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Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Clearaudio Discovery Phono Cartridge by Karma16

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REVIEW: Clearaudio Discovery Phono Cartridge

65.19.26.165


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Model: Discovery
Category: Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price: $3895
Description: Medium output moving coil
Manufacturer URL: Clearaudio
Manufacturer URL: Clearaudio

Review by Karma16 ( A ) on February 14, 2007 at 19:27:04
IP Address: 65.19.26.165
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This is my first experience with a "Super Cartridge". Discovery is very expensive at $3895. It had better be good. It is. Please read on.

Before I get into the details you need to know my analog set-up. My turntable is an Oracle Delphi V with the optional black granite base and the Turbo power supply. The Discovery is mounted on a Graham 2.2 Deluxe arm. A good turntable, arm and cartridge would be crippled if not mounted properly. My turntable stand is a Lead Balloon with every cavity filled with lead, even those that are not designed to be filled. The stand weighs in at 250 lbs. minus the turntable. Everything that can be spiked is spiked. My home is built on a cement slab which offers a good mechanical ground. I have no known vibration or feedback problems. I know this because I have tested the set-up extensively.

My phono preamp is built into my Audio Research SP-11 Mk II preamp. I have owned the preamp and my ARC D-250 Mk II Servo power amp for about 15 years. I know their sound very well. I consider the SP-11 to be a world class preamp which offers various cartridge loadings from the front panel. The overall system with my Martin Logan CLS IIA electrostatic speakers excel at detail, imaging and resolution. The sound is neither bright nor soft but very neutral. It does not sound like a tube based system. Neither does it sound solid state. I like to think it is a combination of the best qualities of both and, because of the stats, it is fast, fast, fast. These are the qualities I expect from a cartridge especially one as expensive as the Discovery.

I first performed an initial generic cartridge set-up then waited until I had 35 hours on the cartridge before calibrating the arm and cartridge critically. Based upon the test documentation from Clearaudio, I used the recommended tracking force of 2.8 gm. The cartridge changed more than average during break-in. At first, I was not impressed. It sounded bright and constricted with rather amorphous imaging. Detail was not what I expected. I was not disappointed because I’ve been through cartridge break-in many times. I had to wait but I was anxious.

Somewhere between 10 and 20 hours the magic started. I still waited. From 30 to 35 hours the sound stabilized. I think the cartridge is still not quite fully broken in but I was ready to do some serious listening.

Rather than hold you in suspense let me jump to the bottom line. Folks, this is an incredible cartridge, easily the best I have ever heard and I have heard and owned some good ones. It’s over riding quality is balance. Not favoring any instrument or frequency, it sounds more like a great amplifier than a phono cartridge. As it ran in, the initial brightness disappeared and the imaging became more and more specific. It went from not so good to great; pin point in fact. The soundstage also became highly defined in all dimensions. Air, we all know about air. Instruments are precisely placed with each anchoring specific real estate both laterally and the depth dimension. The space around each sound source is empty - air taken to a whole new level in my very airy system.

Recreation of the recording venue is outstanding with the size and walls clearly defined. Reverb, both natural and electronic is precisely audible. On some recordings this embarrasses the heavy handed recording engineer. I now have fewer records that I am happy with. I would consider this quality to be a negative but for the sound from really well recorded albums. The payback is extraordinary.

Bass is harder to evaluate because of interaction with the turntable and arm. Without assigning responsibility, the bass is deep, tight, and tuneful. I have heard cartridges that seem to have stronger bass but not on my system (I have strong subwoofers). So many things interact that I hesitate to gush. Suffice to say that I’m satisfied with the bass. The bass pipes on large organ’s move the walls. I can’t ask for more. It helps my digestion.

Resolution, so important to me, is quite simply real. The little sounds, the ones that many cartridges can’t get right, are obvious. Hearing a dirty saxophone with the musicians spit working on the reed is awesome. Female singers close mic technique makes you want to wander up to the stage for an autograph. Amazing. I really didn’t think a cartridge could do these things. If the information is on the record the Discovery will dig it out.

Speed without being bright is a tough act for any cartridge to pull off. Discovery is fast. Transients drive through the listener like a launched arrow. Yet, it does not sound bright. It’s an interesting combination of talents. I really like this quality because dynamics seem unlimited. Again, its like a great amplifier.

Last, but definitely not least, is the sheer reality of the sound. Instruments sound real. Is this not the goal? A finger nail snapping off a guitar string is more. It is the sound of the ridges on the finger wiping across the string before the nail arrives. No particular instrument is better than others. They all have a quality of reality that defies gravity. They just float in their own real space.

So, do I like the Discovery? No, no, no! And why is this you may ask? This is easy to answer. I don’t think I will ever be able to make do with less. And this sucker is expensive. If you want the best you must pay the piper. I did and now I’m stuck with the consequences. Between you and me, I’m thrilled I did.


Product Weakness: I would say price but won't. You get what you pay for. The Discovery is worth its price. I never thought I would say that. I have not found anything to criticize except the body interferred with the Oracle's record clamp. I had to shave off a corner of the body. That fixed the problem.
Product Strengths: Turns my listening room into the recording venue with me personally present.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: ARC D-250 Mk II Servo; Mark Levinson No. 23 for subs
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): ARC SP-11 Mk II
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Oracle Delpi V w/Turbo power supply
Speakers: Martin Logan CLS IIA's w/ Kinnergetics SW-800 subwoofers
Cables/Interconnects: Self designed and constructed
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, jazz, acid rock, folk
Room Size (LxWxH): 24 ft x 14 ft x 8 ft
Room Comments/Treatments: Fully treated including all first reflection surfaces
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 weeks and continuing
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Isolation transformers, self-made crossovers
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): na




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Topic - REVIEW: Clearaudio Discovery Phono Cartridge - Karma16 19:27:04 02/14/07 ( 24)