Clarus Concerto MKII
CLARUS CONCERTO MKII POWER CONDITIONER
The Flagship Clarus Eight-Outlet 20-Amp Power Conditioner for High-End Audio Systems
By combining rigorous engineering with extensive listening across analog and digital systems, Clarus designed the Concerto MKII power conditioner to reduce electrically induced noise without compromising the musical performance of high-end home audio systems. Instead of pursuing maximum attenuation at any cost, the MKII design targets real-world noise the way it actually propagates through an audio system, preserving dynamic impact, tonal density, and low-level detail.
The Concerto MKII is a reference-grade audiophile power conditioner engineered to supply clean, stable AC power to high-performance analog, digital, and high-current audio and video components—ideal for amplifiers, source components, and mixed analog/digital systems that demand low noise and unrestricted current delivery. The MKII features application-specific outlet banks for analog, digital, and high-current components, along with protection and chassis vibration control, and mechanical support for heavy-gauge power cables—built to keep systems quiet, stable, and unconstrained.
The Concerto MKII power conditioner uses eight high-performance hospital-grade 20-amp outlets engineered for long-term contact integrity and reliability. Angled at 45 degrees for easy access, each duplex outlet bank and its associated filter circuit are isolated to prevent interaction between connected components. Outlet banks are labeled ANALOG, DIGITAL, and HIGH CURRENT to guide correct component pairing and ensure the intended filtering strategy is applied.
POWER CONDITIONING TECHNOLOGY
Application-Specific AC Delivery System
The Concerto MKII power conditioner’s analog duplex outlet bank connects to a filter topology specifically selected for sensitive front-end electronics, such as phono preamplifiers and line-stage preamplifiers (solid-state or tube). The MKII uses high-permeability, common-mode Clarus FluxCore filtering paired with Ferrite-bead-based filters to reduce ground-referenced noise while preserving unrestricted current delivery—supporting harmonic structure, low-level decay, and dynamic contrast. Oil-filled capacitors further improve thermal stability and long-term reliability. In listening evaluations, they also contribute to improved smoothness, tonal density, and overall musical coherence.
Two individually filtered digital duplex outlet banks supply clean power to DACs, network streamers, disc transports, and video components. These outlets use a multi-stage approach that applies differential-mode filtering to address noise between the line and neutral conductors, followed by common-mode Clarus FluxCore filtering to suppress noise referenced to ground, reducing high-frequency interference generated by digital circuitry without compromising performance.
The high current duplex outlet bank is engineered as a power conditioner for amplifiers, receivers, powered speakers, and powered subwoofers—components that draw large transient current bursts. The MKII uses common-mode Clarus FluxCore filtering, oil-filled capacitors, and a 30-amp Clarus FluxCore HC inductor as the foundation of the high-current path, paired with ferrite-bead-based filters designed to reduce conducted noise while maintaining unrestricted current delivery during musical peaks.
This unique application-specific architecture allows the Concerto MKII to function as a power conditioner for analog and digital audio systems without compromising dynamics or tonal balance.
20-Amp Power Architecture and Star Grounding
The Concerto MKII incorporates isolated-ground, 20-amp hospital-grade outlets and a full 20-amp internal power path, allowing it to operate optimally on both 15-amp and 20-amp residential circuits while ensuring that internal conductors, filtering, and power distribution never become a current-limiting factor. When connected to a 20-amp supply, the MKII provides up to 2400 watts of available power (versus 1800 watts on a 15-amp circuit)—offering substantial headroom and reducing power-supply stress during dynamic peaks for both amplifiers and source components.
Power is distributed internally using heavy-gauge, tin-plated copper bus bars rather than point-to-point wiring. This low-resistance, mechanically robust approach minimizes voltage drop and supports high transient current demands without sag, helping maintain system stability and dynamic authority under load. A star-ground architecture with isolated ground paths further reduces ground-borne noise and prevents unwanted interaction between connected components.
Clarus FluxCore Filtering and Vibration Control for Lower Noise and Higher Stability
The Concerto MKII power conditioner’s analog, digital, and high-current filter networks feature Clarus FluxCore technology—high-permeability nanocrystalline core inductors selected to provide strong high-frequency noise suppression while maintaining linear performance under demanding current conditions. This combination helps reduce conducted interference without inserting series resistance or imposing the current-limiting behavior that can flatten dynamics in sensitive analog systems. The selected core materials also exhibit low mechanical noise and reduced vibration-related artifacts, supporting quieter operation in high-resolution.
The MKII also addresses mechanical vibration created inside inductive filter elements. Magnetic forces within cores and copper windings can produce low-level vibration during operation. To control this, Clarus applies constrained-layer damping material to the interior of the chassis to absorb vibration at the source and prevent it from being stored or re-radiated within the enclosure.
Under/Over Voltage Protection for Safe Operation
Audio components can be sensitive to extreme voltage changes. Brownouts and overvoltage events can stress or damage the internal components of connected audio equipment, leading to costly repairs. To provide protection, the Concerto MKII power conditioner includes undervoltage and overvoltage protection with automatic shutdown and recovery to normal operation once safe voltage returns. If the line voltage drops below 90 VAC or rises above 135 VAC, an audible alarm alerts the user when a fault condition is detected. The alarm can be enabled or disabled.
Protection Architecture and LED Safety Indicators
The Concerto MKII power conditioner incorporates a layered protection system that safeguards audio equipment during fault conditions. A hydraulic-magnetic circuit breaker is employed to protect against overcurrent conditions caused by excessive loads or short circuits. Selected for consistent trip behavior and strong tolerance to inrush current, hydraulic-magnetic protection remains stable across operating temperatures—unlike thermal breakers.
Surge protection circuitry and internal monitoring protect the unit in the event of abnormal conditions and automatically shut it down for safety, while a front-panel protection fault LED indicates the status. A highly sophisticated thermal metal oxide varistor (TMOV) provides 960 joules of surge suppression, with an integral temperature sensor that triggers a relay and disconnects power if a critical temperature is reached.
Built-In Cable Support
The Concerto MKII power conditioner includes a cable support system to manage heavy power cables and reduce strain on outlet connections.
Designed for Unrestricted Current Delivery
The Concerto MKII power conditioner is engineered to deliver current freely during dynamic demands rather than constrain it—particularly for high-current power amplifiers and other high-demand loads. For best results, use a high-quality power cable appropriate for high-current applications. The Clarus CCP-HC Crimson High Current Power Cable is an excellent choice. Power cable not included (sold separately).
Clarus Concerto MKII operation manual
SPECIFICATION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do audiophile power conditioners improve sound quality?
Yes. High-performance, audiophile-grade systems benefit from lower noise, improved grounding stability, and cleaner power delivery—often experienced as a quieter background and clearer low-level detail. Clarus engineered the Concerto MKII power conditioner to address these factors without restricting current delivery.
What makes the Concerto MKII power conditioner different from the original Concerto?
The MKII builds on the original design by increasing current headroom, improving grounding and power distribution, and refining filtering and mechanical noise control. These updates were implemented as a coordinated system to further reduce noise while preserving dynamics, tonal density, and low-level detail—particularly in systems with multiple or high-current components.
Does the Concerto MKII power conditioner limit current to power amplifiers?
No. Clarus engineered the MKII to avoid limiting current. Its high-current outlet bank uses common-mode Clarus FluxCore-HC filtering, differential-mode filtering, oil-filled capacitors, ferrite-bead-based filters, a 30-amp choke, and a full 20-amp internal power path to support large transient current demands without compression or dynamic flattening.
Is the Concerto MKII power conditioner suitable for both analog and digital systems?
Yes. The MKII uses application-specific filtering for analog, digital, and high-current components. Sensitive analog components benefit from common-mode noise reduction without series resistance, while digital components receive multi-stage filtering to suppress high-frequency noise without affecting performance.
What are the benefits of the 20-amp internal circuitry?
The Concerto MKII power conditioner’s 20-amp internal design ensures that wiring, filtering, and power distribution never become a bottleneck. When connected to a 20-amp supply, it can deliver up to 2400 watts of available power, reducing power-supply stress and improving stability during dynamic peaks.
Why does the Concerto MKII power conditioner use oil-filled capacitors?
Oil-filled capacitors offer superior thermal stability, insulation, and long-term reliability compared to dry film or electrolytic designs. In listening evaluations, they also contribute to smoother harmonic textures, greater tonal density, and improved musical coherence under sustained load.
How does star grounding improve performance?
The Concerto MKII power conditioner uses isolated-ground outlets arranged in a star-ground configuration. This design prevents circulating ground currents, reduces ground-borne noise, and helps keep digital return noise from contaminating sensitive analog components—critical in mixed avnalog/digital systems.
Is the Concerto MKII power conditioner safe for expensive audio equipment?
Yes—the MKII was explicitly designed for high-performance, high-end audio systems. It includes layered protection systems, including a hydraulic-magnetic circuit breaker, surge suppression with TMOV protection, under- and over-voltage shutdown, and front-panel LED indicators to confirm proper grounding, polarity, and operating status.
Do I need a specific power cable to use the Concerto MKII conditioner?
The Concerto MKII does not require a specific power cable, but performance will reflect the quality of the cable used. For high-current systems, Clarus recommends a power cable designed to deliver unrestricted current, such as the Clarus CCP-HC Crimson High Current Power Cable. Power cable not included (sold separately).
Is the Concerto MKII power conditioner worth upgrading to from a standard power strip or basic conditioner?
Yes. Unlike basic power strips or generic conditioners, the MKII uses application-specific filtering, full 20-amp internal architecture, star grounding, and vibration control to reduce noise without restricting current—preserving dynamics, tonal density, and musical realism in high-performance audio systems.
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