Sumiko Oriole MC Cartridge

Design Excellence

Sumiko have meticulously engineered the Oriole to embody the brand’s signature balance and fatigue‑free character, now enhanced with a low‑impedance generator and nude Shibata line‑contact stylus. Its open‑body construction minimises resonance while preserving tonal integrity, allowing music to bloom from an impressively silent background. Each cartridge is hand‑assembled in Japan by master craftsmen, ensuring unwavering precision and consistency. With a focus on natural musical flow and spatial realism, Oriole delivers a cohesive, intimate and thoroughly engaging listening experience.

Stylus & Cantilever Precision

At the heart of Oriole is a single‑piece nude Shibata diamond that captures exceptional detail without tipping into analytical brightness. Its reduced moving mass allows the stylus to trace micro‑groove information with remarkable fidelity. Supporting this is an alloy‑reinforced hollow aluminium cantilever, designed for maximum rigidity and minimal weight. The result is a highly responsive platform that translates even the finest movements directly and accurately to the coil assembly.

Advanced Coil & Magnetic Engineering

Oriole’s individually wound cross‑coils use specially selected high‑purity copper to maintain signal integrity with minimal loss or distortion. Fewer windings reduce internal impedance, shorten the signal path and increase transient speed, boosting resolution and dynamic expression. Its high‑efficiency magnetic circuit pairs a warm‑sounding Alnico magnet with pure iron components, arranged to minimise saturation and distortion while capturing energy with exceptional efficiency.

Resonance Control & Quality Assurance

Resonance management is central to Oriole’s performance. PEEK mounting components - materials more commonly found in aerospace engineering - provide a stable, non‑resonant foundation that drains unwanted vibration effectively through the tonearm. Internal elements are also mechanically damped to further preserve clarity and musicality. Every unit undergoes microscopic inspection and extensive performance testing, ensuring each cartridge meets the highest standards for trackability, electrical balance and overall sonic excellence.

• Output Voltage (@ 3.54cm/s)
  0.3 mV
  - Channel Balance (@ 1000Hz)
  0.5 dB
  - Channel Separation (@ 1000Hz)
  30 dB
  -Frequency Response
  12 - 45000 dB
  - Tracking Ability (@ 315Hz at Recommended Tracking Force)
  70 μm
  - Compliance, Dynamic, Lateral
  12 μm
  - Stylus Type
  Nude Shibata
  - Tracking Force Range
  1.8 - 2.2 g
  - Recommended Tracking Force
  2.0 g
  - Tracking Angle
  20 °
  - Internal Impedance
  5.5 Ω
  - Internal Inductance
  11,000 mH
  - Magnet Type
  Alnico
  - Cantilever Material
  0.5⌀ Specially Processed Aluminium
  - Coil Wire Material
  High-Purity Copper
  - Recommended Load Impedance
  >60 Ω
  - Cartridge Weight
  7.3 g