Clearaudio Smart Phono V2
A light 620-gram phono stage seduced the worldwide audio press. The only thing that is 'entry-level' about this product is its price.
A minimalist aluminum housing that contains one of the best-sounding phono stages in its market. Up to 54 decibels gain at one kilohertz and an extremely linear frequency response delivers an unprecedented quality at this price point. MM and MC cartridges have two separate circuit designs using SMD technology, which are selected by a slide switch on the underside.
The smart phono headphone V2 option contains a powerful headphone amplifier within the solid aluminum housing for private listening at the highest fidelity.
“Outstanding build and finish” ~ HIFI WORLD
“Superbly designed and built entry-level phono stage with an extremely clean, yet surprisingly full-bodied sound.” ~ HIFI WORLD
Surface-mount technology is used and tested several times. The reward of these efforts is a signal to noise ratio of up to 84 decibels. The input impedance is set using plug-in links, so there is no loss of quality when using different moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.
The smart phono headphone option additionally contains a powerful headphone amplifier within the solid aluminum housing for private listening at the highest fidelity.
Review
For reference here is the review of the Nano, which is similar, but slightly below the Smart in quality
Editor's Choice HiFi News read review
Specifications
| AMPLIFICATION @ 1 KHZ | 34 dB (MM-Mode) 65 dB (MC-Mode) |
| INPUT IMPEDANCE | 47 kOhm / 150pF, 250pF, 400pF / MM 50 OHm, 100 Ohm, 500 Ohm, 1 KOhm, 5kOhm/150pF, 250pF, 400pF / MC |
| MM / MC INPUT | switchable (at bottom) |
| SUBSONIC FILTER | switchable (at bottom) |
| RIAA | delay time: 75 μs / 318 μs / 3180 μs |
| RIAA ACCURACY | ± 0.3 dB @ 10 Hz - 100 kHz |
| THD | < 0,004% MC ("A" @ 1 kHz / -1 dB @ MAX) |
| HEADROOM | 18 dB / MC (Gain Control on MAX) |
| SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO | 72 dB / MC ("A" weighted) 85 dB / MM ("A" weighted) |
| CHANNEL SEPARATION | > 90 dB @ 1 kHz |
| MAX. OUTPUT VOLTAGE | 10 V eff. (1 kHz) |
| POWER CONSUMPTION | Max. consumption: 2.7 Watt Consumption in operation: 2.7 Watt Off mode: 0.0 Watt |
| POWER SUPPLY | ± 18 V DC / 300 mA (external power supply) |
| OUTPUT CONNECTIONS | unbalanced (RCA) |
| WEIGHT | Approx. 620 g (Preamp and power supply) |
| DIMENSIONS (W/D/H in inches) | 3.74 x 4.92 x 1.34 |
| DIMENSIONS (W/D/H in mm) | 95 x 125 x 34 |
| WARRANTY | 3 years* * Provided the warranty card is fully completed and returned to Clearaudio within 2 weeks of purchase. |
