Balance Reference

About the Balance Reference

The Clearaudio Balance Reference is a flagship phono preamplifier designed for audiophiles seeking top-tier analog playback. It features a dual-mono design with separate power supplies for each channel, ensuring minimal interference and maximum sound purity. The unit supports both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges with switchable modes and offers adjustable input impedance and capacitance to perfectly match a wide range of cartridges. It includes a subsonic filter at 20 Hz, volume control accessible via remote, and two headphone outputs. The phono stage provides exceptional RIAA accuracy (±0.1 dB from 20 Hz to 100 kHz), extremely low distortion (<0.001%), and high signal-to-noise ratios (-89 dB MM, -79 dB MC). Outputs are available in balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA formats, with output impedance of 150 Ω and 75 Ω respectively. The device is housed in separate left and right channel units with dedicated power supply chassis, emphasizing a strict dual mono architecture. Dimensions are approximately 24 cm width, 8 cm height, and 15 cm depth per unit, with a weight of about 2.9 kg each. The Balance Reference is priced around €7900 and comes with a 3-year warranty after registration.