Cartridge · Moving Magnet
For decades, Erlangen-based Clearaudio has stood for analogue playback at reference level — and with the N2 it proves that this expertise can be distilled into a compact, affordable MM cartridge. Unveiled at High End Vienna 2026, the N2 inherits the proven generator of the entry-level N1 but houses it in a completely redesigned body made from carbon fibre-reinforced PETG. The result is a cartridge that is lighter, stiffer and lower in resonance than its predecessor — and audibly more powerful into the bargain.
Weighing just 8.5 grams, the N2 suits an enormous range of tonearms — explicitly including lightweight designs, for which the 12.5 g aluminium body of the N1 brought too much mass. Output has been raised to around 3.3 mV, on a par with the acclaimed Concept V2 series, while stricter component selection during manufacture ensures tighter tolerances. And the practical plug-in system allows the stylus to be replaced without removing the cartridge from the headshell.
Carbon body
PETG-CF: high rigidity, effective resonance control, metal threaded inserts
8.5 g · 3.3 mV
Light enough for almost any tonearm, strong enough for any MM input
Plug-in stylus
Stylus replacement in seconds — even while mounted
A cartridge body is far more than a shell: it is the mechanical bridge between generator and tonearm, and thus part of the vibrating system. Every resonance in the body modulates the signal — as colouration, as a blurred midrange, as soft bass. For the N2, Clearaudio therefore relies on PETG-CF, an engineering thermoplastic with short carbon fibres embedded in it. The fibres raise the material's stiffness well above that of conventional plastic housings, while the polymer matrix contributes internal damping at the same time. It is precisely this combination of stiffness and damping that prevents resonances from arising in the first place, or makes them decay quickly — the basis for a clean, stable sonic foundation.
The body is manufactured using modern 3D printing technology, which allows precise geometries at low weight. Metal threaded inserts integrated into the body ensure a firm, rattle-free connection to the headshell — no fiddly nuts, and a defined tightening torque that benefits energy transfer into the tonearm. The laser-finished black surface underlines the cartridge's industrial high-end character and blends discreetly with any tonearm.
Inside works the proven moving magnet generator of the N1 — but with noticeably enhanced performance. Thanks to stricter selection during manufacture, the N2 achieves a channel balance of less than 1.5 dB (N1: up to 2 dB): left and right play more evenly, the stereo centre locks in more firmly, and voices stand more sharply focused between the loudspeakers. Output rises from 2.9 to around 3.3 mV — a gain that translates into greater dynamic authority and a better signal-to-noise ratio at the phono stage.
Tracking is handled by an elliptical diamond on an aluminium cantilever. Compared with a spherical (conical) tip, the narrower contact area of the ellipse follows the fine modulations of the groove more precisely: overtones, cymbals and ambience are resolved more cleanly, and distortion towards the end of the record — where groove velocity drops — is reduced. At the same time, the elliptical profile remains forgiving to set up. With a trackability of 80 µm, the N2 handles even high-level passages with composure.
Whether a cartridge suits a tonearm is determined above all by the resonant frequency resulting from effective mass and compliance. Ideally it lies between about 8 and 12 Hz — above footfall and record warps, below the audible bass range. With a compliance of 15 µm/mN and a weight of just 8.5 g, the N2 lands at around 10 Hz on a light arm with roughly 7 g effective mass, and at around 9 Hz on a medium-mass arm of 10 g — squarely in the optimum window in both cases. This is precisely its advantage over the N1, which is 4 g heavier: it gives the arm headroom rather than pushing it to its limit.
In fairness, it should be said that on very heavy tonearms beyond roughly 18 g effective mass, the resonance drops below 8 Hz — here a lower-compliance cartridge is the better choice. For the vast majority of modern and classic arms, however, from entry-level decks to ambitious mid-range turntables, the N2 is a near-ideal partner. The recommended tracking force is 2.2 g (± 0.3 g); if required, the weight can easily be fine-tuned with a headshell weight. It is a particularly harmonious match for Clearaudio's in-house Clearaudio Compass turntable.
Connection & Everyday Use
As a classic MM cartridge, the N2 works with the standard input of practically any phono stage and any integrated amplifier with a phono section: 47 kΩ load resistance, 100 pF load capacitance. A practical tip: the stated capacitance covers tonearm cable and input combined — low-capacitance phono cables help keep the treble open and linear. No step-up transformer or MC preamp is needed.
In everyday use, the N2 plays to a further strength: the stylus assembly is plug-in and can be replaced while the cartridge is mounted. A mishap while changing records, or routine replacement after many hundreds of hours of play, therefore no longer means realigning overhang and azimuth — simply fit the new stylus and carry on listening. Anyone wanting to give their turntable a genuine upgrade without venturing into MC price territory will find the N2 the logical step up between the entry-level N1 and the Concept V2 series.
| Manufacturer |
Clearaudio (Erlangen, Germany) |
| Type |
Moving magnet (MM) |
| Weight |
8.5 g (± 0.2 g) |
| Frequency response |
20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Output voltage (1 kHz, 5 cm/s) |
approx. 3.3 mV |
| Channel separation (1 kHz) |
20 dB |
| Channel balance (1 kHz) |
< 1.5 dB |
| Trackability |
80 µm |
| Recommended tracking force |
2.2 g (± 0.3 g) |
| Compliance |
15 µm/mN |
| Coil impedance |
0.66 kΩ |
| Load resistance |
47 kΩ |
| Load capacitance |
100 pF |
| Cantilever |
Aluminium, plug-in (replaceable while mounted) |
| Stylus profile |
Elliptical |
| Body |
PETG-CF (carbon fibre-reinforced), black, laser-finished |
| Mounting |
Integrated metal threaded inserts |
| Generator |
Based on Clearaudio N1, with selected components |
| Manufacturer's warranty |
2 years (with registration within 2 weeks of purchase) |
