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Authorized dealers for Clearaudio Innovation Basic

In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
AES — in-store — Mitte, Hessen, Germany (website)
Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)

and 181 more verified dealers

Potato score: 90.4

90%

Clearaudio Innovation Basic #1

Clearaudio Innovation Basic variant 1

Clearaudio Innovation Basic variant 2

Clearaudio Innovation Basic

View at Clearaudio

33/45 RPM

78 RPM

Speed Control

Precise Material Combination

Perfectly matched material properties meet patented clearaudio technology. The 38-millimeter-thick platter made of dynamically balanced POM or acrylic is driven by a high-torque DC motor with precision plain bearing, developed exclusively for clearaudio.

Low-Resonance Design

Through deliberately small chassis surfaces, the Innovation Basic combines high housing stability with effective resonance control. The massive Panzerholz construction forms the basis for quiet and precise operation.

Flexibly Expandable

Thanks to the possibility of mounting a second tonearm, different cartridge and record combinations can be used on just one turntable.

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Authorized dealers for Clearaudio Innovation Basic

In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
AES — in-store — Mitte, Hessen, Germany (website)
Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)

and 181 more verified dealers

Featured Partners

In Living Stereo

The Music Room

Professional Reviews 90/100

Rating for Innovation Basic

Deliciously Crispy

Sound Quality

92/100

Build Quality

90/100

Features Usability

87/100

Value for Money

88/100

The Innovation Basic delivers vivid, emotionally textured vinyl playback, pairing deep bass, airy detail and assured timing with a remarkably quiet, resonance-conscious platform. Part Time Audiophile found its Tracer/Hana setup hugely involving, while The Ear highlights the optically regulated speed stability, magnetic bearing and dual-tonearm flexibility that make this a serious long-term analogue foundation.

What Reviewers Are Saying

"There isn’t anything Basic about the Clearaudio Innovation Basic Turntable."

— Part Time Audiophile

"known to deliver an enviable balance of transparency and natural tonality"

— The Ear

Pros

Delivers involving, spacious sound with strong instrumental separation, fine cymbal detail, deep bass and richly textured vocals in the reviewed system.

High-torque motor, Optical Speed Control and Ceramic Magnetic Bearing provide exceptionally stable speed and near-instant arrival at the selected speed.

Resonance-optimised Panzerholz-and-aluminium chassis, adjustable feet and provision for two tonearms create a sophisticated, adaptable platform.

&

Cons

Performance and listener engagement benefited noticeably from using an optional record clamp, adding cost and setup experimentation.

The reviewed Tracer tonearm requires careful manual VTA adjustment rather than offering a fine screw-based mechanism.

SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100

In the reviewed Tracer/Hana system, the Innovation Basic is described as an easy, highly involving source with strong separation, air, texture and a convincing sense of performers in the room. Its electronically controlled belt drive brings quick start-up and assured pitch, while the low-friction bearing design helps keep the presentation quiet and composed.

Overall Sound

94/100

Part Time Audiophile found the table, arm and cartridge combination notably synergistic and repeatedly returned to it during a three-month loan. Listening impressions include room-filling acoustic bass, perfect piano/vocal separation, fine cymbal detail, added bass texture, and unusually layered, emotional vocal reproduction.

Speed Stability

94/100

The optical speed-control system continuously monitors platter rotation and compensates for stylus drag, while the reviewer found the deck reached its selected speed almost instantly. The Ear also calls speed stability exceptional, crediting the high-torque motor, CMB bearing and OSC system.

Tonearm Performance

91/100

The reviewed Tracer arm combines a low-resonance carbon-fibre tube, adjustable aluminium headshell and hybrid sapphire/steel bearing arrangement. Its fine tracking-force adjustment and confident, effortless tracking were clear strengths in the listening setup; the deck also supports a second arm.

Noise Isolation

88/100

The CMB bearing is intended to reduce friction and lower the noise floor, and the review found record-to-platter coupling beneficial to engagement and unwanted vibration control. Both the Clearaudio and Stillpoints clamps brought further audible gains in air, texture and life, indicating that careful record coupling remains worthwhile.

Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.

Build Quality

90/100

The Innovation Basic uses Clearaudio's three-point Panzerholz-and-aluminium sandwich chassis, a precision-machined 40mm Delrin platter and a ceramic magnetic bearing. Review coverage describes the plinth as strikingly finished, while adjustable feet, a dynamically balanced platter and provision for two tonearms reflect a thoughtfully engineered platform.

Features Usability

87/100

Electronic selection of 33⅓, 45 and 78rpm, real-time optical speed control and finely adjustable feet make day-to-day setup straightforward for a serious deck. It is also unusually flexible in accommodating two tonearms, though it remains a purist turntable without convenience features such as an onboard phono stage or automatic operation.

Value for Money

88/100

At a stated starting price of £3,400, The Ear presents the Basic as a more accessible entry to the Innovation range with substantial technology included. Part Time Audiophile considers the reviewed combination expensive, but not unreasonable beside far costlier flagship turntables, and recommends it without hesitation.