable: 33⅓, 45 and 78 rpm are available electronically, the belt stays put. Optical Speed Control holds the chosen speed stable via infrared sensor; Clearaudio states under ± 0.03 % wow and flutter. For shellac records you'll additionally need a matching stylus.

Which tonearms fit the Ovation?

The interchangeable armboard is designed for almost all common 9-inch tonearms, one arm per turntable. From the factory Clearaudio specifies Clarify and Tracer; the TT5 tangential arm additionally requires the Swing Base. Which board your chosen arm exactly needs, we'll clarify before you order.

What do the colours Silver / Black refer to?

To the plinth, not the platter. The first term describes the two aluminium plates, the second the Panzerholz in between – here silver aluminium on black piano-lacquered wood. The platter is black POM on all four finishes, technically the versions are identical.

Why buy the Clearaudio Ovation from HD Zürisee?

Because a turntable of this class only comes into its own with the matching arm and cartridge – and that's purely a matter of experience. Our team in Wädenswil plans the chain, delivers, mounts and aligns on site. Call +41 44 680 22 00, write to shop@hdzuerisee.ch or WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Goes well with

Choose the arm under Tonearms, the cartridge under Cartridges and equalisation under Phono preamps. An even calmer supply for the 24-volt motor is found under Power supplies. Brush, tracking weight and alignment aids are in Turntable Accessories, fluids and cleaning machines under Record Cleaning. A steady foundation is found under HiFi Racks. More turntables are under Turntables and in the Clearaudio Collection.