Or, should I have called this "OOops I Did It Again"? I auditioned a Clear Audio Concept in my own system today. I used my Dynavector 10x5. The audition went very well, much different sound than Rega. The Concept had amazing detail, transparency and low noise, which approached more toward a digital presentation, I mean that in a good way, it was analog to be sure yet as quiet and transparent as a good disc player. This can sometimes cause Clear Audio to be misunderstood, including myself, but when hearing it in my system with LP's I was familiar with it became apparent what happens. The sound is a bit foreign at first with all the noise you didn't realize had been there is stripped away, then detail in the music begins to show that you never heard there before. The rig is also honest, not adding any coloration as each LP sounded different as it should based on the different production. When you feel the Concept you can just tell it's a quality built table. The guy that brought the Concept over commented it was the best he had heard the 10x5 sound. He feels the Ortofon MM carts track better on the Concept than the Clear Audio cart. I could have been satisfied with the Concept but made the leap to order the Performance DC. I'll use the 10x5 for a while and think about upgrading down the road.

Frenchmon came over for the audition and brought a 45 rpm pressing of Ella, this album was stunning on the Concept. It's difficult to convey the Clear Audio sound, it doesn't thrust itself at you or over emphasize what's in the grooves but if it's in the grooves you will hear PRAT and more detail than you've probably heard from the album before. If some one was looking for a turntable in the Concept price range one should do themselves a favor and check it out. I probably won't have the Performance here and running until end of month or after but I will post a thread to say how it went and how much difference there is. The Performance is twice the money but the guy was honest and told me there isn't going to be twice the improvement in sound quality.

I am not keen on the wall wart type power supply but was told Clear Audio uses a DC motor which makes the wart necessary. I do like built in speed controls.