Clearaudio Ovation Turntable, Silver / Natural Wood

The Clearaudio Ovation is a belt-driven turntable that combines a Panzerholz-aluminium sandwich plinth, the patented CMB magnetic bearing and Optical Speed Control (OSC) – this version with silver aluminium parts and a Panzerholz plinth in natural finish.

Two colour terms, one clear logic: the first stands for the aluminium parts, the second for the plinth. Silver on light wood is the friendliest of the four combinations – a turntable that doesn't look like a measuring instrument in the living room.

Why the Ovation?

The plinth is a sandwich: Panzerholz, clamped between two aluminium plates and damped with embedded metal balls. Resonances have little joy in there. On top sits an inverted ceramic bearing with a sintered-bronze bushing, its load carried by the patented CMB magnetic bearing technology – the platter runs practically friction-free. A high-torque 24-volt DC motor drives the aluminium sub-platter via a ground flat belt, and Optical Speed Control reads the speed via sensor and continuously corrects it. Result: wow and flutter of under ± 0.03 %.

What you get

A pure turntable – tonearm and cartridge are deliberately not included. The interchangeable armboard takes almost any common 9-inch arm; the Clarify and Tracer fit from the factory, the TT5 tangential arm needs the Swing Base. Also included are the platter with aluminium sub-platter, belt, upper bearing housing, bearing oil, ground cable, power supply, gloves and screwdriver. Which arm and cartridge suit your phono stage, we'll work out in conversation – that's what we're here for.

Who is the Ovation for?

For anyone buying a turntable for the next twenty years and wanting to deliberately choose arm and cartridge themselves. 13.5 kilos on 420 × 350 millimetres need a stable surface – a wobbly shelf undoes all that effort. Straight talk: if you just want to play vinyl quickly, the Clearaudio Compass or Concept serves you better. The Ovation is meant a step more seriously, and that shows in the price as much as in the effort.

Our verdict

The Ovation is the level at which Clearaudio stops explaining compromises: CMB bearing, OSC and Panzerholz sandwich otherwise only appear considerably further up. The silver-natural version is the cosiest of the bunch – it carries the technology without showing off. Tell us which arm and cartridge you have in mind, and we'll honestly work through the whole chain.

Technical data

• Type: belt-driven turntable, without tonearm and cartridge
• Plinth: resonance-optimised sandwich, Panzerholz between two aluminium plates, damped with 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, 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
• Wow and flutter: < ± 0.03 %
• Platter: 40 mm, high-density engineering plastic (POM), 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
• Finish: aluminium parts silver / Panzerholz plinth natural
• Dimensions (W × H × D): approx. 420 × 135 × 350 mm, without tonearm
• Weight: approx. 13.5 kg
• Warranty: 5 years with registration within 14 days
• Matching dust cover: AC024 (optional)
• Model no.: TT033
• Scope of delivery: pre-assembled turntable, platter with aluminium sub-platter, drive belt, upper bearing housing, bearing oil, flat pads, power supply, gloves, aluminium screwdriver, warranty and quality card – tonearm and cartridge separate

Frequently asked questions

What do the two colour terms for the Ovation mean?

The first term describes the aluminium parts of the plinth, the second the Panzerholz layer in between. Silver / Natural Wood therefore means: silver aluminium plates, wood in a natural tone. It's not about the tonearm or platter – the platter is black POM on all four finishes.

Does the Ovation come with a tonearm?

No, the Ovation is supplied as a pure turntable without tonearm and without cartridge. The interchangeable armboard takes almost any common 9-inch arm. We'll put together arm, cartridge and phono stage to fit and mount everything fully aligned.

How does the Ovation keep speed stable?

Via Optical Speed Control: an optical sensor continuously reads the speed, the electronics correct immediately. Clearaudio states wow and flutter of under ± 0.03 %. You don't need a stroboscope or manual adjustment for that.

How heavy is the Ovation and what does it need as a base?

About 13.5 kilograms on a footprint of 420 × 350 millimetres. That calls for a torsion-resistant, level surface – a solid sideboard or a decoupled rack. We'll look at your setup and tell you honestly whether it's enough.

Why buy the Ovation from HD Zürisee?

Because a turntable of this class only comes into its own with the right arm and cartridge. Our practised team in Wädenswil puts the chain together, delivers, sets it up and stays reachable afterwards. 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 the matching stage under Phono preamps. The motor runs even more quietly with a battery power supply like the Clearaudio Smart Power 24V, which Clearaudio expressly recommends for Ovation and Innovation – found under Power supplies. Brush, tracking weight and accessories are under Turntable Accessories, cleaning machines and fluids under Record Cleaning. More turntables are found under Turntables and in the Clearaudio Collection.