Brief review of my Clearaudio Champion Level II

[Jerome W]

At last, here are some words on my new TT.
Clearaudio Champion level II, Satisfy Ebony arm, Talismann MC cart.
Pictures are here : http://audioaficionado.org/turntable...html#post29293

Compared to a Linn LP12 / Basik LVX / Goldring 1042 MM cart ( only by memory cause the Linn has been sold before the Clearaudio arrived...).
Before stating how the Clearaudio sounds to me, I would like to mention that it is very difficult to compare 2 TT's when arms and carts are not the same.
What is due to the cart / arm versus the base plate / motor ? Moreover, the arm and cart that were on the LP12 are in a lower range compared to the Clearaudio ones, especially for the cart.
But I will also try to compare the Clearaudio to the LP12 SE, fully loaded, also by memory.

1) Isolation.
The LP12 is as everyone knows a suspended design. Which means it is probably more insensitive to vibrations compared to high mass designs. And I can hear that when I walk in the room or close a window. With the LP12, nothing happens. The Clearaudio looses the groove on big vibes made by steps and so on. A bit frustrating.
But even with high SPL, and lots of bass vibes, the good point of the Clearaudio is that when you put your hand on the second baseplate, the one that holds the platter, you don't feel any vibration. Neither on the platter itself. On the first base plate, the one corresponding to the level I, you can feel light vibes. Not any more on the second plate. So the construction is very solid. It seems the Clearaudio is not sensitive to the vibrations of the music, though very sensitive to footsteps, but that's no big deal.
2) Static electricity : Nothing with the Clearaudio. Awful with the Linns....
3) Sound.
A- Paperboys live at Stockfish Records.
Clearaudio : nothing more to wish. A fully bodied, balanced, detailed and yet charming and warm sound. Impressive bass and dynamics overall.
"Basik LP12" : very good overall sound but clearly inferior to the Clearaudio for all the characteristics stated.
LP12 fully loaded : very similar to the Clearaudio. Maybe a bass just a bit tighter but I'm not sure.
B- Chet Atkins "Mister Guitar".
Clearaudio : very good overall but a bit dry. Details are top notch. Bass is very clear
Basik LP12 : less details. Less bass. But a much more pleasant and charming sound. More "juicy", although certainly less neutral than the Clearaudio. It seems that the old design of the Linn could be more able to convey the charm of the old guitar sound of Chet. LP12 is clearly a winner here.
LP12 fully loaded : not tested with this record
C- Gary Peacock " Tales of Another" with K. Jarrett and J. DeJohnette
Clearaudio : impressive bass. Good medium and treble. Nice stereo image. Very large and deep.
Basik LP12 : some distortion on the treble sometimes ( piano and cymbals )
Bass with less extension and precision compared to the Clearaudio.
LP12 SE : wonderful result. Bass similar to the Clearaudio. Treble more precise and more extended. Cymbals like I never heard them before. Extremely detailed. Clearly a winner here on this very difficult record.

More comparaisons to come, on more records.
Overall feeling :
The Clearaudio for 5600 euros list price is a great TT.
Much better than a Basik LP12 and a Majik LP12 I suppose.
But more neutral than the LP12.
The LP12 is always warm. The Clearaudio is only warm when the record is warm. Can be a bit dry and less “charming” on some others.
The LP12 SE is better than the Clearaudio on all the records, but not by a large margin.
On a percentage scale, I would say it is 10 to 15 % better and only for lower bass and extreme treble. If you feel that an increase of sound quality by about 10 % worths 12000 euros more (the LP12 SE list price is 17000 euros for the standard Radikal Power supply version).
By these times of crisis, I’m very happy with the Clearaudio and would not dream of the LP12 SE anymore…. But who knows ?

[jdandy]

Jérôme.......Excellent, and honest impressions. I enjoyed reading this. Your photos of the Clearaudio Champion level II, Satisfy Ebony arm, and Talismann MC cartridge are spectacular. In particular, I love this photo of the McIntosh C1000C/P and MDA1000 sitting next to the Clearaudio turntable. It looks so rich, and alluring. Your sound room has really come together this year. Beautiful.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jérôme.......Excellent, and honest impressions. I enjoyed reading this. Your photos of the Clearaudio Champion level II, Satisfy Ebony arm, and Talismann MC cartridge are spectacular. In particular, I love this photo of the McIntosh C1000C/P and MDA1000 sitting next to the Clearaudio turntable. It looks so rich, and alluring. Your sound room has really come together this year. Beautiful.

Thanks Dan !
My acoustics panels ( 10 of them ! ) will be on the lateral walls according to your drawings in september. I really still have a high flutter echo and too much reverberation. I will send you a picture and will post a review on the "room treatment" thread.
Cheers,
Jérôme

[jdandy]

Jérôme.......Believe it or not, just yesterday I was looking at the drawings I made for you, examining the one showing the panels on the sloped ceiling areas. From what you say about flutter (slap) echo, it will likely take a few panels on each side of those areas to tame the relected sound from the large, smooth surfaces.

Hopefully, installing the panels elsewhere will get the acoustics under control. Feel free to PM me if you need some additional help/opinions.

[gregswaim]

You're comparing "apples to oranges". You old LP12 probably does not have a Cirkus Bearing - this is standard on all new LP12's. Your old LP12 has a inferior and old tonearm and it's sporting a MM pickup vs a MC pickup that your new one does.
Update your old LP12 base to current spec, add a Akito/Pro-Ject 9cc tonearm, and a Lyra Argo i ,and then do a A/B. If you get the Majik LP12 just add a MC pickup then do a A/B. I think that you'll be quite surprised.
You also mentioned the LP12 SE- that's Linn's current reference TT so again you'll be comparing "apples to oranges" if you were to A/B your new Clearaudio budget TT against the Linn reference model. Not many TT's in the world even come close to the level of performance that Linn LP12 SE does. Just my opinion.

[1KW]

Jerome

I would be very happy your tt I am the one with the truly budget tt .
Greg, we know you like your tt but you were a bit harsh with your comments about the clearaudio tt that Jerome just bought. Maybe you are just having a bad day.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by gregswaim

You're comparing "apples to oranges". You old LP12 probably does not have a Cirkus Bearing - this is standard on all new LP12's. Your old LP12 has a inferior and old tonearm and it's sporting a MM pickup vs a MC pickup that your new one does.
Update your old LP12 base to current spec, add a Akito/Pro-Ject 9cc tonearm, and a Lyra Argo i ,and then do a A/B. If you get the Majik LP12 just add a MC pickup then do a A/B. I think that you'll be quite surprised.
You also mentioned the LP12 SE- that's Linn's current reference TT so again you'll be comparing "apples to oranges" if you were to A/B your new Clearaudio budget TT against the Linn reference model. Not many TT's in the world even come close to the level of performance that Linn LP12 SE does. Just my opinion.

Hi,

I would not qualify the Clearaudio as a "budget TT" (even if I know some TT's retail for 150000 euros including the Big Verdier, made just 3 miles from where I live). 5600 euros is still some money, at least according to my wife !
Yes you're right on the "older design" of my LP12, and also the fact I 'm comparing apples and oranges.
But let me add these points :
- Many LP12 afficionados did not take the upgrade path of the Cirkus, Lingo etc... because they think that the improvements are not so high compared to the price paid. Moreover some " improvements" are absolutely bad. The Trampoline for example gives poorer results compared to no base at all and having the plinth put on solid supports. In Asia, many audiophiles use ebony cubes to put the plinth on.
- I know my old LP12 could have been outperformed by a Majik LP12 but I doubt it. The guy who bought my LP12 listened to the Majik before and did not find it better than my "old" LP12.
- The Basik LP12 or Majik current LP12 are wonderful tables. It is certainly one of the best TT you can find when you talk of listening pleasure. The LP12 has a very particular warm and charming sound who made its success. I loved mine. It is no comparable to any other TT. But the LP12 is also known to be less dynamic compared to other TTs and the bass is not the more detailed and deep around.
- Talking about the fully loaded LP12 SE : I know it very well. I knew it with the Lingo II and Linto and now I listened to it for more than 10 hours with the new Radikal and Urika : my best friend has it. So it was on my buying list. Untill I listened to the Clearaudio.
The LP12 SE ( Keel, Ekos SE, Akiva, Radikal, Urika ) is certainly one if not the best TT in the world. But the difference in sound with the Clearaudio is not large to my ears. That's all I stated.

Cheers,

[jdandy]

Greg.......As a point of reference, this Clearaudio Emotion CMB Turntable w/ Satisfy Carbon Tonearm is a budget turntable, at $1400.00 out the door with the Maestro cartridge.



Jérôme's beautiful Clearaudio Champion Level II, with the Satisfy Ebony arm, and Talismann MC cartridge is a long, long way from budget, as you put it. That you would use the word budget to describe his new Clearaudio Champion level II turntable is narrow minded at best, in my opinion. In the same breath it would be fair to say the Linn LP-12, in whatever analogous appendage level it might be assembled, is a budget turntable when compared to so many other truly high-end, extremely well engineered and manufactured turntables from other manfacturers around the globe. The Linn LP12 doesn't magically become a mystically superior turntable by simply declaring all other turntables as budget.

Linn makes a fine turntable. Many hold it in high regard, while many do not. Perhaps your comment was not meant to sound as though Jérôme's turntable is somehow deficient in importance, but it certainly struck me that way.

Here's another bottle of the elixir concoction you enjoy so much.

[PHC1]

Jerome, thanks for sharing your impressions of the Clearaudio table. I am not sure of the dimensions of your table but if you are having problems with mistracking while walking around, look into a Gingko or similar vibration platform to see if they would work for your table. It makes a significant difference in sound as well.

Greg, the Linn is a fine table and the SE version makes it better but I wouldn't go around claiming it to be the 'worlds best". There are many tables out there and those guys haven't exactly been sitting on their hands. Yes, I have heard a Linn SE recently. There are a few other tables that I have heard that belong in a higher category of sound quality for sure.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Jerome, thanks for sharing your impressions of the Clearaudio table. I am not sure of the dimensions of your table but if you are having problems with mistracking while walking around, look into a Gingko or similar vibration platform to see if they would work for your table. It makes a significant difference in sound as well.

Greg, the Linn is a fine table and the SE version makes it better but I wouldn't go around claiming it to be the 'worlds best". There are many tables out there and those guys haven't exactly been sitting on their hands. Yes, I have heard a Linn SE recently. There are a few other tables that I have heard that belong in a higher category of sound quality for sure.

Thanks for the tip Serge !
I will look for that Gingko right away...
BTW, I loved your reviews of your Performance TT, and especially the one about the set-up ! I 'm not a "real man" yet. I have kids I try to raise the good way but :
- I still did not plant any tree
- I still don't know and understand how to set-up a TT !!
Cheers,
Jérôme