Clearaudio’s Innovation range of turntables now has a new entry point, the Innovation Basic. Borrowing technology from the three esteemed members of the Innovation family – the Innovation, Innovation Compact and Master Innovation – the new Basic packs a raft of features into its elegant bijou form and delivers stunning performance at a more accessible price.
While its name positions the latest Clearaudio turntable at the entry level of the Innovation series, in reality the ‘Basic’ is anything but. Its design and construction bear all of the key Clearaudio hallmarks: intelligently-selected materials, precision engineering, painstaking craftsmanship and – of course – a bundle of innovative technologies.
The resonance-optimised chassis features Clearaudio’s iconic three-point design with its ‘sandwich’ construction of Panzerholz (a solid, bullet-proof wood) and aluminum, a combination known to deliver an enviable balance of transparency and natural tonality.
Like all models in the Innovation range, the Innovation Basic delivers exceptional speed stability, thanks to a combination of Clearaudio’s decoupled custom-built high-torque DC motor with their patented Ceramic Magnetic Bearing (CMB) and Optical Speed Control (OSC). CMB allows the dynamically balanced platter to magnetically levitate on an inverted and polished ceramic bearing shaft with polished sintered bronze insert. Meanwhile, an infrared sensor reads a microscopically-etched strobe ring and sends signals to the OSC mechanism which auto-corrects in real time, consistently maintaining the perfect speed.
Two tonearm mounting bases make the Innovation Basic dual tonearm capable, while fine height adjustment allows for precise levelling of the turntable on any surface.
The Innovation Basic is available with a choice of finish options. The chassis’ Panzerholz wood layer can be natural or black-lacquered, while its aluminium layer can be silver or black. The platter is available in either clear acrylic or black high-density POM.
Technical specifications
Speed ranges 33⅓, 45, and 78 rpm, with convenient electronic controls
Drive unit Decoupled high-torque DC motor; self-adjusting real-time OSC (optical speed control); silent belt drive
Bearing Clearaudio patented CMB (Ceramic Magnetic Bearing)
Platter Dynamically balanced; 38mm thickness; option of black high-density POM or clear acrylic
Speed accuracy (measured) Less than +/- 0.08%
Power consumption Maximum: 9.3W
Consumption in operation: 2.5W
Standby mode: 2.5W
Off mode: 0.0W
Total weight 7.7kg (excluding tonearm and power supply)
Dimensions (without tonearm)
428mm (w) x 390mm (d) x 125mm (h)
16.85” (w) x 15.35” (d) x 4.92” (h)
Warranty 2 years (provided warranty card completed and returned to Clearaudio within 2 weeks of purchase)
Pricing and availability
The Clearaudio Innovation Basic turntable is available now. Prices (including VAT).
Clearaudio Innovation Basic Wood £3,400
Clearaudio Innovation Basic Black* £3,550
* The ‘Black’ price refers to finish options in which the Panzerholz wood layer of the chassis is
a black-lacquered. All other finish options (including those with black aluminium chassis
layers and/or black POM platter) are priced as per ‘Wood’.
