Clearaudio Celebrity Meola Edition Review

In collaboration with star guitarist Al Di Meola, Clearaudio developed the “Celebrity Meola Edition” in the shape of a guitar, using proven components. Does it play as virtuously as it looks?

Is there a HiFi fan who doesn’t have an album by or featuring the American guitarist Al Di Meola in their collection? He is known for perfectly recorded, sonically excellent studio albums – his latest work, “Twentyfour,” was recently released as a double LP. His biggest coup, however, was in 1980, when he teamed up with the legendary guitar trio John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia to release the live concert recording “Friday Night In San Francisco” – the best-selling live guitar album of all time, which is likely a staple in most record collections.

In 2023, the Guitar Hero even lent his face and image to the Munich High-End Fair. During this event, the Franconian analog specialist Clearaudio suggested a collaboration for an exclusive, limited-edition turntable (only 1,000 units) designed to resemble an electric guitar.

Al Di Meola, who contributed his ideas to the project, liked the concept so much that the turntable is now available for just under $4,200, fully equipped with a custom cartridge, as the “Celebrity Meola Edition.” It is the first model in a new series from Clearaudio, honoring prominent artists over time.

“TURNABLES ARE OFTEN ALSO DESIGN OBJECTS. THAT’S FINE IF THE QUALITY FITS…”

A designer turntable made from quality components

The chassis, resting on three short, height-adjustable feet, is available in either glossy black or with a matte wood finish. The turntable’s white binding emphasizes its sleek curves, and the body is made from high-density fiberboard (HDF). It features the well-known “Profiler” tonearm from the Clearaudio lineup, with the matching MM cartridge called “Celebrity” meticulously adjusted at its tip. Fortunately, the production team took great care here, as the rounded edges of the new headshell, under which the pick-up disappears when viewed from above, make it unnecessary to align with an overhang template.

To avoid stressing the sensitive tonearm bearings during transport, the tight counterweight must be screwed on manually. It lacks a scale, but a rubber ring on the thread indicates how far it should be turned forward to achieve the correct tracking force of around 2.2 millinewtons. While this gives a rough position, it’s best optimized using the supplied, simple yet surprisingly accurate, balance scale.

Before starting, the flat belt must be looped around the aluminum sub-platter (already installed in its pre-lubricated bearing) and the motor pulley, as well as a tension roller to prevent flutter. Make sure the belt runs exactly in the center and doesn’t slip downward. With a bit of patience, it’s no problem!

The motor, controlled by Clearaudio’s “Tacho-Speed-Control” system, is suspended on six vibration-damping O-rings, preventing any vibrations from reaching the solid chassis. “TSC” allows for precise speed adjustments of both 33 and 45 RPM, which takes some time to set but works reliably once done (see box). Since a fresh calibration occurs at each startup, it’s best not to stop the platter for every record change but to remove and place records while the platter is still spinning. The semi-transparent, impeccably crafted 1.9-kilo acrylic platter is slightly smaller in diameter than a standard LP, making it easy to handle without accidents.

Each of the 1,000 Celebrity Meola turntables includes Al Di Meola’s 1977 album “Elegant Gypsy,” featuring the popular, virtuosic track “Mediterranean Sundance” as an LP. But it’s not just any LP! It’s a special 180-gram reissue from US-label Impex Records, pressed in pink vinyl and limited to the same number of copies. The highlight: The individual serial numbers of the turntable and record match.

Thanks to the detailed German-language manual, the roughly 22-pound Celebrity Meola Edition is quick to set up. Once the main switch on the back is flipped on, two tiny red LEDs light up next to the guitar knob on the control panel, which bears Meola’s signature. Press the knob, and the platter accelerates to 33.33 RPM. Pressing it again speeds it up to 45 RPM. Pressing it once more or holding it longer stops the turntable.

Not just great for guitar music

Once the flat chassis is leveled using the included bubble level, and the high-quality, gold-plated RCA connectors on the permanently installed tonearm cable are plugged into the amplifier’s phono input or an external preamp, you’re ready to go.

Since the MM pick-up’s output is slightly below average, you can comfortably raise the amplification – 42 to 46 decibels are practical. Don’t worry, though – the “Celebrity” MM, with its elliptical stylus on an aluminum carrier, is largely forgiving.

So, let’s put on the included pink Al Di Meola record. Just as bold and lively as its color, the music jumps out. With his second album under his name, Al Di Meola sought a more musical expression than his debut “Land Of The Midnight Sun,” but this album is still dynamic. The crisp intro of “Race With Devil On Spanish Highway” was delightfully dry and crunchy, with the soundstage expanding in all directions and the subtle percussion attacks being reproduced with precision.

Even Ana Caram’s intricate, spatially and rhythmically complex track “Maybe” showed that the guitar-shaped Clearaudio is not just a design object, but a serious turntable with high-fidelity aspirations. Given its quality components and proven foundation, we would have expected no less.

The turntable’s tonal balance is spot-on. While the frequency curve of the MM pick-up slightly rolls off in the upper ranges, it creates a more sonorous tone and adds to the sense of physicality. No worries, though – transparency and soundstage detail remain intact. The highs also pick up again, ensuring that the sound is fresh and vibrant. Overall, it’s a subtly executed but masterful tuning!

Does the eye listen too?

After listening to countless vinyl records, Clearaudio’s design triumph, which is a real eye-catcher, confirmed the impression of a fully developed, mature turntable for those who appreciate the special and may even have an affinity for Al Di Meola’s music – and there are quite a few.

But it’s not just the Guitar Hero who shines with the Celebrity Al Di Meola Edition. In total, the turntable has few preferences, except perhaps for acoustic instruments and voices, whose aura and soul it preserves – yet another small masterpiece!

Specs

Verdict

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