Sumiko Oyster phono cartridge is generally smooth in character yet surprisingly musical — a high-value introduction to the hobby of critical listening at manageable price for anyone looking to get a taste for the difference a cartridge upgrade can make. A conventional moving magnet cartridge with a rugged spherical stylus and alloy cantilever, it’s perfect match for any MM preamp and represents a fantastic step forward from most any entry-level & OEM design. You’ll hear an added layer of depth accompanied by enticing mid/high frequency extension.

Rainier introduces our latest range of Oysters, which raise the bar for what can be expected from reasonably-priced MM cartridges. Our resonance-optimized housing was developed & selected for the voicing that it lends. The resonance properties create a well-represented soundstage with fantastic clarity with an overlaying warmth. Impressively quiet while delivering impact, Rainier skillfully places instruments & vocals right where they belong. You can expect a broader, rounder soundstage than you previously thought attainable at this price.

Building on Rainier, Olympia implements an upgraded cantilever assembly that reduces moving mass, translating to more nimble groove tracing, extended nuance and expanded frequency response. A slight decrease in output from Rainier reduces noise in an already-quiet design, improving imaging and perpetuating realism that’s rare to come by in this class of cartridge.