{"product_id":"clearaudioprofilerbl","title":"Clearaudio Profiler 9-inch Tonearm, Black","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Clearaudio Profiler is a gimbal-bearing 9-inch radial tonearm with horizontal sapphire bearing, vertical ball bearing and an aluminium armtube – this version in black.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts job sounds unspectacular: keep the cartridge steady while the groove does the work beneath it. That's exactly where most arms fail. The Profiler solves it with rigidity, mass and two bearing principles, each placed where it does the most good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Profiler?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause sapphire practically never wears out. The arm runs on sapphire bearings horizontally and ball bearings vertically – friction stays minimal, bearing play approaches zero, and that holds true even after years in use. Add to that a rigid aluminium tube that never lets self-resonances build up in the first place, stainless steel where mass helps, and the permanently wired Direct Wire PLUS that runs through to the RCA plug without an extra solder joint. At around 510 g including counterweight, it's among the substantial members of its class. That's by design, not by accident.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you hear\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA punchy, stable presentation with defined bass and clearly layered depth. Large excursions don't unsettle the arm, loud passages stay organised rather than compressing together. The basic character is honest and free of colouration – what's on the record comes out, even if the recording would have preferred to be flattered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Profiler for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor anyone with a high-quality turntable looking for a long-term stable arm: align it properly once, then simply listen to records for years. The adjustment range from 3.5 to 17 g covers almost every good MM and MC cartridge. Straight talk: the Profiler isn't light. A suspended subchassis turntable needs to be able to balance this mass, or fitting it becomes a test of patience. And anyone who deliberately wants a warm, soft-focus sound should choose their cartridge accordingly – the arm itself doesn't apply any make-up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA grown-up tonearm without show effects: sapphire for durability, aluminium for calm, a continuous signal cable instead of a chain of connectors. If you run an upper-mid-range turntable and aren't looking for an experiment but a reliable foundation, this is the right choice. Whether the Profiler, your turntable and your preferred cartridge go together is something we'll quickly work through with you at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil – it takes less time than unpacking the box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical data\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e gimbal-bearing radial tonearm, 9 inch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBearings:\u003c\/strong\u003e horizontal sapphire bearing, vertical ball bearing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArmtube:\u003c\/strong\u003e aluminium, black\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOther materials:\u003c\/strong\u003e aluminium, stainless steel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEffective length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 239.58 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMounting distance (pivot to spindle):\u003c\/strong\u003e 222.00 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverhang:\u003c\/strong\u003e 17.58 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOffset angle:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24.5°\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverall length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 300.00 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge weight adjustment range:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.5–17.0 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignal cable:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS, 1.1 m, RCA-terminated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 510 g (incl. counterweight)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel no.:\u003c\/strong\u003e TA056\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWarranty:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 years on return of the warranty card within 14 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill the Profiler fit my turntable?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo measurements decide: the 222 mm mounting distance between the arm's pivot point and the spindle, and a matching armboard bore. Many high-quality turntables work with this distance, or can be retrofitted with a Clearaudio base. Send us your turntable's make and model and we'll check that for you in advance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does the sapphire bearing achieve?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery low friction with practically no wear. Sapphire is among the hardest materials there is and handles the horizontal plane in the Profiler, while a ball bearing works vertically. This keeps the bearing play constant for years, as long as the arm doesn't take any hard knocks. There's nothing to re-adjust here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich cartridges suit the Profiler?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCartridges weighing between 3.5 and 17 g can be balanced cleanly, which covers practically every common MM and MC cartridge. Clearaudio doesn't state the arm's effective mass, so we'd rather work out compliance matching together with you than calculate from a figure that isn't published anywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan the signal cable be swapped?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The Direct Wire PLUS is permanently wired and runs 1.1 m through to the RCA plug without an extra solder joint. That avoids transition resistances exactly where the signal is weakest. Anyone wanting to swap cables needs an arm with a socket at the base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between the Profiler and the Tracer?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe armtube and the weight. The Profiler uses aluminium and weighs around 510 g, the Tracer a carbon tube at 363 g. The bearings are built identically on both, sapphire horizontally, ball bearing vertically. Which arm fits is decided by your turntable and the cartridge you're planning to use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy buy the Profiler at HD Zürisee?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause a tonearm only delivers once it's properly aligned. Mauri mounts and sets up the Profiler for you in our Wädenswil workshop, and beforehand we check the combination of turntable, arm and cartridge together. Get in touch at +41 44 680 22 00, WhatsApp \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/41765342200\"\u003e076 534 22 00\u003c\/a\u003e (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFind the matching cartridge under \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/tonabnehmer\"\u003ecartridges\u003c\/a\u003e, more arms under \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/tonarme\"\u003etonearms\u003c\/a\u003e. That pairs with \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/plattenspieler\"\u003eturntables\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/phono-vorverstarker\"\u003ephono preamps\u003c\/a\u003e, small parts around the turntable are in \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/plattenspieler-zubehor\"\u003eturntable accessories\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Clearaudio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52989499507024,"sku":null,"price":1900.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0932\/3262\/8048\/files\/clearaudio-profiler-9-zoll-tonarm-schwarz-seitenansicht.png?v=1785848133","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en\/products\/clearaudioprofilerbl","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}