Головки звукоснимателя — Clearaudio Concept V2

The concept V2 is the starting model of the Clearaudio MM V2 series, moving magnet cartridges designed and assembled at the company's works in Erlangen. It differs from every other member of the series in one visible way - the housing is aluminium, where the Performer, Artist, Maestro and Charisma V2 all use hand-polished ebony. Its output and electrical data sit alongside the Performer V2, while the stepped models above it add higher output, tighter balance or different stylus assemblies.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is approximately 3.3 mV at 1 kHz and 5 cm/s, within a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Stereo separation at 1 kHz is 20 dB, and the maker allows a channel balance difference of up to 2 dB. The diamond is an elliptical cut on an aluminium cantilever, with a tracking ability of 80 µm and a compliance of 15 µ/mN. Recommended vertical force is 2.2 g, give or take 0.3 g. Coil impedance at 1 kHz is 0.66 kOhm and coil inductance is 400 mH. Clearaudio specifies a 47 kOhm load and 100 pF capacitive loading. The full system mass is 8.6 g within 0.2 g.

Engineering and use context

According to Clearaudio, the V2 revision of its MM range rests on a low-resonance housing, as little moving mass as practical, an optimised HD diamond grind and effective damping inside the body. For the concept V2 the housing role is taken by resonance-optimised aluminium rather than wood. Like the ebony versions, each concept V2 goes through repeated measurement in four planes and is hand-picked afterwards to keep the two channels uniform and hold phase and transient errors down. Clearaudio grants a two-year warranty if the registration card is returned within two weeks of purchase.

Pairing

The high MM-level signal works directly into the MM input found on most integrated amplifiers and standalone phono stages, with 47 kOhm resistance and around 100 pF as the target load. Clearaudio describes the whole MM V2 family as compatible with all common tonearms. Its separation figure is below the 24 dB of the Artist V2 and the 25 dB of the Maestro V2, and its balance tolerance is the widest of the MM V2 models listed.

Alternatives

The Clearaudio Performer V2 keeps the aluminium cantilever and elliptical tip but moves to a hand-polished ebony housing with 1.5 dB channel balance.