By: Dipin Sehdev

German analog audio specialist Clearaudio has unveiled the Compass, a new belt-driven turntable aimed at audiophiles and vinyl enthusiasts seeking high-end sound without the stratospheric price tag. Known for its ultra-premium turntables that can cost well over €100,000, Clearaudio’s Compass is a compelling attempt to bring the company’s renowned engineering and build quality to a broader audience — and at a significantly more accessible price of €1,290.

Positioned as an all-in-one, ready-to-play solution, the Compass is not just a stripped-down version of Clearaudio’s flagship models. Instead, it’s a carefully engineered system that reflects the company’s deep expertise in analog playback — distilled into a sleek, compact package that doesn’t compromise on performance or longevity.

Design and Build Quality: Precision Meets Minimalism

The Clearaudio Compass immediately impresses with its clean, minimalist aesthetic. Available in either black or silver, the turntable’s finish is paired with a detachable acrylic dust cover, enhancing both form and function. The chassis is crafted from medium-density wood fiber (MDF) for optimal resonance control and sits atop a steel bottom plate, adding mass and improving isolation.

With a compact footprint of 435 x 340 x 120mm (including the dust cover) and a total weight of 8kg, the Compass is ideally suited for modern living spaces without sacrificing mechanical stability. Everything about its physical design signals Clearaudio’s intent: no gimmicks, just high-fidelity vinyl playback in a streamlined form.

At the heart of the Compass is a precision-machined bearing system — a polished, tempered steel spindle running in a sintered bronze bushing on a Teflon thrust pad. This setup ensures ultra-smooth platter rotation while minimizing friction and wear over time. It’s the same design ethos applied to the brand’s higher-end decks but carefully optimized for this more accessible model.

The 20mm acrylic platter, paired with a CNC-machined aluminum sub-platter, works in tandem with a resonance-damped 12V DC motor that’s decoupled from the chassis. Drive is provided via a flat belt, and electronic speed switching supports both 33? and 45 RPM playback, eliminating the need for manual belt repositioning.

Clearaudio’s commitment to durability and longevity is evident in every component. This is not a disposable or upgrade-once-you’re-ready deck — the Compass is built to serve as a long-term cornerstone of a serious analog setup.

Tonearm and Cartridge: Tailor-Made Performance

Two of the Compass’s standout features are its bespoke tonearm and cartridge — both designed specifically for this model, yet rooted in Clearaudio’s high-end pedigree.

The T1 tonearm is a new development and a direct descendant of the acclaimed Satisfy tonearm, used in some of Clearaudio’s more expensive models. It features a radial bearing design with an external anti-skating counterweight, a combination chosen for its simplicity, durability, and low-friction tracking.

Made from aluminum (in matching black or silver depending on turntable finish), the T1 is precisely engineered to deliver low resonance and high tracking accuracy. The counterweight is fashioned from stainless steel, and the tonearm supports cartridge weights between 2.5g and 17.0g — offering flexibility for future upgrades should users wish to swap out the stock cartridge.

Clearaudio’s Direct Wire PLUS internal cabling (terminated with RCA connectors) completes the tonearm setup. With a cable length of 1.1m, the wiring is designed for low capacitance and minimal signal loss — a critical aspect of maintaining signal integrity in analog systems.

Pre-installed in the T1 tonearm is Clearaudio’s new N1 moving magnet cartridge, another component engineered specifically for the Compass. Designed to offer a wide, detailed soundstage with impressive tracking ability and musicality, the N1 features an elliptical stylus mounted on an aluminum cantilever.

Its frequency response spans the full audible range from 20Hz to 20kHz, and the cartridge delivers an output voltage of approximately 3.3mV at 1kHz. With a channel separation of 20dB, channel balance of 2dB, and tracking ability rated at 80μm, the N1 promises stable, nuanced playback from a wide variety of vinyl pressings.

Recommended tracking force is 2.2g (± 0.3g), and electrical specs include a coil impedance of 0.66kΩ, coil inductance of 400mH, and load resistance of 47kΩ, with a load capacitance of 100pF. The compliance rating of 15μ/mN makes it a medium-compliance cartridge, ideal for the T1’s mass and damping characteristics.

These specifications reflect a carefully considered synergy between tonearm and cartridge — offering exceptional plug-and-play performance while still allowing for upgrades down the line.

Performance: High-End Sound, Democratized

While full listening impressions will follow closer to retail availability, Clearaudio has made performance a central tenet of the Compass’s design. Its speed accuracy, measured at ±0.05%, is outstanding for a turntable in this price class, ensuring consistent pitch stability across both 33? and 45 RPM records.

More important than raw figures, however, is the Compass’s aim to deliver a high-end sonic experience without the need for esoteric setups or extensive tweaking. Its decoupled motor design and mechanically isolated bearing system reduce noise and vibration to near-inaudible levels — essential for extracting fine detail from vinyl without coloration.

According to Clearaudio CEO Robert Suchy, this combination of ease-of-use and high performance is intentional. “Clearaudio has always stood for uncompromising quality, ultimate precision, and exceptional design,” he states. “With Compass, we are welcoming a wider audience to our high-end technology and performance. It’s a ready-to-play turntable delivering a vinyl-listening experience that far exceeds expectations in this price range.”

Pricing and Availability

The Clearaudio Compass is currently entering production and will be available globally through authorized Clearaudio stockists in September 2025. The suggested retail price is €1,290, with international pricing (including U.S. and U.K.) to be confirmed closer to the launch date.

As a fully equipped, plug-and-play turntable — complete with tonearm, cartridge, and power supply — the Compass represents significant value, particularly when considering Clearaudio’s reputation for build quality and long-term reliability.

It will be sold exclusively through Clearaudio’s global network of dealers and distributors, many of whom also provide setup and service support — an added bonus for first-time turntable buyers or those looking to upgrade from mass-market gear.

Technical Specifications

Turntable

• Plinth: Medium-density wood fiber (MDF)

• Finish Options: Black or Silver

• Bottom Plate: Steel

• Speed Options: 33? and 45 RPM (electronic switchable)

• Motor: Decoupled, resonance-damped 12V DC motor

• Drive: Flat belt

• Power Supply: Plug-in multi-voltage (universal)

• Bearing: Polished tempered steel spindle, sintered bronze bushing, Teflon thrust pad

• Platter: 20mm acrylic with CNC machined aluminum sub-platter

• Speed Accuracy: ±0.05%

• Power Consumption: Max 4W

• Weight: 8kg (with tonearm and cartridge)

• Dimensions: 435 x 340 x 120mm (including dust cover)

• Warranty: 2 years

Tonearm (T1)

• Type: Radial tonearm with external anti-skating counterweight

• Material: Aluminum (arm tube), Stainless steel (counterweight)

• Total Length: 305mm

• Effective Length: 239.12mm

• Mounting Distance: 222.00mm

• Offset Angle: 24.02°

• Overhang: 17.12mm

• Weight: 390g (with counterweight)

• Cartridge Balance Range: 2.5g – 17.0g

• Internal Wiring: 1.1m Clearaudio Direct Wire PLUS, RCA-terminated

Cartridge (N1 Moving Magnet)

• Mass: 14.3g (± 0.2g)

• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz

• Output Voltage: ~3.3mV (1kHz, 5cm/s)

• Channel Separation: 20dB (1kHz)

• Channel Balance: 2dB (1kHz)

• Tracking Ability: 80μm

• Recommended Tracking Force: 2.2g (± 0.3g)

• Coil Impedance: 0.66kΩ

• Coil Inductance: 400mH

• Load Resistance: 47kΩ

• Load Capacitance: 100pF

• Cantilever / Stylus: Aluminum / Elliptical

• Compliance: 15μ/mN

• Cartridge Body: Aluminum

• Warranty: 2 years

Final Thoughts: A Compass for the Analog Curious

The Clearaudio Compass arrives at an interesting intersection in the audio world. As interest in vinyl continues to grow among both younger listeners and seasoned audiophiles, there’s a clear appetite for equipment that balances premium performance with attainable pricing.

By distilling decades of design innovation and precision German engineering into a sub-€1,300 turntable, Clearaudio has created a gateway product that could reshape expectations in the entry-level hi-fi segment. Whether you’re upgrading from a budget deck or entering the world of analog for the first time, the Compass makes a compelling case for itself.

With excellent build quality, thoughtfully designed components, and the cachet of one of Europe’s most respected turntable manufacturers, the Clearaudio Compass might just become the new benchmark in affordable high-end analog playback. We look forward to the reviews and CE Critic Score.