A Respected Hi-Fi Specialist Just Gave Audiophiles an Affordable Way to Upgrade Their Turntables

The German turntable specialist normally caters to ultra-high-end audiophiles.

Close-up of a black and silver turntable tonearm positioned over a spinning vinyl record on a gray base.

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Clearaudio is a German hi-fi company that has been specializing in ultra-high-end turntables, tonearms and phono cartridges since the late 1970s. Just how “ultra-high-end?” The company’s current flagship turntable, the Statement V2, has a price tag of around $275,000.

The company’s phono cartridge offerings are equally elite, which most of models ranging from $1,000 to $13,000. (And its flagship model, the Goldfinger Statement, currently sells for $21,000.)

That said, the brand has recently made a push towards more affordable hi-fi. Last year, it introduced its most affordable turntable to date, the Compass, which starts at around $1,500.

And now it’s introducing a new entry-level moving-magnet phono cartridge, the N2, that the brand claims is “compatible with virtually any tonearm.” At less than $300, it’s one of its most affordable cartridges, too.

Clearaudio N2

Close-up of a silver tonearm with a black cartridge and colored wires on a gray turntable. — Clearaudio claims the N2 sets “a new benchmark for universally compatible MM cartridges.”

A new entry-level phono cartidge

The Clearaudio N2 is a moving-magnet phono cartridge that’s essentially an upgraded version of the brand’s N 1, released last year and priced at $175 (yes, it’s still Clearaudio’s most affordable MM cartridge).

And while the N2 shares the motor assembly of the N1, the big difference is how it’s constructed. Instead of the N1’s aluminum body, the N2 has a 3D-printed body made of a specially engineered polymer that’s reinforced with carbon fiber (which the brand calls PETG-CF).

Close-up of a black turntable tonearm and cartridge over a spinning vinyl record on a glossy black base. — The lightweight design allows the N2 to work with “virtually any tonearm.”

The new material combination of the N2’s housing has two key advantages.

First, Clearaudio explains that the N2 features a much more rigid design (especially compared to conventional plastics), which helps minimize unwanted vibrations and provides “a clean and stable sonic foundation.”

Black N2I phono cartridge with white lettering and metal stylus tip on a reflective surface. — At $290, the N2 is one of Clearaudio’s most affordable phono cartridges.

A new benchmark for compatibility

Secondly, the new construction makes the N2 significantly lighter than the aluminum-bodied N1. It weighs 8.5 grams versus the N1’s 12.6 grams.

Clearaudio claims that this “eliminates compatibility concerns and means the N2 works harmoniously with a wide spectrum of tonearms, especially lighter constructions the N1 could not accommodate.”

Close-up of a black tonearm and cartridge labeled "N2" on a silver turntable platter. — Clearaudio claims that the N2 is “the ideal choice for demanding analog setups.”

Additionally, the N2 is rated as having a 3.3mV output voltage, meaning it should work with most phono preamplifiers. Basically, for audiophiles looking to upgrade their turntable, the N2 can be integrated without replacing their existing tonearm or phono stage.

Clearaudio is claiming that the N2 sets “a new benchmark for universally compatible MM cartridges.”

Close-up of a silver tonearm with a black cartridge and red, white, blue, and green wires attached. — The Clearaudio N2 is a moving-magnet (MM) cartridge that combines 3D printing and advanced materials.

Availability and pricing

The Clearaudio N2 MM phono cartridge is available now from the company’s website and other authorized deals.

It costs $290.

Black N2 stylus cartridge with white lettering and two gold screw holes on top.

Clearaudio N2

$290 at Clearaudio

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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