Clearaudio Compact Phono, A Phono Stage Small Enough to Disappear Beside the Turntable

Clearaudio Compact Phono is a 115 x 80 x 26mm MM/MC phono stage with external cartridge switching, 40dB and 60dB gain settings, plus 16Hz subsonic and 70kHz ultrasonic filtering.

2026년 September 18일

CLEARAUDIO

Clearaudio Compact Phono, A Phono Stage Small Enough to Disappear Beside the Turntable

CONTENTS

Clearaudio Compact Phono

Clearaudio has introduced the Compact Phono, a small MM/MC phono stage designed to minimize the space required around a turntable. Measuring just 115mm wide, 80mm deep and 26mm high, the unit supports both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges while keeping setup relatively simple.

The Compact Phono is available in Black and Silver. Pricing is listed at €490 in Europe, £490 in the UK and $639 in the US.

MM and MC Switching Without Opening the Chassis

One of the key practical features of the Compact Phono is its external MM/MC switching.

Some earlier compact Clearaudio phono stages rely on underside switches or internal settings for cartridge configuration. The Compact Phono allows users to select MM or MC mode directly from the unit without opening the chassis.

Input impedance and capacitance are specified at 47kΩ / 100pF for MM and 100Ω / 100pF for MC.

Gain is set at 40dB for MM and 60dB for MC, while MC headroom is specified at 29dB.

Two-Stage Amplification Circuit

The Compact Phono uses low-noise, precision operational amplifiers in a two-stage amplification circuit.

Most of the gain is handled in the first stage, while the second stage is used for filtering and additional signal conditioning.

A 16Hz subsonic filter is included to reduce very-low-frequency rumble generated by the turntable or record. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a 70kHz ultrasonic filter limits unwanted high-frequency content outside the audible range.

RIAA equalization is also handled within the internal circuit.

±18V Power Supply

The Compact Phono uses a ±18V power supply architecture, with two linear voltage regulators used to provide stable operating voltage to the phono circuit.

The electronics are housed in a metal enclosure, while isolation feet are fitted underneath to reduce the transmission of external vibration.

Clearaudio also states that the circuit has been designed for improved efficiency, helping reduce both heat generation and power consumption.

Small Size, Simpler Setup

Clearaudio already offers relatively compact MM/MC phono stages such as the Nano Phono V2 and Smart Phono V2.

The Smart Phono V2 measures 95 x 125 x 34mm and uses underside switches for MM/MC configuration. The Nano Phono V2 also relies on DIP-switch settings located underneath the unit.

The Compact Phono reduces the enclosure height to just 26mm while making cartridge-type selection accessible from the outside.

That distinction is arguably more important than the size reduction alone. Rather than focusing on extensive cartridge-loading and gain adjustment, the Compact Phono is designed around a simpler workflow: connect an MM or MC cartridge, select the appropriate mode and use the unit without additional internal configuration.