The turntable plinth is prime real estate for audio brands to show off. Over the years, we have seen everything from lighting to a prism with rainbows and even a yellow submarine. It takes a lot to stand out in that crowd. The Clearaudio Celebrity “Al Di Meola” Edition manages it by doing something surprisingly simple: it looks like a guitar. Not a graphic of one. Not a printed portrait. The actual body shape of an electric guitar forms the chassis.
The first in Clearaudio’s new Celebrity series, this edition pays tribute to jazz legend Al Di Meola without resorting to obvious fan service. No oversized autograph splashed across the top. Just a silhouette that makes its allegiance clear.
The chassis is made from resonance-optimized medium-density wood fibre, offered in black with special plastic veneer or real rosewood veneer. It measures approximately 460 × 360 × 140 mm (18.11 × 14.17 × 5.51 inches) and weighs around 10 kg, including tonearm and cartridge. A 30 mm main platter made from high-density synthetic material sits on a polished steel spindle with a sintered bronze bushing and Teflon thrust pad.
Drive duties fall to a decoupled 12V DC motor using a flat belt system. Clearaudio’s Tacho Speed Control monitors rotation in real time and auto-calibrates at every restart, keeping speed accuracy within ±0.05% at 33 ⅓ and 45 rpm. The motor is isolated using IMS light suspension with O-rings to keep vibrations away from the music.
The guitar’s volume knob becomes a multifunction control for start, speed selection, standby, and fine calibration. It comes fitted with a special Profiler tonearm and a dedicated Celebrity MM cartridge.
Limited to 1,000 pieces, each package includes a numbered Al Di Meola release and a guitar pick. The Clearaudio Celebrity “Al Di Meola” Edition is priced at €3,950 (US$4,655).
Images: Clearaudio [DE].
Story via T3.