CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT OR PERFORMANCE SE??

[admin_exported]

Hi, I'd like to buy a new turntable and I was seriously thinking to the Performance SE.

But reading the enthusiastic reviews on the new Concept, I'm wondering if the price gap between the two turns into some real differences.

As I don't have the chance to test any of them before purchasing, I must go a sure.

Could anyone help?

 

[the record spot]

Welcome to the forums Gianni, great choices and I envy you greatly!

I suspect most of the regulars round here wouldn't be in a position to know for sure, myself included. Were it my money, I'd try to get a good long demo, compare the two side by side with my own amp and speakers (either home demo or take them into the shop) and determine whether or not the additional expense is worth it.

Does the more expensive meet the kind of sound criteria you like to hear? Does your favourite music sing just as much with the lower priced of the two (thereby begging the question 'if 90% is gained from the cheaper model, is the extra few percent of the more expensive one worth the outlay'?).

Either way, I think they'll both be fine - would be interested to hear your thoughts however after your demo. Just out of interest, are there any other models or brands you considered? Nottingham Analogue spring to mind and make some rather good and generally impressive decks that would be around your price bracket.

(On a side note, more generally speaking, I see there's a new Systemdek turntable on the market now or very soon. The Dunlop brothers brought out what seems like a higher end edition - if it's as good as the original models were, expect great things I think)

 

[John Duncan]

Hint: Michell Gyro SE...

 

[Anonymous]

the record spot:Welcome to the forums Gianni, great choices and I envy you greatly!I suspect most of the regulars round here wouldn't be in a position to know for sure, myself included. Were it my money, I'd try to get a good long demo, compare the two side by side with my own amp and speakers (either home demo or take them into the shop) and determine whether or not the additional expense is worth it. Does the more expensive meet the kind of sound criteria you like to hear? Does your favourite music sing just as much with the lower priced of the two (thereby begging the question 'if 90% is gained from the cheaper model, is the extra few percent of the more expensive one worth the outlay'?).Either way, I think they'll both be fine - would be interested to hear your thoughts however after your demo. Just out of interest, are there any other models or brands you considered? Nottingham Analogue spring to mind and make some rather good and generally impressive decks that would be around your price bracket. (On a side note, more generally speaking, I see there's a new Systemdek turntable on the market now or very soon. The Dunlop brothers brought out what seems like a higher end edition - if it's as good as the original models were, expect great things I think)

Mr. R. Spot,

thanks for your interesting suggestions!

As first, here in Italy where I live I don't have any hi-fi shop that keeps the 2 Clearaudio turntables; so it's impossible to me to get any kind of demo. That's why I must trust other users opinions and then proceed "blinded".

I agree with you when you say that the music I listen to is important to determinate the definitive purchase. I can tell you that I mainly listen to punk and new wave records, and I experienced that when I had to change the cartridge to my turntable (actually a Thorens TD 166), I had to change 3 of them before finding the one that sounded fine to my ears (the final choice was on an Aurum Classics by Clearaudio). But at the time there was an important shop near here that allowed me to make any test I wanted. Now unfortunately that shop has closed.

Honestly, I'm very happy of how the music sounds on my hi-fi, that consists of THORENS TD 166 MKV with Aurum Clasics cartridge and Van Den Hul cable; Musical Fidelty A3.5 amplifier and X-LPS pre phono; and Ruark Sabre speakers.

But the problem is that I own more than 3,300 records, half of which are 45 rpm, and the Thorens is very inconvenient with them... that's why I was looking at a more modern system to play my records... and as Clearaudio has an amazing design as well (that I appreciate very much), I thought it was the right compromise...

Tell me what you think, I appreciate...

 

[Anonymous]

I've not heard either deck, only the Emotion which sits in between, but I'd go for the Performance. Apart from the looks, it's a deck that will I suspect last for a very long time without you ever having to think of upgrading. Audio.de rate it as does Stereoplay - the tests are on their respective websites.