Clearaudio cartridges

[matt j]

I know they make stuff for other brands but do they make their own carts? It seems the innards get used in other high end carts so I assume that they do but you never know in this game.

 

[daytona600]

Clearaudio some are AT in fancy expensive bodies

 

[Ptah]

My Clearaudio Concept MC sounds pretty amazing.

 

[pfbaat]

do they make their own carts?

Thats an interesting question which piqued my interest.
As others say they use modified or rebranded Audio Technica's

They did the Naim Equinox MC cartridge for Solstice, or at least thats what they said - maybe they have a sub contractor ?

 

[Darren L]

I think some of their cartridges are based on AT assemblies.

 

[matt j]

My Clearaudio Concept MC sounds pretty amazing.

I wonder if that is one of their own? given the Concept MC is what can be found inside some others (allegedly)

I know carts are one of those things that are so specialist these days that there are actually few companies who make it all.

 

[pfbaat]

those things that are so specialist these days that there are actually few companies who make it all

I believe your right,
Even Goldring have some of their ranges made by Nagaoka as an example.

Maybe there exist a list of ww cartridge manufacturers ?

 

[matt j]

I believe your right,
Even Goldring have some of their ranges made by Nagaoka as an example.

Maybe there exist a list of ww cartridge manufacturers ?

I may be wrong but I believe there are only three stylus makers- Nagaoka, Namiki/Orbray and Frytz Geiger.

 

[daytona600]

Nagaoka - all inhouse - Styli , Cantilevers , Generators & Body
Ortofon , AT , Grado - Buy in styli/Cantilvers all rest in house

Stylus makers- Nagaoka, Namiki/Orbray , Frytz Geiger , Syntron

 

[Mr Pig]

I know carts are one of those things that are so specialist these days that there are actually few companies who make it all.

Rega are the only company in the UK who manufacturer cartridges.

 

[matt j]

Rega are the only company in the UK who manufacturer cartridges.

Except the stylus. Still good going, but I class them as part of a all Rega set up, they aren't something you'd choose otherwise.

 

[pfbaat]

Rega are the only company in the UK who manufacturer cartridges.

Goldring still make some to my knowledge
I've had G1042 and Eroica, both excellent cartridges despite their vintage.

 

[Orbe Chaser]

I have 2 vintage Clearaudio mc carts, a Delta, & a Pradikat, from the late 80's/early 90's, which are superb. The generators are encased in a solid block of resin, so I always assumed they were made in-house.

 

[Beobloke]

Clearaudio make their own cartridges in-house.

Personally, I like ‘em a lot.

 

[VTA]

Most of the wood bodied Clearaudio MM carts are built around an AT body but to call them just rebadged wood be unfair if they are not using the same cantilevers and styli as AT. I have AT and Clearaudio carts all built on same bodies and the Clearaudio IMO outperform the AT counterparts.

 

[Ugg10]

Iirc the Clear Audio Virtuoso v2 can take an AT VM95 stylus with a little surgery with a scalpel on the plastic surround. If you google there are examples of this and gods results reported for the ML stylus on this body.