The Clearaudio Virtuoso V2 Ebony MM combines the hand-polished ebony body , the low-resonance foundation of the MM V2 series, with an aluminum cantilever and elliptical stylus finished with the HD-grinding technique. Compared to the Performer V2 and Artist V2, which share the same materials, it has the best measurement data: channel separation of 26 dB and balance within 0,4 dB, with an output voltage of approximately 3,6 mV.
What's the difference between the Virtuoso V2 and the Maestro V2? The Maestro switches to a boron cantilever with a Shibata stylus, while the Virtuoso remains with the aluminum and elliptical combination. Like all MM V2s, each example is measured several times, analyzed and selected by hand on four levels, with reduced moving mass it's one damping very effective: the two stereo channels are homogeneous and the distortions are fase and transients remain minimal.
The linear frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz delivers a spacious, detailed sound, with tight bass and clear highs. The Virtuoso V2 mounts to most common tonearms with a tracking force of 2,2 g and connects to the MM phono input of an amplifier or preamplifier, with the standard 47 kΩ, 100 pF load.
| Typology | MM (moving magnet) |
|---|---|
| Output voltage | 3.6mV |
| Stylus | elliptical |
| Recommended reading strength | 2.2 g |
| Phono load impedance | 47 kW |
| Weight | 8,4 g |
| Channel separation | 26 dB |
| Channel balancing | 0.4 dB |
| cantilever | Aluminum |
| Compliance | 15 |
| Internal impedance | 660 Ω |
| Recommended load capacity | 100 pF |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Trim | Ebano |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Read force range | 1.9-2.5 g |
Clearaudio was founded in 1978 in Erlangen, Franconia, by Peter Suchy, a nuclear physicist by training who arrived in Germany from Prague in 1969. That same year, Suchy introduced a fully balanced moving coil system; the first products were loudspeakers and cartridges, before the focus shifted to turntables. Since 2005, the company has been led by his three children, Veronika, Patrick, and Robert, and is still headquartered in Erlangen, where it employs around fifty people.
The most distinctive solution is the CMB, Ceramic Magnetic Bearing, Clearaudio's patented bearing: two opposing magnetic fields support the platter, while a ceramic spindle rotates in a hand-polished, sintered bronze bushing. It is found in the Innovation family and the Reference Jubilee. The Master Innovation adds a transmissionand magnetic without contact between the motor and the platter. The TT2, TT3 and TT5 tangential tonearms instead derive from Souther, an American company acquired by Clearaudio, and keep the cartridge always tangential to the groove.
The entry point is the Concept family: the Concept MM, the Concept Signature MM and MC, and the Concept Active, which integrates a switchable MM/MC phono preamp, a volume control on the outputs, and a headphone output. Moving up, you'll find the Emotion SE Satisfy and the Innovation series (Innovation Basic, Innovation Compact, Innovation, and Master Innovation), up to the Reference Jubilee, which adopts the V-frame of the 1993 Reference with a Panzerholz base and was produced in a limited edition to celebrate the brand's fortieth anniversary. For those who install a separate tonearm, there are the Satisfy Kardan, Tracer, Clarify, Verify, Profiler, and the 9" and 12" Universals.
The cartridges cover all ranges. Among the moving magnets are the Concept V2, Performer V2, Artist V2, Charisma V2, Jubilee MM and the two with ebony bodies: the Virtuoso V2 Ebony, with an elliptical stylus, and the Maestro V2 Ebony, with a Micro HD stylus on a boron cantilever. Among the moving magnets, the range includes the Concept MC, the Essence, Concerto V2, Talisman V2 Gold, Da Vinci V2, Stradivari V2 and Jubilee MC, up to the Goldfinger Statement V2.1. The range is completed by the Nano Phono V2, Smart Phono V2, Basic V2 and Balance V2 phono preamps, the Smart Power and Professional Power power supplies and the Smart Matrix Silent and Double Matrix Professional Sonic record cleaners.
Beginners will find the Concept MM, which comes with a tonearm and cartridge, a complete turntable. If your amplifier doesn't have a phono input, or you frequently listen with headphones, the Concept Active eliminates the need for additional equipment. When switching to an MC cartridge, it's a good idea to check that the phono input supports it: the Nano Phono V2 accepts both MM and MC cartridges, while the Basic V2 and Balance V2 are the next steps for a more ambitious system.
With a good turntable, the first upgrade is often the cartridge: from the Concept V2 to the Virtuoso or Maestro V2 Ebony, you can stick with an MM input and avoid having to change the phono preamp. A record cleaner and the Weight Watcher Touch scale, to check the tracking force, complete the vinyl care process.
In our Carpi showroom, you can listen to Clearaudio turntables and cartridges in the listening room and receive advice on matching them to the rest of your system. The same models can be ordered online at audiocostruzioni.com with shipping, asking us for advice first by email if necessary.
They are two moving magnet cartridges in the same price range, both with a thin-profile stylus, both designed for those who want the most from an MM without switching to MCs. But the Sumiko Amethyst and Ortofon 2M Black ask your system…
Before any discussion about sound, a number: the 2M Black outputs 5 mV, the Amethyst 2,5 mV. Exactly half.
If the product is available for immediate delivery at the store (as indicated in the "Availability" section), it will be handed over to the courier the same day or the day after payment is received, with tracking sent via email. If the product is available at an external warehouse (also in Italy), it will typically be shipped within 2-3 business days of ordering and delivered directly to your home, again with tracking via email. Standard courier processing times must be added to these times (24-48 hours for mainland Italy, a few more days for islands). For international shipments, delivery times vary depending on the destination country.
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You have the right to withdraw from the contract within 14 days of receiving the product. You can find moredalirates, costs and refund times on our dedicated page: Right of withdrawal.
All products are covered by a manufacturer's warranty (minimum 24 months for new items). Our warranty applies to used and vintage products. AudiocostruzioniAll conditions on the dedicated page: Guarantees.
