What Hi-Fi? Verdict
A must for fans of detailing, this Clearaudio just needs a touch of verve to make it really shine
Pros
- +
Lashings of detail
- +
transparent sound
- +
smooth treble
Cons
- -
Lacks punch when it's needed
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As with other Clearaudio cartridges, this design has an attractive wooden shell.
It tracks at between 2g and 5g; we set it to 2.2g on our reference turntable and, opting for the supplied plastic screws, we found it easy to set up.
And in action, the Clearaudio delivers a transparent sound that picks out every nuance in vocals. There’s an air of intimacy with music, together with lashings of detail and delicacy.
Smooth but lacks true grit
Tonally, the smooth treble sits neatly with a revealing midrange although the bass is lean. Despite its delicacy, though, this Clearaudio needs more thrust. Give it anything dynamic and it lacks real punch.
There’s no denying that this is an accomplished cartridge, but it needs to get a sense of dynamism before it gets the full five stars.
