Show Reports

Klaudio presented at least one of their turntables at Capital Audiofest (a.k.a. CAF), including one in the Jaguar Audio room I’d seen and reported on at High End Munich back in May 2025 — the Klaudio Magnezar turntable and tangential tonearm (clamping version, $85,000; non-clamping version, $65,000).

A true high-end turntable pricewise and otherwise, the direct-drive Magnezar table incorporates some unusual design features that appeared to be as striking sonically as they are visually.

Anyone who came across the Magnezar on demo — well, at least in between all the records being played on it, that is — would have noticed blue water-based liquid inside the substantial platter. Its purpose? To help stabilize the platter evenly. During rotation, the centrifugal forces the liquid to the outer edge of the platter’s circumference. Plus, it looks cool, especially when lit up.

Opposing magnetic forces enable the platter to “float” without the need for mechanical thrust bearings. The Magnezar table also uses magnets in a different stabilizing application: for electromagnetic braking. The version with the automatic clamping system flattens the album evenly, at both its center and periphery, Klaudio said. When the tonearm is “home” in its non-playing position, the magnetic clamping forces — on both the top and bottom of a record — release.

The Magnezar can accommodate two tonearms, including the Klaudio KD-ARM-AP12 12in arm. The KD-ARM-AP12 is a tangential tonearm design that pivots and “glides” to achieve advantages of a linear tracking tonearm via mechanical forces, instead of an air-bearing approach. Precise bearings assist in maintaining the arm — and cartridge’s — proper tangential positioning across album playback.

The AP12 arm also comes with a “laser projection pod” that shows the stylus’ tracking position in motion, and it is also equipped with automatic lift and electronic descent. A pushbutton control allows users to raise or lower the tonearm.

Klaudio reported a tracking error spec of 0, with no skating and zero cogging, and quick and easy cartridge headshell switching. Here at CAF 2025, a Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge ($6,595) was in use on the Magnezar. That same Japanese maker also supplied their Phasemation EA-1200 phono preamp with dual power supply ($19,950) to continue the signal chain.

Displayed in Jaguar Audio’s admittedly dimly lit room, the demo system also included a pair of white Estelon YB Mk II loudspeakers ($42,750/pr, with flight cases; white demo set, $27,495/pr) as driven by a Vitus Audio SIA-025 Mk.II integrated amp ($33,600).

In that room, I enjoyed a brief listen to Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”, the opening track on Side 2 of their same-named January 1983 sophomore LP on RCA, which sounded smooth and pristine — particularly Annie Lennox’s vocals. It didn’t sound like ordinary vinyl playback, either — it was more controlled (in a good, even-keeled way), yet unconstrained. It was an intense experience, hearing the subtle nuances of this seminal early-1980s track that much more clearly.

Kudos to Jaguar Audio for playing some atypical musical selections in this demo room, in addition to providing a posted list of the tracks they spun from various genres. Every room host should do the same!

And that’s a wrap on our Capital Audiofest show coverage — and on 2025 too! Happy New Year, everyone!!

If you want to check out Ken Micallef’s “Turntables of Capital Audiofest” video, go here.