Clearaudio Performance DC User manual

User manual
© clearaudio
electronic GmbH, 2017/11 Made in Germany
Performance DC
Black with black chassis
Silver with wood chassis
Black with silver chassis
Silver with black chassisSilver with silver chassis
Black with wood chassis

Dear Clearaudio customer,
You have purchased a State-Of-The-Art turntable, the Performance DC , a world class product of
Clearaudio electronic GmbH. Congratulations on your purchase!
The main chassis consists of a complex sandwich of materials: aluminum and HDF material.
The powerful and smooth-running DC motor is integrated within and is effectively decoupled by the
main chassis.
The motor is hidden beneath the platter and drives the precision machined aluminum sub-platter
via a precision machined POM main platter are supported by Clearaudio‘s patented CMB Ceramic
Magnetic Bearing.
The drive system is operated by four blue illuminated buttons, ergonomically integrated into the
front left of the chassis. Almost any commercially available 9 inch tonearm can be tted by virtue of
the easily interchangeable armboards.
Please read this user manual carefully so that you can enjoy all the advantages of your
Performance
DC turntable. All information given will help to generate the best performance and avoid any possi-
ble damages.
We hope you will enjoy your new Clearaudio Performance DC turntable.
Clearaudio electronic GmbH
Please read the warnings before connecting your Performance DC turntable to the mains supply.
WARNINGS
Don’t expose your turntable to rain or humidity.
Don’t handle the mains leads with wet hands.
Don’t place or insert anything into the equipment or through ventilation holes.
No naked ame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the equipment.
CE-MARKING
COPYRIGHT
Recording und reproduction of any sound-material may require the consent of the creator.
Please acknowledge the information given in the
- Copyright Act 1956,
- Dramatic and Musical Performers Act 1958,
- Performers Protection Acts 1963 and 1972,
- Any more recent legal regulations.
The Clearaudio Performance DC meets the regulations concerning electromagnetic
disturbance (EMC) and low-voltage appliances.
User manual
2 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2017/11

Contents
1. Packaging overview ............................................ 4
2. Setup and operation ............................................ 5
3. Special notes ....................................................... 12
4. Technical data ..................................................... 13
Warranty information .............................................. 14
User manual
Made in Germany 3

1. Packaging overview
The Clearaudio Performance DC turntable is delivered in specially designed custom packaging.
Please check the contents according to the following list before you set up your new Clearaudio
Performance DC turntable.
Pic. 1: Packaging overview
1. Layer (top):
Top of bearing, belt, ttings and
accessories (Quality and warranty
card, bearing oil, hex keys)
sub-platter, power supply
If ordered as set:
Tonearm and/or pickup
2. Layer (middle):
Turntable chassis
3. Layer (bottom):
Platter
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please double check the tightness of all bolts and armboard mounting
hardware, as temperature uctuations during transit may have caused the hardware to become
loose.
User manual
4 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2017/11

2. Setup and operation
The Performance DC turntable consists of several components, as described in No 1 (Packaging
overview).
The setup is easy, as some of the components are pre-assembled at the factory. Please make use of
the white gloves enclosed in order to avoid scratches or unwanted ngerprints (e.g on the platter).
Please follow the instructions step by step:
The Performance DC requires a space of at least 16.54 x 12.99 inches for positioning.
16.54 inch
/ 420 mm
12.99 inch / 330 mm
Pic. 2: Setting up space
User manual
Made in Germany 5

2.1
Place the pre-mounted chassis on your hi-rack or another suitable surface.
Pic. 3: Performance DC chassis
2.2
To avoid hum noises it can be necessary to ground the bearing. For that please plug in the provided
ground cable into the hole of the screw from the bearing at the bottom side of the turntable.
Pic. 4: Grounding the bearing of the Performance DC
2.3
Please remove the protective seal from the bearing shaft and place two drops of the synthetic be-
aring oil on the ceramic bearing shaft. Slip the bearing top onto the bearing shaft of the turntable
(also available through www.analogshop.de Art. No. AC068).
Pic. 5: Bearing oil
User manual
6 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2017/11

2.4
Now you can set the bearing upper part carefully onto the bearing. To avoid damages make sure
you slide the bearing upper part slowly and carefully on the polished ceramic shaft.
Pic. 6: Fitting the bearing upper part
2.5
Now you can set the sub-platter carefully onto the bearing (see Pic. 7).
To avoid any damage, make sure you slide the sub-platter slowly and carefully onto the bearing.
After that, take the included belt and place it around the motor and the sub-platter (see Pic. 7.1).
At this point the sub-platter will be higher than the pulley. This is normal, as the CMB requires the
weight of the platter to fully engage it.
Pic. 7: Setting the sub-platter Pic. 7.1: Placing the belt
User manual
Made in Germany 7

2.6
Now you can set the platter carefully onto the bearing. To avoid damage, make sure you slide the
platter slowly and cautiously on the sub-platter/ bearing assembly. Hold the platter securely, so the
platter does not slip or fall on your turntable.
Pic. 8: Setting the platter onto the bearing
2.7
Please check with the bubble level gauge, if your Performance
DC turntable is in a level position.
You can adjust each of the turntable’s feet to get the turntable
level. Only if the turntable is in a level position you will get the
best results with your turntable.
Please note:
Through turning the feets clockwise you will raise the turntab-
le, by turning counter clockwise the turntable will lower.
Pic. 9: Adjustment of the level position
Pic. 9.1: Adjustment of the height
User manual
8 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2017/11

2.8
If the Performance DC turntable was purchased as a package together with the Clarify tonearm,
please follow the below described installation of the tonearm.
Position of the screw
to fasten the tone-
arm with 2 mm allen
key
Boring for the tone-
arm
feet
1. Insert carefully rst the cable and then the tonearm feet through the hole of the tonearm
base.
2. Now adjust the tonearm height.
3. At the end secure the tonearm with the screws with are already integrated at the front of the
mounting base.
4. For tonearm and cartridge mounting please refer to the user manual of the respective manu-
facturer.
Pic. 10: Rear view Clarify tonearm
User manual
Made in Germany 9

If you purchased the Clearaudio Performance DC as package with tonearm and cartridge, you
received also a Smart Stlyus Gauge as accessories, which allows you to adjust the tracking force of
the cartridge.
Pic. 11: Use of the Smart Stylus Gauge
✓

tracking force too high!

tracking force too low!
This position of the diamond corre-
lates to a tracking force of 20 mN
(2.0g).
User manual
10 © clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2017/11