Clearaudio Profiler 9-inch Tonearm, Silver

The Clearaudio Profiler is a gimbal-bearing 9-inch radial tonearm with horizontal sapphire bearing, vertical ball bearing and an aluminium armtube – here in the silver version.

Silver suits most plinths in wood and brushed metal without pushing itself forward. Far more important, though, is what the arm does mechanically: guide the cartridge with absolute steadiness while the groove works beneath it. To that end, Clearaudio relies on rigidity, mass and two different bearing principles.

Why the Profiler?

Because nothing here goes soft. In the horizontal plane a sapphire bearing carries the load, ball bearings work vertically – little friction, barely any bearing play, and both stay that way for years. Sapphire is among the hardest materials there is, and this takes away a tonearm's biggest sign of ageing. Add a rigid aluminium tube against self-resonance, stainless steel where mass helps, and the permanently wired Direct Wire PLUS that runs through to the RCA plug without an extra solder joint. Around 510 g including counterweight is the result – no lightweight, but one with a reason.

What you hear

Control. The bass stays firmly in place, the soundstage keeps its depth layering even when the record gets busy. Transients arrive cleanly and without ringing, and levels stay organised throughout. The Profiler adds no colour of its own – that comes from your cartridge, and that's exactly as it should be.

Who is the Profiler for?

For vinyl listeners with a solid turntable who want an arm for the years ahead rather than the next tinkering session. Between 3.5 and 17 g of cartridge weight, you can balance practically anything with a name in the market. Straight talk: around 510 g is a statement. A sprung subchassis has to be able to handle and balance this mass – check that beforehand, not afterwards. And anyone wanting a mild, warm basic tone has to get it from the cartridge, because this arm adds no colour of its own.

Our verdict

An arm that proves its class through materials and bearings rather than brochure superlatives. Sapphire, aluminium, a continuous signal cable – little to go wrong, a lot of longevity, executed with restraint in silver. Exactly the right choice if your turntable is stable enough and you want lasting calm. Whether the combination works with your turntable is something we'll tell you at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil before you order.

Technical data

• Type: gimbal-bearing radial tonearm, 9 inch
• Bearings: horizontal sapphire bearing, vertical ball bearing
• Armtube: aluminium, silver
• Other materials: aluminium, stainless steel
• Effective length: 239.58 mm
• Mounting distance (pivot to spindle): 222.00 mm
• Overhang: 17.58 mm
• Offset angle: 24.5°
• Overall length: 300.00 mm
• Cartridge weight adjustment range: 3.5–17.0 g
• Signal cable: Clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS, 1.1 m, RCA-terminated
• Weight: approx. 510 g (incl. counterweight)
• Model no.: TA056
• Warranty: 2 years on return of the warranty card within 14 days

Frequently asked questions

Which turntable does the Profiler need?

One with a 222 mm mounting distance between the arm's pivot point and the spindle, plus a matching armboard bore. This measurement is common on high-quality turntables, and many can also be retrofitted with a Clearaudio base. Tell us your turntable, and we'll sort out the mounting before you order.

Does the sapphire bearing wear over time?

Practically not. Sapphire is one of the hardest materials there is and carries the horizontal plane in the Profiler, while a ball bearing works vertically. As long as the arm doesn't take hard knocks, bearing play stays the same for years. No maintenance is provided for it.

What cartridge weight can I mount?

From 3.5 to 17.0 g, any cartridge can be balanced cleanly, MM or MC alike. Clearaudio doesn't publish the arm's effective mass, so we'd rather work through compliance matching in conversation with you than assert a figure that isn't stated anywhere.

Can I change the tonearm cable?

No, the Direct Wire PLUS is permanently wired and ends after 1.1 m at the RCA plug. That's exactly the point: no connector in the weakest part of the signal path, no extra transition resistances. Anyone wanting to swap cables needs an arm with a socket at the arm base.

Profiler or Tracer – what's the difference?

Tube material and mass. The Profiler works with aluminium and around 510 g, the Tracer with carbon and 363 g plus magnetic anti-skating. The bearings are built identically on both. Which arm suits you better depends on your turntable and the cartridge you're planning to use.

Why buy the Profiler at HD Zürisee?

Because there are worlds between mounted and properly aligned. We check in advance whether arm, turntable and cartridge go together, and Mauri sets up your Profiler in Wädenswil with the right tools. Reach us at +41 44 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

Find the matching cartridge under cartridges, alternative arms under tonearms. That pairs with turntables, phono preamps, and accessories in turntable accessories.