it's no secret. i've not been a fan of clearaudio...perhaps it was my (brief and biased) listening impressions from set-up of friends....or perhaps my preference for equipment as old as i am (vintage) and my view that anything that looks like a spacecraft must sound out of this world...
the past 2 years, i've spent less time on my analog listening - a few reasons: most of my LPs still in boxes since i moved, more time to set-up, no patience cleaning records, less than ideal phonostages, and potentially a higher investment still for the high-end analog sound.
i continue to read about the new tonearms, tables and cartridges out there. good MCs are at least $1000. on tonearms, am also not too interested in linear tracking devices, and the only other alternate design was the unipivot. simple, yet logical. if properly executed, it can make some real music. well, mandy's kamagong tonearm was unipivot too and worked very well....
then...
totally unplanned, but a friend's interest led me to get a set-up i was pushing for him. i finally got myself the clearaudio unify arm with the sixstream cable some rave about. beautiful arm with carbon-fibre body. exactly how i imagined it. used but well-maintained. installed on a new champion table, the rig was finally set-up at home last sunday morning by jeanne (sinar) and the george (ihatejazz). cartridge was an MM beta wood. nothing fancy (i mean nothing as expensive as the clearaudio MCs)...
i won't comment anymore about the table and its construction. a lot has been written already about it...same with the unify arm and the MM cartridges of this german company.
well, i love the absolute flexibility of the unify arm...provides adjustments (seems easy enough) on vta, azimuth. all my tables todate did not have easy vta adjustments. initial adjustment revealed an almost lifeless sound...is this the signature clearaudio sound? thin, almost analytical. but hey, the cart is brand new and has not broken in so i thought...
some more adjustments (actually 2) and the vta was about right.
fast forward >>>
it's day 3 now. day 2 (yesterday) gave me time to stay home. i had a bad case of diarrhea, so i spent most of my waking time either in the toilet seat or listening to my new analog toy
- the cart had definitely opened up. the champion/unify/6stream/beta combo produced bass notes deeper than any of the 4 other turntables i have at home. not only deeper but more articulately.
- imaging/soundstaging was very stable it was a wonder how it can be so even with the mess of equipment i have around in my room... hehehe
- piano pieces were precisely rendered i have to strike some keys of the piano nearby to check for acuracy. it is accurate enough!
- vocals came in naturally, with the right amount of warmth although i'd prefer it warmer still. hopefully with break-in in can further improve.
- some slight glare on highs was observed but most likely from the recordings. highs were extended, not bright at all.
i played some "audiophile" LPs: Misty by Yamamoto, chi ayado's LP with amazing grace (fever is the cut to use), 45rpm LP of coltrane's kind of blue, then a few japanese pressed jazz LPs and classic records.
rest of my system: Audible Illusions Modulus phonostage, newly restored QUAD II monoblocks driving the Vintage Tannoy Stirling. occassionally used the Rogers LS3/5A with the AB1s in a modified Kiy arrangement.
verdict (in my system):
workmanship and engineering: 5 out of 5
tonal quality: 4.5
dynamics, PRAT and all that ekek: 4.25
musicality/emotional impact: 4 out of 5, within the limitations of my room, system synergy, cart break-in, etc.
value for money: a high 5!!!! thanks jeanne
support: 5. this i have to say - george is (a major) part of the reason i decided to take this. i know i can count on him if i have any problems or need help.
Oh Yes! a Clearaudio now proudly sits in my listening room...and it looks very much at home there