(June 22, 2026) Designing a cartridge that works well with a wide variety of tonearms isn't always easy. Weight, rigidity, and resonance control all play important roles, and improving one area can sometimes come at the expense of another. Clearaudio believes its new N2 moving-magnet cartridge strikes an appealing balance.
The N2 builds upon the foundation established by Clearaudio's older N1 design but introduces a completely new housing concept centered around a carbon fiber-reinforced PETG body. The goal is fairly straightforward: create a cartridge that is both lightweight and highly resistant to unwanted vibration. According to Clearaudio, the resulting structure offers significantly lower resonance than conventional plastic designs while maintaining the rigidity needed for precise tracking and stable playback.
One of the N2's most notable attributes is its weight, or lack thereof. At just 8.5 grams, the N2 is noticeably lighter than the aluminum-bodied N1. More importantly, that weight reduction broadens tonearm compatibility, allowing the cartridge to work comfortably with everything from heavier designs to lightweight arms that may not have been ideal candidates for the previous model.
Performance improvements also accompany the new housing. Clearaudio says a "more rigorous selection process" during manufacturing allows the N2 to achieve tighter tolerances, while output voltage has been increased to 3.3mV. That figure places the N2 on par with its respected Concept v2 cartridge series, providing a stronger signal and helping ensure compatibility with a broad range of phono stages.
Attention has also been paid to the practical side of ownership. A laser-finished black housing incorporates threaded mounting inserts that simplify installation and provide a secure, rattle-free connection to compatible headshells. It's a small detail, but one vinyl enthusiasts who've wrestled with tiny cartridge mounting hardware will likely appreciate.
The Clearaudio N2 moving-magnet cartridge is available now through authorized dealers and the company's online store. Pricing is set at $290 USD, €250, and £250.
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