Clearaudio Stradivari v2.1 Phono Cartridge

Given its 7g weight and 15/15 µ/mN compliance, this cartridge is versatile but performs best on medium-mass tonearms. It is designed to extract maximum detail, so pairing it with a high-quality, rigid tonearm will help you fully realize the benefits of its sophisticated resonance-damping construction.

The Micro-HD Diamond hybrid parabolic stylus is designed for precision tracking, which actually reduces wear on your records compared to standard elliptical styli. By sitting deeper and more securely in the groove, it minimizes friction and distortion while capturing more information.

With an output voltage of 0.6 mV, this is a medium-output moving coil cartridge. It will work well with most high-quality moving coil phono stages, but ensure your preamp can handle a 50 Ohm internal impedance to get the best signal-to-noise ratio.

The combination of titanium, ceramic-coated aluminum, and wood isn't just aesthetic; each material is chosen for its specific resonance-damping properties. This composite approach effectively cancels out micro-vibrations during playback, resulting in a cleaner, more stable soundstage.

While 2.8g is slightly higher than some audiophile cartridges, it is perfectly normal for this specific design. This tracking force ensures the stylus maintains firm contact with the groove, which is essential for the dynamic range and frequency response this cartridge is capable of delivering.

The use of eight super neodymium magnets increases the efficiency of the generator, allowing for a more precise and faster response to the signal in the groove. This translates to better transient speed and a more accurate, lifelike reproduction of complex musical passages.