Clearaudio Virtuoso V2 Replacement Stylus

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

A diamond lasts a long time, but not forever. When the highs on the Virtuoso V2 lose their shine and the inner grooves get restless, it's usually not the cartridge that's tired, just the stylus. Clearaudio renews exactly this unit – the ebony body, with all its resonance-damping work, stays with you.

Why the original stylus replacement?

Clearaudio measures and hand-selects the Virtuoso V2 across four stages until channel balance and phase behavior are right. That selection applies to the combination of body, generator and stylus unit. A copy would break up that interplay – and none exists for the V2 systems anyway. The original replacement brings back exactly the factory configuration.

What you get

A new elliptical diamond on an aluminum cantilever, fitted at the factory and checked in the finished system. After that, your Virtuoso V2 delivers its roughly 3.6 mV, its 26 dB channel separation and the spacious, richly colored gait the V2 range is known for once again. Not a new system, but the old one back in top form.

Who is the Virtuoso V2 Replacement Stylus for?

For anyone running a Virtuoso V2 who wants to keep it going. Plain talk: the swap goes through the factory, not across your living room table – expect a pause during which the turntable sits idle. If you want to avoid that, keep a second headshell fitted with a budget system on hand. For the Performer V2, Artist V2 or Maestro V2, this part number is the wrong one.

Our verdict

The sensible way to run an upmarket MM system for years without replacing the whole cartridge every few years. Before you send your system in: HD Zürisee in Wädenswil checks the stylus under magnification and tells you honestly whether the expense is due now or can still wait.

Technical data

• Fits: Clearaudio Virtuoso V2 (Moving Magnet)
• Type: stylus replacement on the returned cartridge
• Part number: MM010/E
• Cantilever: aluminum
• Diamond profile: elliptical
• Cartridge housing: ebony
• Cartridge weight: 8.4 g
• Output voltage: approx. 3.6 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/s)
• Channel separation: 26 dB (1 kHz)
• 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 Virtuoso V2; you get your system back with a new stylus

Frequently asked questions

How does the stylus replacement work on the Virtuoso V2?

You drop your cartridge off with us, it goes to Clearaudio, the stylus unit is renewed there, and you get your system back. A user-side swap isn't intended for the Virtuoso V2. We handle shipping and return.

Does the system sound like new again after the swap?

Yes, because the selected measured values are restored with the new stylus unit. What you don't get is an upgrade: the Virtuoso V2 stays a Virtuoso V2. More resolution only comes with a higher-tier system, for example one with a boron cantilever.

Do I need a new tonearm setup afterward?

Yes. Because the cartridge is removed for the swap, overhang, offset angle, azimuth, tracking force and anti-skating need to be reset when it's reinstalled. With a template and a scale you can do this yourself; otherwise our technician takes care of it, including a check.

Why buy the Virtuoso V2 Replacement Stylus from HD Zürisee?

Because someone here actually looks before you order: checking the stylus, checking the setup, then the decision. As an authorized Clearaudio partner, the swap goes through the official channel, and Mauri is on hand for reinstallation. Contact: +41 44 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls), shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

Clean vinyl is the best life insurance for a new diamond: cleaning and care products are under Everything Vinyl, templates, scales and brushes under turntable accessories. If you're thinking about a higher-tier system instead of the swap, you'll find it under cartridges.