Clearaudio Satisfy Kardan Tonearm, Silver

The Clearaudio Satisfy Kardan is a gimbal-mounted 9-inch radial tonearm with an aluminum arm tube and contactless magnetic anti-skating – this version in silver.

A tonearm has exactly one job: to guide the stylus calmly through the groove while contributing nothing itself. The Satisfy Kardan does this with a tungsten axis in sapphire bearings for the vertical motion and ceramic bearings for the horizontal. The signal leaves the arm with no intermediate stop: continuous Direct Wire PLUS cabling, 1.1 meters, factory-terminated with RCA.

Why the Satisfy Kardan?

Because nothing here creates work down the line. The magnetic anti-skating works without contact and doesn't age – anyone who's ever had to re-hang a nylon thread with a little weight knows how to appreciate that. Add a stiff, low-resonance aluminum tube, a standard geometry that half the Clearaudio lineup is designed around, and an adjustment range spanning light MM systems all the way to heavy MC heavyweights. Silver, incidentally, looks distinctly good on light-colored plinths.

What you get

A complete arm with 239.12 millimeters effective length, 17.12 millimeters overhang and a 24.02-degree offset angle, mounted at a 222-millimeter pivot-to-spindle distance. Tracking force, azimuth and height are all finely adjustable – setup options you'd otherwise only find a class further up. Properly set up, the soundstage sits calm and centered, instead of wandering with every level jump.

Who is the Satisfy Kardan for?

For vinyl listeners who want an honest all-rounder and don't see their turntable as a permanent project. Plain talk: the arm comes fixed with RCA termination – Clearaudio doesn't offer a balanced XLR variant. If you're after the very last bit of low resonance, take the Signature version with the carbon tube. And if you have an exotic third-party turntable, have the pivot-to-spindle distance checked beforehand instead of drilling and hoping.

Our verdict

An arm without airs that gets the important things right: play-free bearings, maintenance-free anti-skating, continuous wiring, a forgiving adjustment range. In silver, it's the classic choice for light-colored turntables. Tell us at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil which chassis and which system you want to run – we'll work through the combination with you before you order.

Technical data

• Type: radial tonearm, gimbal bearing, 9 inch
• Bearings: vertical tungsten axis in sapphire bearings, horizontal ceramic bearings
• Arm tube: aluminum, silver
• Anti-skating: magnetic, contactless
• Effective length: 239.12 mm
• Overall length: 305 mm
• Mounting distance: 222 mm (pivot to spindle)
• Overhang: 17.12 mm
• Offset angle: 24.02°
• Adjustable cartridge range: 2.5 g – 17.0 g
• Cabling: clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS, 1.1 m, continuous
• Connector: MPC-RCA, factory-terminated
• Weight: approx. 490 g (incl. counterweight)
• Model no.: TA014
• Manufacturer's warranty: 2 years from registration
• Included: tonearm with factory-terminated Direct Wire PLUS cable (1.1 m, MPC-RCA) incl. counterweight

Frequently asked questions

How is the Satisfy Kardan mounted?

On gimbal bearings, meaning two separate axes. Vertically, a polished tungsten axis runs in sapphire bearings; horizontally, ceramic bearings do the work. This combination is play-free and virtually wear-free – you won't need to readjust the bearing over the years. Anti-skating is magnetic and thus without mechanical contact.

What mounting distance does the arm need?

222 millimeters between the tonearm pivot and the platter spindle, plus 239.12 millimeters effective length and 17.12 millimeters overhang. Clearaudio turntables are designed for this. Suitable armboards exist for many third-party turntables – tell us your model, and we'll check it for you before you order.

Which cartridges can be mounted?

All systems between 2.5 and 17 grams of self-weight, so essentially the entire common MM and MC range. Clearaudio doesn't state an effective mass for this arm, so we won't claim anything about it either. With very compliant systems, we'll look at the pairing together beforehand.

Is upgrading to the Signature version worth it?

It differs in one point: carbon instead of aluminum as the arm tube, about ten grams lighter. Bearings, anti-skating, geometry and cabling are identical. Carbon is considered even lower in resonance – noticeable above all with a high-quality system. With a more affordable cartridge, the aluminum version is the sensible choice.

Why buy the Satisfy Kardan from HD Zürisee?

Because a tonearm only becomes what it can be through proper setup. On request, we'll fully set up tracking force, VTA and azimuth for you, check the pairing with your turntable and system, and as an authorized Clearaudio dealer remain available afterward too. Write to shop@hdzuerisee.ch or WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Goes well with

Everything Vinyl fits all around: more tonearms, plus cartridges, turntables and phono preamps.