Clearaudio have been engaged in ongoing research into moving coil (MC) technology since 1978. Still, their design team found themselves facing quite a challenge when tasked with developing a brand new cartridge that would improve on the existing entry-level Concept MC, but without breaking a key price point, says the company’s latest press release.

Like the Concept MC, the Essence MC’s body is constructed from a high-density aluminium-magnesium alloy, which is then coated with a ceramic layer to minimize resonance.

Meanwhile, the boron cantilever, microline stylus and Clearaudio-patented moving coil generator with its hand-selected high-performance magnets have each been subjected to rigorous scrutiny in order to achieve tighter tolerances. The result they say is “improved dynamic performance, higher resolution and channel matching of better than 0.5 dB”.

The Essence MC will partner with almost any MC phonostage at a price that won’t break the bank. Its angular body shape with centre line at the front makes it easy to align, while threaded holes mean that you don’t have to fiddle with screws and nuts. It comes with a full cover stylus guard.

Technical specifications

Construction	Aluminum-magnesium alloy with ceramic surface layer; microline stylus; boron cantilever; OFC copper coils
Frequency response	20 Hz – 40 kHz
Output voltage	0.4 mV at 5 cm/s
Recommended tracking force	2.0 g (+/- 0.2 g)
Channel separation	> 32 dB
Channel difference (balance)	< 0.3 dB
Compliance	9/9 μ/mN
Cartridge impedance	11 Ω
Total weight	8.0 g
Warranty	2 years (provided warranty card completed and returned to Clearaudio within specified timescale)

The Clearaudio Essence MC is available now priced at £795 (including VAT).