Phonograph Cartridges

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.

The apex of our 3 new Oysters, Moonstone is dressed to impress. Further reducing moving-mass & output and topped off with our listen-tested 0.3 x 0.7mil elliptical diamond, Moonstone transcribes sonic imagery with weight, richness, depth & sparkle. Texture is keenly realistic. The sonic image is suspended and well-controlled over a nearly-absent noise floor, providing fantastic clarity without etch nor confusion. Compatible with MM preamps and the vast majority of tonearms out there, Moonstone is a must-have for audiophiles on a budget.

Borrowing the smooth character of its sibling Oyster, Black Pearl implements an improved housing that allows for wider frequency response. This makes way for more nuance and greater stereo imaging in a more cohesive soundstage. Enjoyable for hours on end, Black Pearl is famously high in value, pairs perfectly with any MM phonostage and is physically compatible with a wide array of tonearms.

The sonic presentation of Blue Point No. 3 harkens back to vintage Shure & Stanton MMs remembered for their smoothness. With our tried & true MC generator system, that smoothness is enhanced with the subtlety & nuance you’d expect from a Sumiko MC. First and foremost – and if ever the word were appropriate – Blue Point No. 3 assembles its sonic picture from the ground up with its oh-so buttery low-end response. Bass enthusiasts are in for a treat here. Full & warm yet defined & textured, the coziness of the bass will invite you right in. It doesn’t stop there, however. You can expect the similar lushness through the mids that remain decipherable, high-frequency attack & decay that’s simply sweet & airy.

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.

The Denon DL-103R comes with a special Certificate of Authenticity stamped with the Denon Head Engineer approval, featuring a premium 5-year out-of-box warranty (excluding stylus). This limited edition cartridge masterfully reproduces both LP stereo records and LP mono records with excellent channel separation of 20dB or more at 100-500Hz and 15dB or more at 45kHz. It offers a wide playback band (especially in the high frequency range) and flat output voltage and frequency characteristics. It meets strict measurement protocol to confirm frequency response is according to the standards set.