Clearaudio concept active User manual

© clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2019-02 Made in Germany
concept active
User manual
Bedienungsanleitung

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
2© clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2019-02
User manual.............................................................. 2 - 13
Bedienungsanleitung ................................................14 - 25
Contents
1. Packaging overview .............................................................4
2. List of components...............................................................4
3. Set-up...................................................................................5 - 6
4. Important notes ...................................................................7 - 8
5. Adjustment options..............................................................9 - 10
6. Service..................................................................................11
7. Technical data ......................................................................12 - 13
Warranty information...............................................................26 - 27

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany 3
CE-MARKING
EQUIPMENT MAINS SETTING
Your Clearaudio product has been prepared to comply with the household power and safety
requirements that exist in your area.
This product can be connected to 230 V or 110 V AC (50 Hz and 60 Hz).
The Clearaudio concept active meets relevant regulations concerning electromagnetic
disturbance (EMC) and low-voltage appliances.
Dear Clearaudio customer,
Thank you for purchasing the Clearaudio
concept active turntable package.
The concept active turntable features an integrated Clearaudio phonostage and headphone output.
The conceptactive package isavailablewith either ourfrictionless,magnetic bearingconcept tonearm
or our award-winning, direct-wired Satisfy Kardan Aluminium tonearm. The package is completed
with a choice of either the concept V2 MM or the concept mc cartridge.
All of the concept active’s key parameters - from tracking force to anti-skating - are ne-tuned as
part of the manufacturing process, leaving you nothing to do but sit back and enjoy.
Please read this instruction manual carefully to ensure correct and easy setup, to avoid any potential
damage and hence voiding of your warranty, and to discover how to care for your concept active to
ensure many years of high performance.
We wish you a much musical enjoyment with your new Clearaudio concept active turntable.
Clearaudio electronic GmbH
The following section must be read before any connection to the mains power supply.

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
4© clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2019-02
1. Packaging overview
Clearaudio has developed a special, secure packaging for your concept active turntable which
ensures safe transportation.
Please keep the original packaging as it will be required if you need to transport the turntable.
2. List of components
1) Turntable chassis with tonearm, cartridge and drive belt on sub-platter.
2) Turntable platter.
3) Accessories: Level gauge, allen key (size 2), power supply incl. adaptor, grounding wire,
bearing oil, interconnect RCA/RCA Smart Wire (1m) user manual, Clearaudio return delivery
note, warranty card.
First layer:
concept active turntable chassis including
integrated motor unit and tonearm with
cartridge.
Second layer:
Turntable platter,
accessories box,
user manual,
Clearaudio return delivery note,
warranty card
Pic. 1: Packaging overview

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany 5
3. Set-up
Setting up the concept active turntable is easy.
The turntable chassis, tonearm and cartridge are already assembled and all key parameters have
been pre-adjusted and tested at the Clearaudio factory.
The concept active turntable needs a set-up space of at least 17 x 14 inches.
1)
First, take the
concept active turntable chassis out of
the package and place it on a suitable surface.
Then, remove the drive belt from the plastic bag.
2)
Place the drive belt around the sub-platter and
around the motor pulley.
3)
Take the platter out of the package and carefully
place it with both hands onto the shaft.
4)
Carefully remove the adhesive security tape and
further security materials from the tonearm and the
cartridge.
Pic. 3: Placing the drive belt
Pic. 5: Removing the adhesive security tape
Pic. 2: Placing the turntable
Pic. 4: Mounting the platter

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
6© clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2019-02
5)
Since all key parameters have been adjusted at the
Clearaudio factory, all you need to do is to level the
turntable using the level gauge provided.
6)
If your
concept active turntable is not in a perfectly
level position, as indicated by the bubble of the level
gauge not being positioned in the centre of the black
circle, you can adjust the turntable‘s feet by turning
them clockwise or anti-clockwise until you reach a
perfectly level position. You can then lock in the ideal
position of the spikes using the lock screw.
You will only get the best sound from your concept
active turntable if the turntable is in a perfectly level
position.
7)
Connect one end of the external power supply
provided to the socket on the rear of the concept
active turntable and the other end to a live AC outlet.
Then connect the turntable to your power amplier
or active speakers using the supplied interconnect
cable.
Your concept active turntable is now fully set up and
ready to play and enjoy.
Pic. 6: Levelling the turntable
Pic. 7: Adjustment of the turntable feet
Pic. 8: Power supply of the turntable
Lock screw

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany 7
4. Important notes
4.1 Adjustment of the tracking force
Never check or adjust the tracking force when there is a record on the platter.
Always remove the record rst. The pre-adjusted and recommended tracking for the Clearaudio
concept V2 MM cartridge is 2.4g and for the Clearaudio concept mc cartridge, 2.2g (+/- 0.2g).
4.2 Adjustment of the tonearm height
Since everything on the turntable is pre-assembled and
tested, including tonearm and cartridge, there is usually
no need to change any parameters on the
concept active
turntable. If you wish to change the height of your
tonearm please refer to your nearest qualied dealer or
service personnel.
Your dealer can adjust the height by loosening the locking
screw on the side of the tonearm base of your turntable.
Clearaudio assumes no liability for incorrect handling or any damage caused, if non qualied
persons attempt these adjustments.
4.3 Adjustment of the anti-skating
Again, since everything on the turntable is pre-assembled
andtested,includingtonearmandcartridge,thereisusually
no need to change any of the
concept active turntable
parameters.
If you wish to change your cartridge and to adjust the anti-
skating force please refer to your nearest qualied dealer
or service personnel.
Your dealer will nd the anti-skating adjuster on the
underside of the turntable.
Clearaudio assumes no liability for incorrect handling or any damage caused if non-qualied
persons attempt the above adjustments.
Pic. 10: Adjustment of the anti-skating
Pic. 9: Adjustment of the tonearm height

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
8© clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2019-02
4.4 Fine speed adjustment
Given that the motor adjustment is already pre-set by Clearaudio, there is no need to check the
speed before using the turntable for the rst time.
To adjust the speed as perfectly and precisely as possible, we recommend the Clearaudio
Stroboscope test record (Art. No. AC038) and the Clearaudio “Speed Light” (Art. No. AC039, both
available at www.analogshop.de).
On the rear side of your turntable (close to the power supply input) there are three speed setting
controls:
- Left control = setting 78rpm
- Middle control = setting 45rpm
- Right control = setting 33 1/3rpm
(near power supply jack)
Pic. 11: Speed setting controls on the rear

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
Made in Germany 9
5. Adjustment options
The integrated Clearaudio phonostage with headphone output and volume control directly on
the turntable give you everything you need to enjoy your favourite records without having to add
additional equipment. The excellent integrated headphone amplier is suitable for all good quality,
dynamic headphones and active speakers.
If you prefer to listen through loudspeakers or want to share your music with friends, simply plug
your regular amplier into the RCA socket at the rear of the deck.
The integrated phonostage can also be switched o in order to use your own.
You will nd all other adjustment options at the rear of the deck.
Caution:
To prevent possible damages operate the switches on the backside only when the speed
control is in position “0”.
1) SUBSONIC
On/o switch for subsonic lter.
on
o
2) GAIN
Adjustment of the amplication factor according to your cartridge.
For Clearaudio MC cartridges we recommend the "high" setting and for Clearaudio MM cartridges
the "low" setting.
mid
high
low
Pic. 12: Adjustment options 1)
5) 2) 3) 4)

User manual / Bedienungsanleitung
10 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2019-02
3) MODE
Choose between MM/MC mode
MM = Input impedance of the integrated phonostage 47 kOhm
MC = Input impedance of the integrated phonostage 500 Ohm
4) RCA OUTPUT
Due to an additional board, the signal is always active on the headphone output and can be controlled
by the volume control on the turntable, regardless of the chosen setting.
passive
= The integrated phonostage is deactivated, so you can connect the
turntable as usual to your external hi- system.
variable
= The integrated phonostage is activated and the volume of the
signal on the RCA outputs can be adjusted using the volume control
on the concept active .
active
= The integrated phonostage is activated, the signal output through
the RCA output is at full power.
5) GND (Grounding screw for optional grounding)
In the event of humming noises, we recommend connecting the included grounding wire between
your turntable and your amplier.
Please note:
Phonostages are devices designed to provide a very high level of amplication. This is necessary
because the electrical signal generated by a phono cartridge is extremely low (usually less than
one-thousandth of a volt). The job of the phonostage is therefore to accurately equalize the phono
signal and boost it to line level (measured in volts).
However, phonostages are by nature extremely sensitive, which leads to the potential problem that
high-frequency interference may also be amplied to a point at which it becomes noticeable.
Unfortunately it is not possible to completely protect the sensitive phonostage circuitry from this
interference without degrading its high delity performance. Therefore care must be taken to position
the phonostage away from sources of high frequency interference such as mobile phones, modems
and powerline communication systems (PLC) in which data is sent over the mains power network.