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Thread: Clearaudio Weightwatcher - thoughts

  1. #1
    Join Date: Dec 2015

    Location: Alicante. Spain.

    Posts: 1,885
    I'm Adrian.

    Default Clearaudio Weightwatcher - thoughts



    So I finally received my Clearaudio Weightwatcher a few weeks ago and thought I'd offer an opinion.

    Most cart manufacturers specify a reasonably broad VTF range, for example 1.8 - 2.5g, but a handful don't. My Allaerts has to operate within 0.1g either side of 1.8g if it's to operate and sound at its best.

    Previously I had been using one of those cheap (£20) generic electronic Chinese scales from eBay and even though I'd changed batteries and recalibrated it a number of times it wasn't consistent. I put this down to the arm drifting but always found it difficult to believe this could happen over a 48 hour period, for example. So sensitive is the Allaerts that inconsistencies were always apparent with sound quality.

    The Chinese (rebranded for many other manufacturers) had one other flaw - the weighing platform was too high and to have it at the right position of a 120g (happy medium) vinyl it needed to sit on a makeshift platform alongside the platter. I was never happy with this as VTF changes with stylus height.

    So I took the plunge and spent €220 on the Clear Audio. Worth it? Read on...

    1. Build quality - superb. Lots of aluminium in the casing and weighing/calibration platform.

    Soft, small sorbithane feet protect your platter.

    LCD screen is super bright and easily readable.

    Quibble? Well the function buttons are a little stiff and require some pressure to activate, which if it was on a belt driven platter with spring suspension would piss you off.

    Yes you could switch it on before placing it but it's best not moved once activated and self calibrated.

    It isn't a problem for me with the DD SP10.

    2. Positioning - perfect. The actual measuring 'lip', where you place the stylus is at the correct height for a 120g vinyl when the weightwatcher is in situ on the platter.

    The weightwatcher needs to be perfectly level, easily checked with a spirit level on the large calibrating platform.

    My tenutu platter mat is slightly raised towards the outer edge but 2 little paper shims have that sorted.

    3. Performance - absolute consistency, every day at 1.8g for the last couple of weeks. Each switch on of the system and drop off the needle has given exactly the same performance from the Allaerts. Wonderful.

    4. Value for money - in this game reliability is worth a lot. So, yes.

    Adey.

    Sent from my Aquaris E4.5 using Tapatalk
    Technics SP10 mk2
    Jan Allaerts MC 1 Boron mk1 cart
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    Hashimoto HM-X SUT
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    Cardas Golden Presence interconnects

  2. #2
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

    Posts: 99,005
    I'm Grant.

    Default

    A lot of money Adey, but if its working well then cheap at price for you. Ive a cheap chinese one too and not had any trouble with it fortunately, and still retain my balance scales in case.
    Looks like a nice low platform on that one.
    Regards,
    Grant .... ؠ ......Don't be such a big girl's blouse

    I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply-doesn't-work
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  3. #3
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Nice one, Adey. The Clearaudio is also my selected 'weapon' of choice!

    Not the cheapest, for sure, but IMO the best at reasonably sensible money - and certainly more accurate than the cheapo Chinese ones I've used before, which proved to be a false economy [sorry Grant].

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


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