Marantz TT 15S1 Turntable - ClearAudio Virtuoso MM Cartridge

A Refined Analog Front End from Marantz and Clearaudio

The Marantz TT-15S1 is a manual turntable built by Clearaudio to Marantz's own specifications. It's essentially an upgraded version of Clearaudio's Emotion turntable, packaged with a Clearaudio Virtuoso moving-magnet cartridge factory-installed and aligned. Its thick acrylic chassis and platter, isolated belt-drive motor, and precision tonearm are built for quiet, low-resonance vinyl playback.

This isn't a brand-new design. The TT-15S1 has held its place in Marantz's lineup for close to two decades, refined along the way rather than replaced outright, and it remains in current production today.

The bundled Clearaudio Virtuoso cartridge has an ebony wood body and an aluminum cantilever. It's tuned for full, detailed sound with strong dynamics, focused imaging, and natural musical balance — matched to this tonearm by Clearaudio's own engineers.

Low-Resonance Acrylic Construction

Acrylic Chassis, Platter, and a Precision Bearing

The thick, high-density acrylic chassis and roughly 1.1-inch acrylic platter keep resonance low and give the record a stable, quiet surface to spin on. Underneath, a hardened steel spindle rides in a polished bronze bearing insert, topped with a ceramic ball for smooth, low-noise rotation.

The AC motor is fully decoupled from the chassis, housed in its own metal enclosure with no direct contact with the acrylic plinth. That isolation keeps motor vibration from ever reaching the platter, tonearm, or cartridge.

A Precision Manual Tonearm

The anodized aluminum tonearm has a 9.4-inch effective length and a fine-adjustable counterweight, where one full turn changes tracking force by half a gram. A contact-free magnetic anti-skating system helps the stylus track both groove walls evenly as it plays.

An endless silicone belt turns the platter at 33⅓ or 45rpm; changing speeds means moving the belt to the other step on the motor pulley by hand. A Clever Clamp presses the record onto the platter without the mass of a traditional clamp, and three solid aluminum feet make the turntable easy to level.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Mike Quinn reviewed the TT-15S1 for JazzTimes, writing that "the translucent white table is not only handsome, it sounds great, too... Marantz has a real winner in this package."

In a related Stereophile review of Clearaudio's Concept turntable, Michael Fremer called the TT-15S1 "essentially an upgraded Clearaudio Emotion" that "looked good, was easy to unbox and set up, and sounded really fine... well beyond its price."

Who Is This Turntable Best For?

• You want a complete premium turntable and cartridge package — the Virtuoso arrives factory-mounted and aligned, ready to play
• You prefer the hands-on experience of a fully manual turntable — there's no auto-start, auto-stop, or auto-return here
• You value a low-resonance acrylic chassis and platter — the same low-coloration approach Clearaudio uses across its own lineup
• You want to fine-tune vertical tracking angle record by record — tonearm height is set once during initial setup, not adjusted on the fly
• You want the Clearaudio Virtuoso fitted and aligned — Marantz supplies it mounted. Add a cover later if you feel you need one

How Does It Connect to Your System?

The TT-15S1 has no built-in phono preamp. Its output always needs an external phono stage with moving-magnet gain — either a receiver or amplifier's own MM phono input, or a separate MM phono preamp.

Setup takes real care: the motor, platter, and tonearm need assembling, and the cartridge's tracking force, tonearm height, and anti-skating all need to be set correctly before your first record. Audio Advisor's product experts can walk you through it.

Pairs Well With

Where the TT-15S1 goes from here:

• Phono preamplifiers — required for playback, since the TT-15S1 has no phono stage built in
• Integrated amplifiers — with a built-in MM phono input to skip a separate box
• Turntable accessories — a dust cover is the first accessory most owners add, since none is included
• Record cleaning machines — a cleaner record surface protects the Virtuoso's stylus and quiets playback

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the TT-15S1 include a cartridge?

Yes. A Clearaudio Virtuoso moving-magnet cartridge, with an ebony wood body, arrives factory-mounted and aligned on the tonearm.

Does it have a built-in phono preamp?

It needs a moving-magnet phono input on your amplifier or receiver, or a separate MM phono preamp — there's no phono stage built in.

Is the TT-15S1 automatic or manual?

Fully manual. You place the tonearm on the record and return it to rest yourself when a side ends.

How do I change speeds, and can it play 78s?

Move the silicone belt to the other step on the motor pulley for 33⅓ or 45rpm. Playing 78 rpm records needs an optional motor pulley that isn't included standard.

Can I adjust tonearm height for different records?

Tonearm height is set once during initial setup, using a supplied adjustment sheet keyed to whether you use the included felt mat. It isn't meant to be changed record by record.

Is a dust cover included?

A dust cover isn't included with the TT-15S1 — a compatible aftermarket cover is worth adding early on.

See It in Action

Clint the Audio Guy reviews the TT-15S1 in depth:

Devoted to Vinyl covers unboxing, setup, and sound:

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Learn More

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