Clearaudio Universal 9-Inch Tonearm RCA, Silver

The Clearaudio Universal is a radial tonearm with an extremely low-friction precision bearing and a carbon armtube – here in the 9-inch version with factory-fitted RCA connection, in silver.

A tonearm has exactly one job: guide the stylus smoothly through the groove and add nothing of its own. The Universal achieves this with separately selected ball bearings, a rigid carbon tube, and a continuous Super Sixstream cable that ends after 1.1 m in RCA plugs – connect, align, done.

Why the Universal?

Because here fine alignment isn't just a line on the spec sheet, it's a screw on the arm. Overhang, tracking force, azimuth and VTA can all be adjusted individually and reproducibly, with the scale on the counterweight giving you the numbers to match. The vertical and horizontal axes run on high-precision, selected ball bearings that guide the arm without holding it back. The multi-stepped carbon tube keeps resonances low – light enough to stay agile, rigid enough to stay quiet.

What you get

A low-compromise 9-inch radial arm with 239.3 mm effective length and 222 mm mounting distance – compact enough for most plinths, substantial enough for top-tier cartridges. The mounting hole is Linn-compatible, which often makes switching to another turntable easier than expected. A set of aluminium and stainless-steel counterweights is included, covering cartridges from 2.9 to 24.8 grams.

Who is the Universal for?

For analogue listeners who don't want to stand in their cartridge's way and enjoy squeezing out that last tenth of a percent – on their own or with our help. Bottom line: if you're running a budget entry-level cartridge, you'll never get out of this arm what it's capable of; a smaller Clearaudio arm is the more honest choice there. And if you want to adjust VTA while the record is playing, you'll need the optional VTA lifter – as standard, height is set with the platter at rest.

Our verdict

An arm for people who understand that even the best cartridge is only half as good without clean guidance. Precisely mounted, low in resonance, consistently wired – and in silver a visual counterpoint that looks great on light-coloured and lacquered plinths. We work out at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil which arm base your turntable needs before anyone drills a single hole.

Technical data

• Type: radial tonearm with extremely low-friction bearing
• Bearing: high-precision, selected ball bearings for vertical and horizontal axes
• Armtube: carbon, multi-stepped diameter
• Effective length: 239.3 mm (9.4 inches)
• Overhang: 17.3 mm
• Offset angle: 24.89°
• Effective mass: approx. 9 g
• Mounting distance (pivot to spindle): 222 mm
• Tonearm mounting hole: Linn-compatible, ø approx. 24.85 mm
• Null points: 66.04 mm and 120.9 mm
• Balanceable cartridge weight: 2.9–24.8 g
• Fine adjustment: tracking force, azimuth, VTA; VTA during playback only with optional VTA lifter
• Cabling: Clearaudio Super Sixstream, 1.1 m, continuous
• Connection: RCA, Clearaudio MPC connector
• Weight: approx. 745 g incl. counterweight
• Finish: silver – carbon armtube and aluminium parts in silver
• Warranty: 5-year manufacturer's warranty with timely registration
• Scope of delivery: tonearm with factory-fitted Super Sixstream cable (1.1 m, RCA), set of aluminium and stainless-steel counterweights, instruction manual

Frequently asked questions

RCA or DIN – which version do I need?

This one, if your phono stage has standard RCA input sockets, as is usual. The Universal is wired continuously from the factory and terminated in RCA, so you simply plug it in. You only need the DIN version with its 5-pin connector if your turntable or cable path is specifically designed for it.

What mounting distance does the arm need?

222 mm between arm pivot and platter spindle, with a Linn-compatible mounting hole. This fits Clearaudio turntables from the factory; on third-party turntables, the arm base decides. Tell us which turntable you have and we'll check in advance whether a suitable base exists or needs to be made.

Which cartridges suit the Universal?

Cartridges between 2.9 and 24.8 grams of self-weight – the included set of aluminium and stainless-steel counterweights covers this range. With around 9 grams of effective mass, the arm sits in the mid-field and pairs well with most good MC cartridges. We're happy to work out the fine-tuning with you.

Can I adjust VTA during playback?

Only with the optionally available VTA lifter. In the standard version, you set the arm height with the platter at rest and lock it in place – sufficient for most record collections. Whoever switches constantly between 140 g and 220 g pressings can retrofit the lifter at any time without issue.

Why buy the Universal in silver from HD Zürisee?

Because we take the calculations and the drilling off your hands. We check the fit to your turntable, mount the arm, align overhang, azimuth and tracking force, and handle the Clearaudio warranty correctly. Reach us at +41 44 680 22 00, via WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls), or at shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

Matching cartridges are under Cartridges, turntables under Turntables. Find more arms under Tonearms, and alignment and care accessories in Turntable Accessories.