Clearaudio Maestro V2 Replacement Stylus

The Clearaudio Maestro V2 Replacement Stylus is the original stylus replacement for the Clearaudio Maestro V2 moving magnet cartridge.

The Maestro V2 is the tier where Clearaudio takes the MM range up a technical notch: instead of aluminum, a boron cantilever here carries the diamond, and it's Shibata-cut. That's exactly the part that wears out – the hand-polished ebony housing and the hand-selected generator don't. That's why only the stylus unit is renewed in the swap.

Why the original stylus replacement?

A Shibata cut on boron isn't a common part you can source anywhere. It has a very narrow contact area in the groove and needs exactly the geometry set at the factory – otherwise it helps neither the resolution nor the record. The original replacement restores exactly this geometry and the selected measured values.

What you get

A new stylus unit with a boron cantilever and Shibata diamond, fitted at the factory and checked in the finished system. After that, output voltage of around 3.6 mV, linear frequency response and tracking reserve are back at factory level. Your ebony body stays right where it belongs – on your tonearm.

Who is the Maestro V2 Replacement Stylus for?

For owners of a Maestro V2 who want to keep this sound signature going. Plain talk: a Shibata cut forgives sloppy setup considerably less than an elliptical one does. If you've been complaining about distortion, the azimuth could just as easily be to blame as the diamond – that should be checked before ordering. And as with the other V2 systems, the swap goes through the factory, not a plug-in system at home.

Our verdict

A cartridge of this class deserves care, not replacement. The stylus swap is the technically and economically sensible decision here – provided the rest of the chain is in order. That's exactly what we check beforehand at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, so you don't build a new stylus into an old problem.

Technical data

• Fits: Clearaudio Maestro V2 (Moving Magnet)
• Type: stylus replacement on the returned cartridge
• Part number: MM011/E
• Cantilever: boron
• Diamond profile: Shibata
• Cartridge housing: hand-polished ebony
• Cartridge weight: 8.4 g
• Output voltage: approx. 3.6 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/s)
• Recommended tracking force: 2.2 g ± 0.3 g
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Load resistance: 47 kΩ
• Recommended capacitance: 100 pF
• Included: stylus replacement on the returned Maestro V2; you get your system back with a new stylus

Frequently asked questions

Can I replace the stylus on the Maestro V2 myself?

No. The Maestro V2 has no plug-in system; the stylus unit is renewed at the factory. You drop the cartridge off with us, we send it in, and hand it back to you with a fresh stylus. Only the N1 offers a user-side stylus change at Clearaudio.

What does the Shibata cut offer over an elliptical one?

The Shibata diamond sits in the groove with a narrower, longer contact area. This improves high-frequency tracking and spreads the force over more groove surface. The price for that: it reacts more sensitively to inaccurate setup, especially azimuth and tracking force.

Does the tonearm need to be readjusted after the swap?

Yes, and with particular care on the Maestro V2. Overhang, offset angle, azimuth, tracking force and anti-skating need to be checked and set after reinstallation. If you'd rather not do this yourself, bring us the turntable or the tonearm for adjustment.

Why buy the Maestro V2 Replacement Stylus from HD Zürisee?

Because with a system of this class, we don't just pass on an order number: we check the diamond, check the setup, and handle the factory swap officially. Afterward, Mauri readjusts the system. Questions to +41 44 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

A Shibata cut rewards you when the grooves are clean: find cleaning and care under Everything Vinyl, precise scales and setup templates under turntable accessories. Matching phono stages for MM systems are under phono preamps.