clearaudio turntables

Looks like ~ 10-15% increases across the board, that have hit in the last few months? Their base models (Concept, Performance, Ovation, Innovation) are great products that have stood the test of time several years on since introduction. Given inflation, it’s reasonable to do such an increase every few years.

Rather than cranking out MK #’s revisions, redesigns, or even dropping & introducing whole lines every couple years (ahem - VPI), and using that as a time to work in huge price increases, ClearAudio continuously works improvements into their existing models over time. I’ve spotted a number of such improvements on these CA tables, over years. They’ve quite granularly filled gaps in the pricing with in-between models and premiums options (e.g. birch plinth on the Concept). And when comparing past/present pricing you also have to compare apples-to-apples on the options; it appears they finally got rid of that atrocious "Clarify" magnetic arm as one of the lower-cost bundle options (in favor of Satisfy or Tracer), which is a particularly great move IMO. That Clarify arm was holding these great tables back in most real-world conditions. The arm pivot is NOT a good place for magnetic suspensions; a disappointing misstep by CA there. Their rigid bearing arms are fantastic.

The price increase still sucks for new/prospective buyers, but seems pretty reasonable to me.

Weak dollar? Other currencies (e.g. EUR, GBP) are even far weaker. Looks like just typical inflation over the years, coupled with no economies of scale from the very low volume in this high-end niche market.

Huh, I see a lot more the Satisfy/Tracer options in the big online sites selling ClearAudio table bundles, instead of the Clarify. The Tracer looks really nice! Any retailer would be wise to discourage the Clarify, to avoid potential/likely customer problems. 

I really like ClearAudio's present line of tables, and have grown to appreciate mine even more over the years. I also think they're among the very best looking tables in the world; a clean, high-class refined aesthetic without too much bling. I really wish they were more affordable, too. But wow, this thread has veered waaay off from the tables themselves - but since you're the OP anyways, have at it :)

Buy used or better yet vintage refurbs if you're concerned about profit margins. And don't put everything in stocks if you can't take the risk.

There's a cost to distributing high-quality foreign imports, which the Clearaudio line unfortunately gets hit by here in USA. Building a good relationship with an authorized dealer can help a bit with that. They're beautiful tables that run like a dream.

@dwette
The Ovation is a wonderful table. It taps into the performance of the upper-range of the Clearaudio line, and is a sweet spot if you don't require multiple tonearms. Congrats on the arm upgrade to the Universal! I find mine to be an epic match with the Shelter Harmony - I bet that can take down some much more pricey combinations. Don't ever pair the Universal with a Koetsu stone body though, lol.