This has not been seen in German hi-fi journalism for a long time: a comparison of 7 tonearms. LowBeats dares the mega ride and tests seven booms from the rich program of the German analog specialist Clearaudio. Some of them have been surrounded by fame for decades, one of them is brand new.
The Erlangen-based analog specialist Clearaudio not only builds tonearms based on very different principles, but also in different price ranges (which also fit on “foreign” turntables thanks to extensive mounting accessories).
Since it was founded in 1978 by Peter Suchy, father of the current company bosses Veronika and Robert Suchy, Clearaudio has worked its way up to become a full-range analog supplier. Turntables, tonearms, cartridges, phono amplifiers and an almost unmanageable range of accessories – the Franconians really do offer vinyl fans everything their hearts desire. Only the Austrian-Czech supplier Pro-Ject can keep up with this, but it starts at a lower price and leaves out the absolute super high-end range.
Clearaudio, meanwhile, presents a brand new radial tone arm of the absolute top class: the Unity, the current “hook”, so to speak, to dare to make such a comparison in LowBeats. Of course, there’s no such thing as a real cheapie – that’s not possible with serious “Made in Germany”. But one or two price-performance hits are included, we promise.
The 7 tonearms from Clearaudio at a glance
- Profiler, around 1,900 euros: 9-inch radial tonearm with combined sapphire and ball bearing
- Tracer, around 2,500 euros; 9-inch radial tonearm with ball bearings and angled axle
- Unify, from 2,700 euros; single-point bearing radial tonearm in 14-inch length, also available in 9″, 10″ and 12″. No longer appears in the current Clearaudio price list, but is still available from some dealers
- TT 5, from 2,800 euros; passive (drive-free) tangential tonearm with V4 stainless steel ball bearings
- TT 3, around 4,100 euros; passive tangential tonearm with “two-point” scanning
- Universal, from 5,500 euros; radial tonearm with 9 or 12 inch long carbon tube
- Unity, from 15,000 euros; brand new single-point bearing 10-inch radial tonearm with magnetic stabilization
The first six have all been tested by the author before – either solo or as part of turntable reviews. In the case of the brand new Unity, it went through its two-day baptism of fire during the demonstration of the super system from Octave and Gauder Akustik at the HIGH END 2025, where Clearaudio provided the appropriate analog source. On the Reference Jubilee turntable, the Unity performed its continuous service without fault or complaint. A “virgin” Unity fresh from the factory then went straight into the test after the trade fair.
The role of the tonearm
A record player is a complex structure in which all the components – drive, tonearm and cartridge – and all their properties are intertwined in an almost impenetrable network of relationships. In the analogue world, we operate in the realm of micrometers (µ), millionths of a meter. The needle moves in this tiny world, sometimes exposed to several times the acceleration of gravity. The tiny electrical signals that the generator in the pickup converts are then amplified 30 times (very insensitive moving magnet stage with 32 decibels of travel) to over 8000 times (highly sensitive moving coil stage with 78 decibels of travel) in the phono amplifier. It’s obvious to any layman: if something gets in the way on the way from the needle to the amplifier at the mechanical start, this can have devastating effects on the sound.
This is why the tonearm also plays a decisive role. If its bearings have too much play or too much friction against the movement, the image becomes blurred and the dynamics are lost. Its dynamic mass (very light, light, medium, medium-heavy, heavy) must harmonize with the so-called compliance of the stylus. Since most cartridges today are designed for medium to medium-heavy arms and the tonearms are usually assigned to these classes, the matter becomes somewhat easier. But if in doubt, always ask your specialist dealer. At the end of each test, we provide cartridge recommendations for each arm; one from the Clearaudio portfolio, one from the competition. Not mandatory, but useful.
Additional aspects
Mimosas are difficult. It’s not the flowers, but the devices that start bitching just by looking at them. From my point of view, technical creations, even highly complex hi-fi equipment, have to do their job, finished. Even in hard use. The author earns his money with tests and music reviews, among other things – and what he doesn’t need at all are failures.
And this is where an aspect comes into play that hardly plays a role in most tests: long-term suitability. And here we can award top marks to the following Clearaudio arms, which are in constant use.
The TT 3 has been used on the Clearaudio Reference Jubilee turntable and with the Jubilee MC cartridge (built for the company’s 40th anniversary) as a player for the vinyl listening system since its test in 2020: The Accuphase integrated amplifier and the MBL near-field monitors have also proven themselves – one could say for decades – without any problems.
Also in years of test use: The ultra-long Unify 14”, the TT 5 and the Universal stand on the three tonearm bases of the three-pronged Clearaudio Anniversary turntable, which is unfortunately no longer in production and has been doing its job without complaint in the “big” system with Octave tube amplifiers and Martin-Logan hybrid electrostats since the end of the last millennium. A mono pickup for the old mono record treasures is mounted on the Unify 14”, and a high output MC pickup is normally fitted to the TT 5 in order to get a feel for phono MM inputs on integrated amplifiers. And (almost) all cartridges tested over the past two decades have had to prove themselves on the Universal tonearm, because this arm lives up to its name.
And this brings us to another important point: the manufacturer’s service quality. Usually neither discussed nor tried in “normal” tests for obvious reasons. With the dozens of pickups mounted on the Universal’s headshell, it was inevitable that a plug or cable would break. Clearaudio head technician Stefan Kmuch and his team were always extremely quick and uncomplicated to help out. Just as quickly, by the way, as when replacement belts or cleaning fluid or felts for the Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional Sonic record washing machine, which has also been providing indispensable cleaning services for a long time without complaint.
Also in the game
Which brings us to the followers, which are either used frequently or are indispensable in the test: Clean disks are essential, especially for the two passive tangential tonearms, which are driven solely by the stylus in the groove. Even small dust particles or pressing residues can slow down the movement. And as an intensive user, the author can only recommend the Double Matrix Professional Sonic, which cleans on both sides with liquid and sound.
Just like the setting template and the VTA lifter, especially for those who like system changers and want to set everything precisely. This allows the vertical tracking angle, i.e. the vertical tracking angle of the needle in the groove, to be precisely aligned “on the fly”. A super thing and tried and tested, the 690 euro thing.
The Puck DW01 from Helmut Thiele is a real blessing for all Radial tonearms and the TT 5 (and for all LP listening in general). The thing is really expensive (around 950 euros), but it helps audibly. That should be said. But of course there are also cheaper alternatives: The Clearaudio “Concept” record weight in the “45 Years Excellence” version, which is much cheaper at 125 euros and also fits perfectly, helped and still helps to steady LPs under the TT 3.
A decisive plus point for all Clearaudio tonearms: they are wired through. The cheaper ones with the “Direct Wire Plus”, the more expensive ones with the “Super Sixstream”. That’s why the through-wiring from the pins to the plugs, so-called transition resistors, is crucial, as they oppose the tiny currents of MM and even more so of MC generators with RCA/XLR output sockets on the turntable chassis and another phono cable. Through-wiring is more effective than a super-phono cable that may not be suitable from the conductor material to the plug soldering, even if it is super-expensive.
Incidentally, all the arms tested were wired with RCA, which then fitted various phono preamps without any problems. Incidentally, Clearaudio offers a cabling service that wires all tonearms with Direct Wire Plus, Super Sixtream or the even more exclusive pure silver wire, with RCA or XLR connectors.
The entire comparison…
…here would have become very confusing. Therefore, the following links lead to the individual tests:
– Profiler, around 1,900 euros
– Tracer, around 2,500 euros
– Unify, from 2,700 euros
– TT 5, from 2,800 euros
– TT 3, around 4,100 euros
– Universal, from 5,500 euros
– Unity, from 15,000 euros
Quintessence: Which one for whom?
Anyone who has read the tests will have an idea of the number of recommendations after this marathon dance:
The Unity offers the ultimate in sound coupled with maximum flexibility – but you have to dig pretty deep into your pocket for it. If you don’t want to spend quite so much, like to experiment with various pickups and are looking for long-term suitability, the Universal is still the best choice.
If you want to listen with one cartridge for as long as possible and want the best sound with a pinch of exoticism, have the TT 3 fitted by a specialist. If you want something a little cheaper, value sound above all else and can do without some comfort and constant cartridge changes, you should ask your dealer about the TT 5.
If you have the courage to go for something special and a steady hand, the Unify in the 14-inch version could be your ideal candidate. However, if you prefer uncomplicated functionality and want to work your way up through the cartridge range without any worries over a long period of time, you can’t go wrong with the Tracer. And if you want to move up from a 08/15 model in terms of tonearm technology, you can start with the Profiler.
Now every analog fan can choose their price-performance champion according to their needs. The author’s heart beats for the TT 3, the frugal mind favors the Tracer.
Here is an overview of all the results:
More from Clearaudio:
Clearaudio Concept Signature: Simply the best from Bavaria?
Test Clearaudio Balance Reference Phono
Test Clearaudio Reference Jubilee: Super turntable with Boomerang chassis
Test Clearaudio Basic V2 phono stage
Test turntable Clearaudio Concept Active + active speaker Elac Navis ARB-51
