Clearaudio Tracer User manual

User manual
Bedienungsanleitung
© clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022/06 Made in Germany
Tracer
Pic. similar /
Abb. ähnlich
Pic. similar /
Abb. ähnlich

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 2 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
User manual........................................................2 - 16
Bedienungsanleitung ..........................................17 - 31
Dear Clearaudio customer,
Thank you for your decision to purchase the Tracer tonearm from Clearaudio.
This tonearm is manufactured to the highest degree of tolerance and quality.
Drawing on engineering tricks from the nest watchmakers, it features a high-precision, low friction
jeweled bearing, judiciously crafted from tungsten and sapphire. The carbon tonearm tube is both
extremely rigid and very lightweight, giving a perfect combination of stability and agility.
The anti-skating force is eortlessly adjustable by way of a simple dial within perfect reach, while
the aluminium headshell allows the azimuth to be easily ne-tuned.
The counter-weight is underslungproviding an optimal centre of gravity and allowing straight forward
adjustment of the tracking force.
Please take a moment to read this owner’s manual to ensure correct set-up, to avoid any possible
damage and to learn how to take good care of your Clearaudio Tracer tonearm to ensure that it
will give many years of musical enjoyment and pleasure.
Clearaudio wishes you much enjoyment with your new Tracer tonearm.
Clearaudio electronic GmbH

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 3
Safety instructions
1. Maintenance
If you don`t use your Tracer tonearm for a while (eg. two weeks or more), we recommend to raise
and lower the arm‘s cueing lever/arm lifter a few times over that time period to avoid it sticking in
the raised position.
Before using it for the rst time or after a long period of inactivity, the lift should be operated
approximately 4-5 times so that the grease in the tonarm lift can be loosened and the lift bar is able
to evenly lower again.
2. Transportation
Should further transportation of the
Tracer tonearm be necessary, please always use the original
packing material. Otherwise serious damage could occur.
When repackaging the tonearm, please follow in reverse the steps indicated in this
manual for installation and setup.
3. Service
If any servicing or repair of a Clearaudio product is necessary, please rst contact your dealer or
distributor. Alternatively contact Clearaudio directly and we will inform you about your nearest
service location.
PLEASE RETAIN ALL ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
You will need it if this product has to be transported and/or shipped.
Any further questions you may have about this product should be directed to your local dealer.
4. Safety instructions
Disposal
This product is not allowed to be disposed with household waste.
WEEE Reg.No.: DE26004446
Contains swallowable parts, not for small children.
Do not expose the equipment to rain or moisture.
Do not handle the mains lead with wet hands.
No naked ame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the equipment.
Only for use on turntables.

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 4 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
Contents
1. List of components .......................................................................5
2. Mounting the tonearm base
2.1 Mounting the tonearm base on the Clearaudio Performance DC
or Ovation turntable.........................................................................................6
2.2 Mounting the tonearm base on a Clearaudio Innovation series turntable ......7
2.3 Mounting the clamping ring on a other manufacturers’ turntables.................8
3. Mounting the Tracer tonearm without VTA-Lifter........................9
4. Adjustment of the distance between spindle and pivot point......10
5. Adjustment of the tonearm ..........................................................10
5.1 Adjustment of the VTA .....................................................................................11
5.2 Alignment and adjustment of the cartridge.....................................................12
5.3 Adjustment of the tracking force .....................................................................13
5.4 Adjustment of the azimuth...............................................................................14
5.5 Adjustment of the anti-skating........................................................................15
6. Technical data...............................................................................16
Warranty...........................................................................................32 - 33

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 5
1. List of components
Clearaudio has developed a special and secure packing for your Tracer tonearm that ensures safe
transportation. Please keep this original packing, you will need it if you need to ship the tonearm.
Please check the contents as shown in the picture below and in the list at the bottom of this page.
1. Tracer tonearm
incl. counterweight 5. Screws: - 3 pcs. hex screw M4 x 10
- 1 pcs. grub screw M6 x 8
2. Clearaudio clamping ring 6. Paper tonearm alignment template
3. 1 pcs. additional counterweight 37g
2 pcs. at head screw (3 x 8mm)
7. User manual, quality certicate,
warranty card and return delivery note
(not shown)
4. 3x hex wrench:
- 1.5mm
- 2.5mm
- 3mm
Screwdriver
Pic. 1: List of components
12
5
4
3
6
Recommended Tools:
• Clearaudio Cartridge alignment gauge (Art. No. AC005/IEC)
• Clearaudio Weight Watcher touch (Art. No. AC163)
• Clearaudio Mini Level Gauge (Art. No. AK001)
This items and more accessories are available through your dealer or at www.analogshop.de.

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 6 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
2. Mounting the tonearm base
2.1 Mounting the tonearm base on the Clearaudio Performance DC or Ovation turntable
Please check that the correct tonearm base is mounted on your turntable (Pic. 2).
Please note that you will need an dierent tonearm base, if you want to mount the Tracer tonearm
in combination with the VTA-Lifter (Pic. 3).
If the wrong tonearm base is mounted, place the turntable on the edge of a table or similar surface,
so you have access to the tonearm base from below.
Remove the previous tonearm base by loosening the six M4 x 35mm screws with a hex wrench on
the bottom side of the clamping ring.
Exchange the tonearm base for the correct one and loosely tighten it, so the tonearm base is still
rotatable. Please make sure that the base sits perfectly on the turntable.
Without VTA-Lifter
To mount the tonearm without VTA-Lifter, you need the tonearm base
AC031-4 (Pic. 2)
With VTA-Lifter
To mount the tonearm in combination with VTA-Lifter, you need the
tonearm base AC031-8 (Pic.3).
Pic. 2: Tonearm base for Performance DC &
Ovation without VTA-Lifter (Art. No. AC031-4)
Pic. 3: Tonearm base for Performance DC &
Ovation with VTA-Lifter (Art. No. AC031-8)

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 7
Pic. 4: Tonarme base for Innovation
Serie (Art. No. AC030-4)
2.2 Mounting the tonearm base on a Clearaudio Innovation series turntable
Please check that the correct tonearm base is mounted on your turntable (Pic. 4).
Please note that you will need an dierent tonearm base, if you want to mount the Tracer tonearm
in combination with the VTA-Lifter (Pic. 5).
If the tonearm base is already pre-assembled, it is in a position which is optimized for the packaging.
The position of the tonearm base will be correct during the adjustment of the tonearm.
If not, remove the previous tonearm base by loosening the screw of the aluminium base with a 7mm
hex wrench.
Exchange the tonearm base against the correct one and place it as seen in picture 6.
Now you can loosely tighten it so that the tonearm base is still rotatable.
Without VTA-Lifter
To mount the tonearm without VTA-Lifter, you need the
tonearm base AC030-4 (Pic. 4).
With VTA-Lifter
To mount the tonearm in combination with VTA-Lifter, you
need the tonearm base AC030-10 (Pic. 5).
Pic. 5: Tonarm base for Innovation Serie
(Art. No. AC030-10)
Pic. 6: Rough alignment of the tonearm base

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 8 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
2.3 Mounting the clamping ring on a other manufacturers’ turntables
In order to mount the aluminium clamping ring on the turntable chassis, please rst drill three holes
into the turntable chassis.
To ensure the correct position of the three holes, please use the measurements given in the drawing
template below (Pic. 7).
Please note that this image is not true to scale.
For this step, use a 3.3mm drill. After you have drilled the three holes, thread the holes using an
appropriate tap cutter. If the material of the turntable chassis is not suitable for threading, please
use a 4.5mm drill for the holes. In this case you will need longer screws with nuts to t the tonearm
base.
Now you can mount the clamping base on the clean and dry surface of the turntable chassis.
Please note:
This drilling template is ony suitable for 9 inch tonearms.
Pic. 7: Drilling template for mounting the tonearm base on a other manufacturers‘ turntable

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 9
3. Mounting the Tracer tonearm without VTA-Lifter
Take the clamping ring and place it on the recess
in the tonearm base.
Now you can attach the clamping ring to the
tonearm base with the 3 supplied M4 x 10
screws. Make sure that the side hole of the
clamping ring (see Pic. 9) remains accessible.
Insert the tonearm cable rst and then the
tonearm foot of the
Tracer tonearm into the hole
of the clamping ring.
Now x the tonearm, do not over-tighten, so
that you can nally adjust it later!
To assemble the Tracer tonearm with VTA-Lifter,
please follow the separate user manual for the
VTA-Lifter.
Pic. 9: Mounting the tonearm
Pic. 8: Mounting the clamping ring

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 10 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
Pic. 10: Distance from pivot to spindle
4. Adjustment of the distance between spindle and pivot point
For the exact setting of the tonearm pivot point, we recommend to use the Clearaudio alignment
gauge (Art. No. AC005/IEC, also available from www.analogshop.de).
Make sure that the distance between spindle and the pivot point of the tonearm is exactly 222mm.
You can adjust the distance by rotating the tonearm base.
Please tighten the tonearm base and check the measurement again.
222 mm
5. Adjustment of the tonearm
The following settings require to mount the cartridge on the headshell.
Always follow the cartridge manufacturer’s instructions.
Leave the stylus protector on your cartridge to avoid any damages!
Now you can connect the respective signal cable with the matching color pins of the cartridge.
Please note the following colour coding:
Red: right channel / R+
Green: right channel / R-
White: left channel / L+
Blue: left channel / L-
Connect the pins of your cartridge to the jacks of the headshell or tonearm cable, taking care not
to use too much force.
If necessary, you can use suitable precision pliers or tweezers for assistance.

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 11
5.1 Adjustment of the VTA
The tonearm remains loose in the clamping ring and is not screwed tight. Now place a record or
the Clearaudio alignment gauge (Art. No. AC005/IEC) on the turntable and remove the stylus
protector from your cartridge.
Make sure that the tracking force is roughly adjusted in order not to damage the cartridge.
Please be extremely careful during the following steps!
Never move the cartridge in the alignment gauge while it is lowered.
Use the lift to lower the tonearm and check if the tonearm tube is parallel to the platter.
The tonearm tube should not touch the lift bracket, but the needle must rest on the record or the
alignment gauge.
If the tonearm tube is not parallel, but shows a slight incline, put the tonearm tube back in the rest
position.
Now carefully lower/raise the entire tonearm in the clamping ring so that the tonearm tube is
parallel to the platter.
While the tonearm is in this position you can hand-tight the clamping ring.
If the position is still correct, you can put the tonearm back in the rest position holder and put the
stylus protector back on.
Pic. 11: Fixing the tonearm height

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 12 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
5.2 Alignment and adjustment of the cartridge
For the nal tonearm and cartridge adjustment you will need the adjustment template which is also
included in the scope of the delivery.
Place it directly on the turntable (without record) and align it so that the arrow points to the tonearm
pivot point (Pic. 12).
Take the tonearm out of the rest position and align it in
the area of the cross lines.
Lower the tonearm and check the alignment.
The cartridge body must be aligned in the template grid
so that the needle tip is in the cross lines.
Also the side and front edges of the housing have to be
parallel to the grid lines.
To correct the adjustment, you have to loosen the screws
of the cartridge a little, so that the cartridge can be
moved in the headshell.
Re-check the setting again after you have tightened the
screws.
Pic. 12: Placing the adjustment template
Pic. 13: Correct alignment of the cartridge

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 13
5.3 Adjustment of the tracking force
To increase or lower the tracking force, you have to turn the adjustment screw at the end of the
tonearm.
Pic. 14: Adjustment of the tracking force
Green arrow = Higher tracking force
Red arrow = Lower tracking force

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 14 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
Pic. 15: Adjustment screw
Pic. 16: Loosening the screw
5.4 Adjustment of the azimuth
Please note:
The azimuth is already set at the factory.
The azimuth is the angle of the cartridge stylus to the record surface. Viewed from the front, the
cartridge needle have to be vertical to the record.
If you still want to optimize the azimuth, lower the cartridge onto the record surface and check the
position of the needle.
To change the azimuth, please proceed as following:
Loosen the screw (hex wrench #2) on the bottom side of the tonearm tube near the headshell.
Now you can adjust the azimuth by turning the headshell in the tonearm tube.
After you have found the correct position, carefully tighten the small hex screw again without
changing the previously selected position.
To check this adjustment, we recommend the Clearaudio „Mini Level Gauge“ (Art. No. AK001,
available at www.analogshop.de).

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 15
The general setup is now completed.
Before connecting the tonearm to your phono stage, we recommend checking the settings you have
made again and correcting them if necessary.
Clearaudio wishes you a lot of joy fun with your new Tracer tonearm.
Level of anti-skating: tracking force position of the antiksating screw
minimal anti-skating >> 10-15mN >> see illustration 1
medium anti-skating >> 15-20mN >> see illustration 2
maximum anti-skating >> 20mN and more >> see illustration 3
Illustration 1 Illustration 2 Illustration 3
(minimal anti-skating) (medium anti-skating) (maximum anti-skating)
Pic. 17: Anti-skating adjustment
5.5 Adjustment of the anti-skating
You can adjust the anti-skating setting by adjusting the anti-skating screw (Pic. 17 / 1, 2, 3).
The level of anti-skating force required will depend on the tracking force of the cartridge.

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 16 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
6. Technical data
Construction details: Radial tonearm
Horizontal sapphire bearing and vertically ball bearing
Material: Aluminium (black/silver), stainless steel,
carbon tonearm tube (black/silver)
Cartridge balance range: 3.5g - 17.0g
Overhang: 17.12mm
Total length: 320.00mm
Eective length: 239.12mm
Mounting distance
(tonearm pivot to spindle): 222.00mm
Oset angle: 25.00°
Wiring: 1.1m Super Sixstream terminated with RCA
Weight: Approx. 500g (incl. counterweight)
Manufacturer’s warranty: 3 years*
* Provided that the warranty card is correctly completed and returned to Clearaudio or your product is registered
online at https://clearaudio.de/en/service/registration.php, within 14 days of purchase.

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 17
Sehr geehrte clearaudio Kundin, sehr geehrter clearaudio Kunde,
Sie haben sich für einen
Tracer Tonarm entschieden, ein hochwertiges Produkt aus dem Hause
clearaudio electronic GmbH.
Wir bedanken uns bei Ihnen für das uns entgegengebrachte Vertrauen.
Der Radialtonarm von clearaudio überzeugt durch Präzision in Verarbeitung und Klangleistung.
Für alle Details wurden die am besten geeigneten Materialien verwendet.
Die extrem reibungsfreien Kugellager, die schräg gestellte Achse aus Wolfram und die High-End-
Saphirlager denieren die Exzellenz des Tracer . Maximale Stabilität bei optimaler Agilität garantiert
das Tonarmrohr aus extrem verwindungssteifem Karbon.
Perfekt zugänglich liegt das magnetische Antiskating in der Drehachse.
Das Headshell aus Aluminium mit einstellbarem Azimuth und das Tonarmgegengewicht können
ebenso leicht wie präzise justiert werden.
Um alle Vorteile des
Tracer Tonarms nutzen zu können, lesen Sie bitte diese Bedienungsanleitung
aufmerksam durch. Alle Hinweise dienen dem Ausschöpfen der vollen Klangeigenschaften und
bewahren Sie vor Fehlbedienungen.
Wir wünschen Ihnen viel Freude mit Ihrem neuen clearaudio Tracer Tonarm.
clearaudio electronic GmbH

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 18 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
Sicherheitshinweise
1. Wartung
Falls Sie Ihren clearaudio
Tracer Tonarm längere Zeit nicht benutzen, empfehlen wir Ihnen den
Tonarmlift in regelmäßigen Abständen zu bewegen, um das Lagerfett geschmeidig zu halten und ein
mögliches Haken des Tonarms beim Abspielen zu vermeiden.
Vor dem erstmaligen Benutzen oder nach längerem Stillstand muss der Lift ca. 4-5 betätigt werden,
damit sich das Fett im Tonarmlift lösen kann und der Liftbügel somit wieder gleichmäßig abgesenkt
wird.
2. Transport
Sollte ein weiterer Transport des Tracer erforderlich sein, verwenden Sie immer nur die
Originalverpackung. Andernfalls könnte Ihr Tonarm ernsthafte Schäden davon tragen.
3. Pege
Wenn eine Wartung oder Reparatur an einem clearaudio Produkt erforderlich ist, wenden Sie sich
bitte zuerst immer an Ihren Händler oder Vertriebspartner. Alternativ können Sie clearaudio direkt
kontaktieren und wir werden Sie über Ihre nächstgelegenen Servicestelle informieren.
Bewahren Sie die vollständige Originalverpackung auf. Sie benötigen diese, wenn das Produkt
transportiert und / oder verschickt werden soll.
Alle weiteren Fragen zu diesem Produkt können Sie an ihren örtlichen Fachhändler richten.
4. Sicherheitshinweise
Entsorgung
Dieses Produkt darf nicht zusammen mit Restmüll entsorgt werden.
WEEE Reg.Nr.: DE26004446
Lieferumfang enthält verschluckbare Kleinteile.
Das Gerät nicht Regen oder Feuchtigkeit aussetzen.
Das Netzkabel nicht mit feuchten oder nassen Händen anfassen.
Es dürfen keine Gegenstände mit oener Flamme, wie etwa brennende Kerzen, auf dem
Gerät aufgestellt werden.
Zur ausschließlichen Verwendung auf Plattenspielern.

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany Page / Seite 19
Inhaltsverzeichnis
1. Lieferumfang............................................................................................. 20
2. Befestigung der Tonarmbasis
2.1 Befestigung der Tonarmbasis auf einem clearaudio
Performance DC / Ovation Laufwerk ............................................................................ 21
2.2 Befestigung der Tonarmbasis auf einem clearaudio Innovation series Laufwerk ......... 22
2.3 Montage der Aluminium-Klemmrings auf einem Laufwerk anderer Hersteller.............. 23
3. Montage des Tracer Tonarms ohne VTA-Lifter ......................................... 24
4. Einstellung des Achsabstands von Tellerspindel zu Tonarmdrehpunkt.... 25
5. Einstellung des Tonarms........................................................................... 25
5.1 Einstellung des VTA ........................................................................................................ 26
5.2 Korrekte Ausrichtung und Einstellung des Tonabnehmers ............................................ 27
5.3 Einstellen des Auagegewichts ...................................................................................... 28
5.4 Einstellung des Azimuth ................................................................................................. 29
5.5 Einstellung des Antiskating ............................................................................................ 30
6. Technische Daten...................................................................................... 31
Garantieinformationen ................................................................................. 32-33

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Page / Seite 20 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2022-06
1. Lieferumfang
Der clearaudio Tracer Tonarm wird in einer speziellen Verpackung geliefert, somit wird ein sicherer
Transport gewährleistet. Bitte prüfen Sie den Inhalt der Verpackung anhand des unten abgebildeten
Bildes und der Inhaltsangabe auf Vollständigkeit.
Bewahren Sie die Original-Verpackung für Transportzwecke unbedingt auf.
1. Tracer Tonarm inkl. Gegengewicht 5. Schrauben:
- 3x Zylinderkopfschraube
(mit Innensechskant) M4 x 10
- 1x Gewindestift M6 x 8 (Edelstahl)
2. clearaudio Klemmring 6. Tonarmeinstellschablone
3. 1 Stk. zusätzliches Gegengewicht 37 g
2 Stk. Senkkopfschraube 3 x 8 mm 7. Bedienungsanleitung, Qualitäts- und Garantiekarte, Rücklieferschein
(ohne Abbildung)
4. Innensechskantschlüssel:
- 1,5 mm
- 2,5 mm
- 3 mm
Schraubendreher
Abb. 1: Lieferumfang
12
5
4
3
6
Empfohlenes Zubehör:
• clearaudio Cartridge alignment gauge Art. Nr. AC005/IEC
• clearaudio Weight Watcher touch Art. Nr. AC163
• clearaudio Mini Level Gauge Art. Nr. AK001
Diese Produkte und viele weitere Zubehörartikel sind erhältlich über unseren Fachhandel oder unter
www.analogshop.de.