Clearaudio Satisfy Kardan Signature Tonearm, Silver

The Clearaudio Satisfy Kardan Signature is a gimbal-bearing 9-inch radial tonearm with a carbon armtube, sapphire and ceramic bearings, plus contactless magnetic anti-skating – this version in silver.

The difference to the aluminium version sits in a single component, but the most important one: the armtube is made of carbon, is around ten grams lighter, and handles resonance differently. Bearings, geometry and wiring stay identical. Fewer weak points, more substance – that's roughly how the Signature principle can be summed up.

Why the Satisfy Kardan Signature?

Because a tonearm shouldn't add anything of its own, and the armtube can be exactly the most vulnerable spot for that. Carbon brings a different damping character than aluminium and saves mass on the side. The rest of the construction is Clearaudio's series standard at a high level: a polished tungsten shaft in sapphire bearings for vertical movement, ceramic bearings for horizontal, magnetic anti-skating without mechanical contact, and a signal path that runs from cartridge to RCA plug without interruption.

What you get

A factory-wired arm in Clearaudio's standard geometry: 239.12 mm effective length, 222 mm spindle distance, 17.12 mm overhang, 24.02-degree offset. Cartridges between 2.5 and 17 grams can be balanced cleanly, with tracking force, azimuth and height finely adjustable. The silver suits light-coloured plinths and the classic Clearaudio turntables.

Who is the Satisfy Kardan Signature for?

For vinyl listeners with a good cartridge who want to extract the next step from a working setup without overhauling half the system. Straight talk: anyone wanting to run an entry-level cartridge is better off with the aluminium version and putting the difference towards the cartridge instead – that brings noticeably more there. And the arm can't be connected in balanced mode: Clearaudio terminates it at the factory with RCA plugs.

Our verdict

An honest upgrade without marketing trimmings: the same proven mechanics, a lighter and lower-resonance tube. Anyone who already owns a good cartridge really does get something out of this – anyone without one now knows the order to do things in. Talk to us at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil about your turntable and your cartridge before you order; we'll tell you honestly where the next investment does the most good.

Technical data

• Type: radial tonearm, gimbal bearing, 9 inch
• Bearings: vertical polished tungsten shaft in sapphire bearings, horizontal ceramic bearings
• Armtube: carbon, 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 weight: 2.5 g – 17.0 g
• Wiring: clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS, 1.1 m, continuous
• Connector: MPC RCA, factory-terminated
• Weight: approx. 480 g (incl. counterweight)
• Model no.: TA015
• Manufacturer's warranty: 2 years from registration
• What's included: tonearm with factory-terminated Direct Wire PLUS cable (1.1 m, MPC RCA) incl. counterweight

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the Signature version and the Satisfy Kardan?

The armtube: carbon instead of aluminium, around 480 instead of 490 grams total weight including counterweight. Effective length, overhang, offset angle, sapphire and ceramic bearings, the magnetic anti-skating and the Direct Wire PLUS wiring are identical on both versions. The difference lies purely in the tube's resonance behaviour.

Do I need a separate tonearm cable for this arm?

No. The clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS is permanently wired into the arm at 1.1 metres and factory-terminated with MPC RCA plugs. You connect straight into the phono stage without an extra coupling in the signal path. Clearaudio doesn't offer a balanced XLR version for this arm.

How heavy can my cartridge be?

Cartridges between 2.5 and 17 grams can be balanced with the counterweight – covering practically the entire MM and MC range. Clearaudio doesn't state an effective mass, so for very compliant cartridges we'd rather check the pairing together with you than guess.

Can I mount the arm on a third-party turntable?

Yes, if the 222 mm mounting distance between pivot and spindle can be maintained. Matching tonearm bases exist for many other manufacturers' turntables. Send us the make and model and we'll tell you before purchase whether and how it can be done.

Why buy the Satisfy Kardan Signature at HD Zürisee?

Because an arm of this class only shows its strengths after a proper setup – and because we tell you honestly when another point in your system currently offers more. We'll set up your turntable, advise on the combination with your cartridge, and take care of things afterwards too as an authorised Clearaudio dealer. Reach us via WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Goes well with

Everything around the record is under everything vinyl. Specifically: tonearms, cartridges, turntables and turntable accessories.