Clearaudio Statement Phono Preamplifier

The Clearaudio Statement Phono is a fully balanced phono preamplifier in dual-mono design that runs on batteries during listening and thereby fully disconnects itself from the mains.

It sits at the very top of Clearaudio's electronics range: two separate housings, two phono inputs, two extra line inputs – and an adjustability more familiar from a measurement lab than a living room.

Why the Statement Phono?

While listening, the circuit runs exclusively on batteries; the separate power supply housing recharges them in the background – mains interference simply never reaches the signal path. The left and right channels are built as a fully separate dual-mono design in Class A. The MC input can be set by remote control to eight termination values between 5 ohms and 47 kilohms, plus phono balancing of ± 6 dB at 50 Hz, 6 kHz and 10 kHz, along with selectable equalisation curves. So if you're playing a historical pressing with its own curve, you no longer have to listen to it wrong.

What you hear

A background so quiet that a singer's breath and fingers sliding across strings become physically present. With a 90 dB signal-to-noise ratio and distortion under 0.0035 percent, the spatial depth holds even through the densest orchestral tutti instead of collapsing. And you hear every change to the termination value or equalisation immediately – this unit holds nothing back, not even mistakes further up the chain.

Who is the Statement Phono for?

For uncompromising analogue listeners with a top-tier turntable, for whom this chapter is then closed. Plain talk: two housings of 435 × 350 millimetres each and around 34 kilograms together need planning – an ordinary wooden shelf is overwhelmed, and the power supply unit needs its own space. If you play a record twice a month or are still at the start of your analogue chain, you're better served, more honestly, with a phono stage like the Basic V2 – and have a lot more rack space left over.

Our verdict

The Statement Phono is no longer fine-tuning, it's a category of its own: battery operation, true dual mono and an adjustability that really gets everything out of a good cartridge. A unit for people who know exactly why they want something like this – and whose remaining chain already plays at this level. Otherwise, what you'll mainly hear very clearly is what's still missing before it.

Technical data

• Type: fully balanced phono preamplifier, dual mono, Class A
• Design: two housings – preamplifier and battery/power supply unit
• Power supply: battery operation while listening (2 × 18 V / 3.2 Ah per channel), recharging in the background
• Gain: +34 dB (MM) / +54 dB (MC) at 1 kHz, switchable
• MC termination values: 8 steps by remote control – 5 Ω, 25 Ω, 50 Ω, 100 Ω, 250 Ω, 500 Ω, 1 kΩ, 47 kΩ
• Equalisation: RIAA ± 0.05 dB (20 Hz – 100 kHz), curves selectable
• Phono balancing: ± 6 dB at 50 Hz, 6 kHz and 10 kHz, by remote control
• Distortion: < 0.0035 % (5 mV / 1 kHz), < 0.0015 % (0.5 mV / 1 kHz)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 90 dB
• Inputs: Phono 1 balanced XLR, Phono 2 RCA, Line 1 balanced XLR, Line 2 RCA, Aux 3.5 mm jack on the front
• Outputs: balanced XLR and RCA
• Output impedance / output voltage: 10 Ω / > 12 V
• Power consumption: max. 200 W, 50–100 W in operation, < 0.5 W standby
• Dimensions per housing (W × H × D): 435 × 100 × 350 mm
• Weight: approx. 12 kg (preamplifier), approx. 22 kg (power supply unit)
• Included: preamplifier, battery/power supply unit, remote control

Frequently asked questions

Which termination values can I set on the Statement Phono?

Eight steps, all switchable by remote control: 5, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 ohms, plus 47 kilohms. Add to that selectable equalisation curves and phono balancing of ± 6 decibels at 50 hertz, 6 and 10 kilohertz. You hear the change from your seat, without getting up.

Why does the Statement Phono run on batteries?

Because batteries deliver a steady current without mains hum and high-frequency interference. With the fractions of a millivolt that an MC cartridge puts out, exactly this noise floor decides how much fine detail is left in the end. The power supply recharges in the background and stays out of the picture while you listen.

What inputs and outputs does the Statement Phono have?

Two phono inputs, one balanced as XLR and one as RCA, plus two line inputs in the same split. On the front sits an aux input as a 3.5 mm jack. On the output side there are balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA jacks, at 10 ohms output impedance.

Do I have to switch the unit off to charge it?

No. While listening, the circuit runs exclusively off the batteries; in standby the charging electronics top them up again for the next session. So you switch it on and off completely normally, and the unit takes care of the rest itself.

Why buy the Statement Phono from HD Zürisee?

Because a phono stage of this class stands or falls with placement, grounding and setup. We plan the setup with you, align tonearm, cartridge and termination values together and stay reachable from Wädenswil even after delivery. Call us on +41 44 680 22 00, message us on WhatsApp at 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or at shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

At this level, the source decides: matching cartridges, tonearms and turntables are found in their respective categories, everything about record care under Everything Vinyl. Which combination really comes together in your room is something we'd rather discuss directly with you.