Clearaudio upgrades Performance turntable to SE status

Clearaudio Performance SE

Clearaudio has upgraded its Performance turntable and added the SE suffix to its name.

It gets a new chassis made from high-density fibreboard wrapped within an aluminium frame, and sandwiched between two layers of aluminium.

The main bearing shaft of the Performance SE is machined from a new ceramic alloy, allowing "a much finer polished surface" than was previously possible, its maker claims.

As the bearing does not use a ball bearing or a thrust pad, it avoids any point of load to help eliminate friction, wear and noise.

The separate motor is isolated from the chassis, driving the 40mm thick GS-PMMA acrylic platter via a Clearaudio 'silent belt'.

The Performance SE is fitted with Clearaudio's Satisfy Carbon Directwire tonearm, and a Maestro Wood moving magnet cartridge.

You can buy the complete package for £2630, or each item individually: Clearaudio Performance SE turntable £1400; Satisfy CA DW tonearm £1005; and Maestro MM cartridge £750.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.