Clearaudio Performance DC Turntable, Rose Gold / Dark Wood

The Clearaudio Performance DC is a belt-driven turntable with a decoupled 12-volt DC motor, an inverted ceramic magnetic bearing and a 40 mm thick POM platter – this version with aluminium plates in rose gold on a plinth of dark-red stained wood.

It's the most elaborate finish in the range – and yet still a pure turntable: you choose the tonearm and cartridge yourself. Anyone who puts this much care into the looks won't want to be told which arm to use either.

Why the Performance DC?

Because everything disruptive has been designed away at every point. The 12-volt DC motor sits decoupled and drives via a ground flat belt, so its vibrations don't travel into the plinth. The bearing is inverted, with a ground, polished ceramic shaft in a sintered-bronze bushing, magnetically relieved by the patented CMB system. And the mass of the 40 mm POM platter keeps speed accurate to 0.05 percent.

What you get

Top and bottom plates in rose gold, with a plinth of dark-red stained wood in between – Clearaudio calls it "dark red wood", and the grain stays visible underneath. Included are the drive unit with motor, platter, aluminium sub-platter, upper bearing housing, flat belt, plug-in power supply, bearing oil, ground cable and hex key. The armboard is an interchangeable mount and takes almost any common 9-inch arm.

Who is the Performance DC for?

For anyone whose turntable stands in the living room, not on a technical rack – and who still wants a free choice of arm. Straight talk: if you'd rather put your money entirely into mechanics instead of finish, the plain aluminium version gets you exactly the same turntable technically, for less. You buy this version because you like it – a perfectly legitimate reason.

Our verdict

The showpiece of the range, without the engineering becoming a side note: same mechanics, same calm, same three speeds including 78 rpm for shellac. Hans von Draminski judged in his review of the rose gold version: "Sonically it needn't hide behind top-class components either." – FIDELITY No. 41, 2019. Which arm and cartridge suit it, we'll discuss calmly with you at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil.

Technical data

• Type: turntable, belt drive – without tonearm and cartridge
• Motor: decoupled, smooth-running 12 V DC motor
• Drive: ground flat belt on aluminium sub-platter
• Bearing: inverted, ground and polished ceramic bearing shaft, sintered-bronze running bushing, patented magnetic bearing (CMB)
• Platter: 40 mm solid, black POM, with aluminium sub-platter
• Speeds: 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm, switchable by button
• Wow and flutter: 0.05 %
• Fine speed adjustment: three trimmers on the rear next to the power connector (left 78, centre 45, right 33 1/3) – use a plastic or ceramic screwdriver only
• Plinth construction: resonance-optimised, high-density wood chassis in sandwich construction between two aluminium plates
• Finish: aluminium plates rose gold / plinth dark-red stained wood (dark red wood)
• Arm mount: interchangeable mount for almost all common 9-inch tonearms
• Tonearms from the Clearaudio range: Clarify (named in the manual), Tracer, tangential arm TT5
• Power supply: plug-in power supply, switchable for worldwide use; optional upgrade 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
• Warranty: 5 years with registration within 14 days
• Scope of delivery: drive unit with motor, platter, aluminium sub-platter, upper bearing housing, flat belt, plug-in power supply, bearing oil, various hex keys, ground cable, quality and warranty card – tonearm and cartridge not included

Frequently asked questions

Does this top finish include a tonearm?

No, the rose gold version is a pure turntable too. Clearaudio supplies the Performance DC from the factory without tonearm and without cartridge; complete packages with pre-mounted arm and cartridge also exist alongside it. On this page you get the base, and we'll put together the rest with you.

What exactly does "Rose Gold / Dark Wood" mean?

The first term stands for the aluminium top and bottom plates, the second for the chassis in between. Here the plates are in rose gold, the chassis is made of dark-red stained solid wood, called "dark red wood" by Clearaudio. The high-density wood damps resonances between the two metal plates.

Does this version sound different from the aluminium finishes?

No. Motor, bearing, platter, belt and electronics are identical across all finishes, as are weight and dimensions. The difference lies in the surface of the aluminium plates and the material of the plinth. Sonically, what mainly decides afterwards is which tonearm and cartridge you choose.

Which speeds does the Performance DC handle?

33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm, switchable by button. Shellac records play without changing the belt or adding a sub-platter, you just need a suitable 78 rpm stylus. All three speeds can be fine-tuned via three trimmers on the rear; the wow and flutter is 0.05 percent.

Why buy the Performance DC from HD Zürisee?

Because a turntable in this finish is a purchase for decades, and the combination has to be right. We choose arm, cartridge and phono stage with you, mount and align cleanly, and deliver right to your living room on request. Call +41 44 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

You'll find the arm under Tonearms, the cartridge under Cartridges, equalisation under Phono preamps. Clean grooves are taken care of by Record Cleaning, scales and accessories are in Turntable Accessories.