Clearaudio Statement TT1 MI Tangential-Tonarm, Black/Silver

The Clearaudio Statement TT1 MI is a patented Tangential-Tonarm for the Innovation and Master Innovation turntables – in this finish with black Panzerholz and silver aluminum parts.

A pivoted tonearm traces an arc over a groove that was cut in a straight line. That works well, but never perfectly. The TT1 MI instead follows exactly the path on which the music was created – and therefore needs neither offset angle nor anti-skating.

Why the Statement TT1 MI?

Because the solution is as unspectacular as it is effective. The carriage hangs in a purely mechanical, passive drive: dry-running ball bearings in a calibrated, polished glass tube. No air, no electronics, no motor listening in. Chassis and rails are made of Panzerholz, aluminum, stainless steel and glass; a magnetic system locks the arm in the playback position. The silver aluminum parts stand out visibly from the black wood – anyone who likes to see how a device works reaches for exactly this combination.

What you hear

Consistency. The last track on a record side sounds as tidy as the first, because the tracking angle doesn't drift towards the inside. Strings stay silky rather than sharp, sibilants stay sibilants instead of turning into sandpaper. And because no compressor is running, there's actually silence between tracks.

Who is the Statement TT1 MI for?

For anyone who wants to go for the last step of tracking precision on an Innovation or Master Innovation, choosing a cartridge in the 5.5 to 15.0 gram range. Plain talk: anyone who switches frequently between several cartridges and likes to tinker themselves will move faster with a classic pivoted tonearm with interchangeable headshell. The TT1 MI, in return, rewards patience and a clean setup.

Our verdict

The TT1 MI achieves tangential tracking without the usual price for it: no air bearing, no hose, no pump humming in the background. Black/silver is the most technical-looking of the four finishes – it shows what it does. Whether your turntable and your desired cartridge fit with it, we'll tell you at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil in a short conversation.

Technical data

• Type: patented Tangential-Tonarm (linear tracking)
• Design principle: purely mechanical, passive drive via dry-running ball bearings in a calibrated, polished glass tube
• Bearings: ball bearings in the glass tube – no air bearing, no compressor, no motor
• Material: Panzerholz, aluminum, stainless steel, glass
• Finish: Panzerholz black, aluminum parts silver
• Adjustable cartridges: 5.5 g – 15.0 g
• Suitable turntables: Clearaudio Innovation and Master Innovation
• Armboard mounting hole: on request
• Signal cable: 2 m Super Sixstream, terminated in RCA
• Dimensions (W × H × D): approx. 540 × 195 × 210 mm (width incl. lift)
• Weight: approx. 8.2 kg
• Manufacturer's warranty: 5 years

Frequently asked questions

Why does the TT1 MI not need anti-skating?

Because it tracks tangentially. The stylus always sits at the same angle to the groove at which it was cut, so no inward-pulling force arises at all. A pivoted tonearm has to compensate for this force; the TT1 MI simply prevents it from arising in the first place – one less setting that can be wrong.

Is the TT1 MI air-bearing?

No, it works dry. Clearaudio guides the carriage via high-precision ball bearings in a calibrated, polished glass tube, purely mechanically and passively. This eliminates the entire peripheral equipment of air-bearing Tangential-Tonarme: no compressor, no hose, no filter changes, and no operating noise next to the system.

Which turntables does this finish fit?

The Clearaudio Innovation and Master Innovation series, which is what the TT1 MI was designed for. The closely related Statement TT1, on the other hand, is reserved for the Statement turntable. Clearaudio coordinates the matching mounting hole on request – we'll clarify this with the distributor for you before you order.

Does black/silver differ technically from the other finishes?

No, the difference is purely visual. Clearaudio states the same values for all variants: same design principle, same material mix of Panzerholz, aluminum, stainless steel and glass, same adjustment range, same dimensions, same weight. Here, only the aluminum is finished in silver instead of black.

Why buy the Statement TT1 MI from HD Zürisee?

Because with this arm, precise assembly stands between the box and the music. We set it up on your turntable, adjust tracking force and azimuth with measuring tools, and remain available as an authorized Clearaudio dealer afterwards too. Write to us at shop@hdzuerisee.ch, on WhatsApp at 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls), or call: +41 44 680 22 00.

Goes well with

Matching cartridges are under Cartridges, the turntables for them under Turntables. The phono stage for the next step is found under Phono Preamps, everything about vinyl under All Vinyl.