Clearaudio Concept vs Michell Engineering Orbe
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Clearaudio Concept · Michell Engineering Orbe.
| Specification | Clearaudio Concept |
Michell Engineering Orbe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Highlighted difference. $3,000 | $3,750 (used) |
| Category | High-end | High-end |
| Status | current | discontinued |
| Years | 2009–present | 1995–? |
| Drive | belt drive | belt drive |
| Speeds | Highlighted difference. 33/45/78 rpm | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | Highlighted difference. Concept MM/MC | sold bare |
| Phono stage | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | POM | acrylic/vinyl, heavy |
| Tonearm | Clearaudio friction-less magnetic-bearing | sold bare |
| Wow & flutter | — | — |
Practical differences
Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.
The Clearaudio Concept undercuts the Michell Engineering Orbe by $750 — $3,000 against $3,750, bearing in mind one figure is a current reference price and the other a typical used price that moves with condition.
Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.
The Michell Engineering Orbe is discontinued, so that side of this comparison is really "used Michell Engineering Orbe vs new Clearaudio Concept" — factor in condition, service history and the lack of a warranty against a fresh unit with manufacturer support.
Bottom line: the Clearaudio Concept has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the $750 gap.
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Clearaudio Concept…
Retailer searches
6 US retailers stock Clearaudio — linked directly to the product page where we have one, otherwise to a site search for the deck.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acoustic Sounds | hifi independent | Ships worldwide from Salina, Kansas at carrier rates. | View at Acoustic Sounds ↗ |
| Elusive Disc | hifi independent | Free shipping on orders over $79. | View at Elusive Disc ↗ |
| Audio Advice | hifi independent | Free shipping on most orders. | Search at Audio Advice ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| Turntable Lab | hifi independent | Free shipping to the continental US on most orders (bulk/oversized items excluded). | Search at Turntable Lab ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | Search at Upscale Audio ↗ |
Retailer searches
4 US retailers handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| Guitar Center | music retail | Free standard shipping on most orders $25+. | Search at Guitar Center ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at Reverb ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | Search at Upscale Audio ↗ |

