Clearaudio 7" 45 rpm Adapter - Precision Stainless Steel

The Clearaudio 45 Adapter — Machined From Solid Stainless Steel

A 7-inch 45 rpm adapter, sold singly, machined from solid stainless steel. It fills the large center hole in a 45 so the record sits on a normal spindle, and it does it with tolerances tight enough that the record does not move on it.

Most 45 adapters are stamped plastic. They work, in the sense that the record goes round — but a loose adapter lets a single sit fractionally off center, and off center at 45 rpm is audible as pitch wavering on every sustained note.

Fit and Materials

Why Mass and Tolerance Matter

Clearaudio's argument is that the adapter's weight and exact tolerances reduce wobble and improve rotation. A heavier adapter with a closer fit gives the record less room to shift and less inclination to do so once it is turning.

What It Fits

It fits any turntable with a conventional spindle, and any 7-inch single with the large center hole. Nothing about it is turntable-specific — the spindle diameter is a standard that has not changed in seventy years.

Stainless steel rather than aluminum or plastic means it will not deform, corrode or wear at the bore. Clearaudio's own framing is that it is built to last a lifetime, which for an object with no moving parts is a reasonable claim.

Who Is This Adapter Best For?

• You play a lot of singles — the format where a sloppy adapter shows up most
• Your plastic adapter is loose — a worn bore lets the record sit off center
• You hear pitch wavering on 45s — an off-center single is a common cause and a cheap fix
• You want one that will not wear out — solid stainless steel with no moving parts
• Your singles have standard small centers — those need no adapter at all; see turntable accessories for what they do need

How Do You Use It?

Drop it over the spindle, then lower the single onto it so the record's center hole seats on the adapter's outer diameter. Check the record sits flat and central before lowering the arm — a single that is visibly orbiting is one that will sound like it.

Pairs Well With

What most singles collectors keep alongside.

• Record mats — mat thickness changes arm height
• Replacement styli — the consumable at the business end
• Cartridge alignment tools — the rest of the setup kit
• Turntable accessories — the rest of the small parts

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it fit my turntable?

It fits a conventional turntable spindle, which is a long-standing standard. There is nothing make-specific about it.

How many do I need?

One, sold singly — you move it from record to record. A second is only useful if you have two turntables.

Why not just use the plastic one?

A stamped plastic adapter has looser tolerances and wears at the bore. Clearaudio's case for this one is weight and exact tolerances, both of which reduce how far a single can sit off center.

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Learn More

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