Clearaudio Talismann V2 Gold Moving Coil Cartridge

The Clearaudio Talismann V2 Gold is a moving coil cartridge in a hand-polished ebony body and forms the entry point into Clearaudio's V2 MC generation.

Inside sits the full Clearaudio technology: an absolutely pivot-symmetrical motor with eight super-neodymium magnets, 24-carat gold coils, a boron cantilever and a Micro-HD diamond. "Entry" here just means there's nothing below it.

Why the Talismann V2 Gold?

With eight magnets of especially strong material, the coils work in a markedly stronger field – noticeably lifting efficiency and dynamics. The hand-polished ebony body gives the sound body and calm without holding back resolution. So you get true V2 reference technology at the bottom of the range.

What you hear

Richness and body, paired with the typical Clearaudio speed and wide dynamics. The Talismann V2 Gold plays warm and orderly, with fine detail and stable imaging. A cartridge that surprisingly often makes you flip to "just one more" B-side.

Who is the Talismann V2 Gold for?

The ideal entry into Clearaudio's wood-body MCs, if you have an MC-capable phono stage and want more than an entry-level MC. Plain talk: at 0.5 mV, a decent MC stage is part of the deal – on the weak onboard phono of an integrated amp, its potential is left on the table. Tell us what you're running, and it fits right from the start.

Our verdict

The entry point into Clearaudio's wood-body world – and for many, the point where the search ends. Once you've heard the V2 motor, you understand why.

What the trade press says: "There are edge cases where the Talismann V2 falls slightly short of the 'big ones' – but that's fine, because the musicality, clarity and drive of the whole family are fully present in the new Talismann too." – Klang & Ton 7/2010.

Technical data

• Type: Moving Coil (MC)
• Output voltage: 0.5 mV (at 5 cm/s)
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 100 kHz
• Channel separation: > 30 dB
• Channel balance: < 0.5 dB
• Cantilever: boron
• Stylus: Micro-HD diamond
• Coil: 24-carat gold, absolutely pivot-symmetrical, 8 magnets (super-neodymium)
• System impedance: 50 Ω
• Recommended load resistance: 300 Ω
• Stylus compliance: 15 µm/mN
• Recommended tracking force: 2.8 g
• Cartridge body: hand-polished ebony
• Weight: 10.8 g

Frequently asked questions

What sets the Talismann V2 Gold apart from the Concerto V2?

Both use the V2 motor with 24-carat gold coils. The Talismann is the entry point of the wood-body MCs, with ebony and 10.8 g, while the Concerto steps it up with a different body and just 7 g. In character, the Talismann plays a touch fuller and warmer.

What phono stage do I need?

An MC-capable stage with around 60–66 dB of gain and a load around 300 Ω at 50 Ω system impedance. Many separate phono preamplifiers can do this, whereas the built-in phono input of many integrated amps often can't. We check this for your system.

Does the 10.8 g cartridge suit my tonearm?

At 10.8 g, the Talismann V2 Gold works well with arms of medium to higher effective mass. Give us your arm and we'll check the resonance frequency in advance – that saves surprises later with tracking behaviour.

Can the stylus of the Talismann V2 Gold be swapped?

No. On a moving coil cartridge, the diamond is fixed to the generator, so a stylus swap like on an MM cartridge isn't possible by design. Clearaudio offers an exchange under trade-in terms instead, optionally as an upgrade too. We handle this for you through the manufacturer.

Why buy the Talismann V2 Gold from HD Zürisee?

Because we know from experience which cartridge suits which arm and which phono stage – and because Mauri sets the whole thing up cleanly for you in Wädenswil. Get in touch on +41 44 680 22 00, on WhatsApp at 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or at shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

The matching foundation is found under turntables and tonearms, the necessary gain under phono preamplifiers. Further cartridges are under cartridges, care and cleaning under turntable accessories.