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Clearaudio · MC V2.1
$9,000
Not currently in our rooms. For a serious buyer we will often bring a piece in from the manufacturer for a private session — tell us about your system and what you are weighing it against, and we will advise.
Clearaudio · MC V2.1
A light, rigid Clearaudio moving coil that reviewers found fast, transparent and neutral, with much of the flagship Goldfinger's energy.
Authorized Clearaudio dealer · Delivery and installation by Pearl Audio · Trade-ins welcome
The story
The da Vinci V2.1 uses an aluminum body with a hard 30-micron ceramic coating, which keeps it stiff, light and well damped. The whole cartridge weighs just 6.8 g. Inside, Clearaudio's patented eight-magnet system sits around 24-karat gold coils. The coils are arranged symmetrically about the pivot point so both channels see the same conditions. A long boron cantilever carries a Clearaudio Prime Line diamond.
Reviewers of the da Vinci V2 described it as neutral and transparent. They heard airy treble, quick transients, a quiet background and a deep, stable soundstage. One placed it close to the Goldfinger Statement in energy and balance, with the flagship ahead in dynamics and focus. It will not flatter a bright system, so it is best with speakers that are not forward up top. Setup takes care. Track at about 2.8 g, and reviewers liked it loaded between roughly 160 and 300 Ω. The long cantilever makes overhang critical, so check your tonearm's headshell slots before you buy. An arm with on-the-fly VTA adjustment helps, too. You'll need an MC phono stage with about 60 dB of gain or a step-up transformer.
The da Vinci V2.1 sits between the Jubilee MC and the Titanium V2.1. On a trade-in, Musical Surroundings takes 20% off a new Clearaudio for any Clearaudio, Hana or DS Audio cartridge (or with one of its turntable packages) and 10% off for any other brand; a worn da Vinci is exchanged for a new one at $5,400 instead of $9,000.
| Type | Low-output moving coil (MC) |
| Output | 0.5 mV (5 cm/s) |
| Internal impedance | 50 Ω |
| Recommended load | Not specified by Clearaudio; reviewers used 160–300 Ω |
| Tracking force | 2.8 g ±0.2 g |
| Compliance | 15 µm/mN |
| Tracking ability | 80 µm |
| Weight | 6.8 g |
| Stylus | Clearaudio Prime Line |
| Cantilever | Boron |
| Coils | 24-karat gold, pivot-symmetrical |
| Body | Aluminum with 30-micron ceramic coating |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Channel separation / balance | 25–30 dB / <0.5 dB |
Clearaudio trade-in and retip exchange (Musical Surroundings). Trade in a worn da Vinci V2.1 and a new one is $5,400 (40% off) on Clearaudio's retip exchange. Trade in any other Clearaudio, Hana or DS Audio cartridge, or buy with a Musical Surroundings turntable package, and it is 20% off ($7,200); a cartridge of any other brand earns 10% off ($8,100).
| Clearaudio retip exchange — da Vinci V2.1 | $5,400 (Clearaudio does not retip in the field; your worn da Vinci V2.1 is exchanged for a new one at this price) |
| Trade in your Clearaudio da Vinci V2.1 | $5,400 after trade-in (credit $3,600) |
| Trade in your Clearaudio da Vinci V2 | $5,400 after trade-in (credit $3,600) |
| Trade in your Clearaudio Concept MC | $7,200 after trade-in (credit $1,800) |
| Trade in your Clearaudio Concept MC Signature | $7,200 after trade-in (credit $1,800) |
| Trade in your Clearaudio Talisman V2.1 Gold | $7,200 after trade-in (credit $1,800) |
| Trade in your Clearaudio Concerto V2.1 | $7,200 after trade-in (credit $1,800) |
| Trade in your Clearaudio Stradivari V2.1 | $7,200 after trade-in (credit $1,800) |
| Trade in your Clearaudio Jubilee MC | $7,200 after trade-in (credit $1,800) |
| Other Clearaudio cartridges | 20 more models qualify; use the trade-in selector on this page or ask us |
Trade-ins of Musical Surroundings brands (Clearaudio, Hana, DS Audio) need an RA number and must arrive within 30 days of the invoice, or full price is charged; other brands need an emailed photograph first. Verified 2026-10-28. Source: Clearaudio dealer price list, January 2026 (Musical Surroundings).
The Clearaudio cartridges Pearl Audio stocks, from least to most expensive:
Plan your Clearaudio system with Pearl Audio
Pearl Audio is an authorized Clearaudio dealer. Arrange an audition in our Portland showroom, and ask us about trade-in pricing against your current cartridge. Call (503) 222-2599 or email sales@pearlaudio.com.
Ownership
Trade in a worn da Vinci V2.1 and a new one is $5,400 (40% off) on Clearaudio's retip exchange. Trade in any other Clearaudio, Hana or DS Audio cartridge, or buy with a Musical Surroundings turntable package, and it is 20% off ($7,200); a cartridge of any other brand earns 10% off ($8,100).
Credit is 20% of the new cartridge’s price for a worn da Vinci V2.1 at 40% (exchange); any Clearaudio, Hana or DS Audio cartridge at 20%; any other brand at 10%. Trade-ins of Musical Surroundings brands (Clearaudio, Hana, DS Audio) need an RA number and must arrive within 30 days of the invoice, or full price is charged; other brands need an emailed photograph first. Verified 2026-10-28.
Ask us about this trade-in| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Clearaudio retip exchange — da Vinci V2.1 | $5,400 |
Pricing per Clearaudio - 2026-01 - Dealer Price List (Musical Surroundings, January 2026) and musicalsurroundings.com/faq. Programs are set by the manufacturer and may change.
The Pearl Audio experience
A system at this level should be heard, thoughtfully matched, and properly set up. From the first audition to long-term ownership, you work with the same people, in person.
The Da Vinci V2.1 MC Phono Cartridge is not in our rooms at present. When it is the right piece for a client we arrange a demonstration unit from the manufacturer and set it up for a private session.
We deliver and install throughout the Portland area, taking care of placement, connections, ventilation and system configuration ourselves.
We support everything we sell for as long as you own it, whether the answer comes by phone, in your home, or through factory service.
Trade-in assistance and qualifying 100% Trade-Up options give you flexibility when your listening priorities or your system change.
