Clearaudio Basic V2 phono preamplifier

The Clearaudio Basic Plus phono preamplifier is one of the biggest successes from Clearaudio. Today, the manufacturer replaces this by a more developed version: the Basic V2 phono preamp!

CLEARAUDIO BASIC V2: FRONT PANEL AND BACK PANEL

Seen from the outside, this Basic V2 has nothing in common with the previous version. It is presented in a new housing made of silver or black solid anodized aluminium.

The design is careful but simple, there is just a switch on the upper surface.

At the back, we find two pairs of high-quality RCA, a mass thumb wheel and a socket dedicated to the external power supply.

CLEARAUDIO BASIC V2: CIRCUIT AND PARAMETERS

Inside, the components and their placement are of a very high quality. This ensures precision for the RIAA correction less than 0.1 dB, a distortion rate less than 0.002 % and a signal-to-noise ratio of 72 dB!

Under this phono preamp, there are two switches. The first one allows you to switch between the MM or MC mode, while the second one turns on the subsonic filter to 20 Hz (-18 dB / Oct). The filter mitigates the low frequency unwanted noises.

CLEARAUDIO BASIC V2: COMPATIBILITY

Connection and starting up is biblically simple... If it can be associated with 99% of the MM cartridges, it may not be the same with the low output MC cartridges.

This Clearaudio Basic V2 works better with phono cartridges having a quite high internal resistance (more than 20/30 Ohms).

CLEARAUDIO BASIC V2: TEST AND LISTENING

With low-impedance cartridges, the restitution will give more brightness, even a lack of matter. All the more so as this phono preamplifier enables detail and transparency with a relatively high-degree of neutrality.

The bass are very clear and structured. Nothing drools and disturbs the rest of the spectrum. Of course, this is positive on voices and strings that win scale here.

Drums have a lot of impact and give a very demonstrative representation of the work.

We also find an excellent sound scene with a precise positioning of the musicians.

Noise and breath are at a very low level for a phono preamplifier of this range!

This Clearaudio Basic V2 phono preamplifier will be the ideal partner of MC cartridges from Clearaudio! We also discovered excellent associations with the Hana cartridges and Benz Micro cartridges.