Source: Press Release, Last Accessed: 2018/04/16

Sumiko recently announced six new phono cartridges, the outcome of a 3-year development effort. The new line will be premiered at the Munich High End Show, May 10-13, 2018 and includes 4 new moving magnet cartridges, the Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone and Amethyst which join the existing Oyster product lineup and 2 new moving coil cartridges, the Songbird and Starling which will be part of the Reference Series product line.
The four new additions to the acclaimed Oyster series are the most ambitious MM cartridges Sumiko released to date, setting a new performance standard for the audiophile on a budget, the company says, with the Rainier, Olympia, and Moonstone all utilizing a common housing and generator assembly, so the stylus assemblies are interchangeable. One, can purchase the Rainier and upgrade to the Olympia or Moonstone without replacing the entire cartridge.
The Amethyst is the company's flagship MM design and requires its own unique cartridge body to maximize the performance of the excellent Nude Line Contact stylus. This exceptional cartridge even surpasses some moving coil cartridges in resolution and detail, setting a new benchmark for moving magnet cartridges with replaceable stylus assemblies, Sumiko states.
Joining the Reference Series line are two new MC designs including the new Songbird, which features exceptional tracking capability and the flexibility to mate well with a wide variety of tonearms and turntables. According to the press release, the Songbird’s high output voltage ensures noise free musical reproduction, compatible with not only moving coil phono inputs but also moving magnet inputs. The Starling is Sumiko's new reference open architecture design, featuring a Micro Ridge stylus on a boron cantilever in a low output/low mass configuration. Both cartridges feature a new CNC precision milled high grade aluminum body with optimized resonance properties.
Shipping is expected to begin in May, with suggested retail prices at $899 (Songbird), $1899 (Starling), $599 (Amethyst), $299 (Moonstone), $199 (Olympia) and $149 (Rainier). Tax, shipping and any customs duties related to current standards of individual countries are excluded.

For more information: http://www.sumikoaudio.net/

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