Clearaudio Performance DC Turntable, Black / Silver

The Clearaudio Performance DC is a belt-drive turntable unit with a decoupled 12-volt DC motor, inverted ceramic magnetic bearing and a 40 mm POM platter – this version with black aluminium plates on a silver plinth.

Here you deliberately buy not a ready-made complete package but the base: tonearm and cartridge come separately. Anyone who's ever bolted a good arm onto a mediocre drive unit knows why this order is the right one.

Why the Performance DC?

Because here the drive is consistently kept away from the music. The DC motor stands decoupled and transmits its power via a ground flat belt to the aluminium sub-platter – motor vibrations thus hardly find a way into the plinth. Underneath, an inverted bearing works with a polished ceramic spindle in a sintered-bronze bushing, its load carried by the patented CMB magnetic bearing. The 40 mm thick POM platter keeps the speed stable to 0.05 percent wow and flutter.

What you get

A drive unit with probably the clearest contrast in the line-up: black top and bottom plates over a silver plinth that stays visible as a bright stripe in between. The box contains the platter, aluminium sub-platter, flat belt, power supply, bearing oil, grounding cable and tools. The interchangeable mount fits almost any commercially available 9-inch tonearm.

Who is the Performance DC for?

For you, if you want to develop your system over years: first the arm, later a better cartridge, at some point the bigger power supply. Plain talk: if you want to listen to music tonight and never think about tracking force again tomorrow, you'll have an easier time with the factory-aligned Clearaudio Concept. The Performance DC rewards patience, not haste.

Our verdict

A drive unit without airs, showing its quality through calm rather than effects – and with 33, 45 and 78 rpm it also takes your shellac collection along. FIDELITY noted in its review: “Sonically, it doesn't need to hide behind top-class components either.” (No. 41, 2019). Which arm-and-cartridge combination suits you, we're happy to sort out with you at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil.

Technical specifications

• Type: turntable drive unit, belt drive – without tonearm and cartridge
• Motor: decoupled 12 V DC motor, electronically regulated
• Drive: ground flat belt onto aluminium sub-platter
• Bearing: inverted, ground and polished ceramic spindle, sintered-bronze running bushing, patented magnetic bearing (CMB)
• Platter: 40 mm solid POM, with aluminium sub-platter
• Speeds: 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm, electronically switchable via button
• Wow and flutter: 0.05 %
• Fine speed adjustment: three trimmers on the rear
• Plinth construction: resonance-optimised, high-density wood chassis in sandwich construction between two aluminium plates
• Finish: Black aluminium plates / Silver plinth
• Tonearm mount: interchangeable mount for almost all commercially available 9-inch tonearms
• Recommended tonearms: Satisfy Kardan Aluminium, Tracer, TT5 (incl. swing base)
• Power supply: plug-in power supply for worldwide use on all mains voltages and frequencies; optional upgrade to Clearaudio Professional Power 12V or smart power 12V
• Power consumption: max. 3.3 W, operating 1.6 W, off 0.0 W
• Matching dust cover: AC104 (radial tonearm) / AC104/TT5 (with TT5)
• Dimensions (W × H × D): approx. 420 × 125 × 330 mm (without tonearm)
• Weight: approx. 11.0 kg
• Model no.: TT040/B/S
• Warranty: 5 years if registered within 14 days
• Included: drive unit body with motor, bearing top part, aluminium sub-platter, platter, flat belt, plug-in power supply, bearing oil, hex keys, grounding cable, gloves, quality and warranty card – tonearm and cartridge not included

Frequently asked questions

Does the Performance DC come with a tonearm and cartridge?

No. This page shows the bare drive unit. Clearaudio also offers the Performance DC as a complete package with a pre-mounted tonearm and cartridge – here you get the base and choose arm and cartridge freely. The interchangeable mount accepts almost any commercially available 9-inch tonearm.

What do the two colour names in the title mean?

The first names the aluminium top and bottom plates, the second the plinth in between. Here the metal plates are black and the plinth is silver, which produces the visible two-tone effect. The plinth is a high-density wood chassis that sits in sandwich construction between the aluminium plates and damps resonance.

What speeds does the Performance DC manage?

33 1/3, 45 and 78 revolutions per minute, electronically switchable via a button. So shellac records play without an extra platter or belt change, you just need a suitable 78 rpm stylus. Fine adjustment of all three speeds is done via trimmers on the rear, and wow and flutter is 0.05 percent.

Does the Performance DC need a better power supply?

That's not necessary. The included plug-in power supply reliably powers the 12-volt DC motor and works worldwide on all mains voltages. Anyone looking for more quiet in the drive later on can switch to the Clearaudio Professional Power 12V or the smart power 12V – both are designed exactly for the Performance DC series.

Why buy the Performance DC at HD Zürisee?

Because the combination decides the result, not the drive unit alone. We select tonearm, cartridge and phono stage to match with you, mount and align to the millimetre and later take care of stylus changes and service too. Reach us on +41 44 680 22 00, via WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Pairs well with

Matching tonearms are under Tonearms, cartridges under Cartridges, the phono stage under Phono Preamps. Cleaning products and small parts are under Record Cleaning and in Turntable Accessories.