Sumiko Moonstone High-Fidelity Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge w/ Low-Mass Elliptical Stylus & 3.0mV Output — Depth & Richness
Sumiko Moonstone Phono Cartridge — Low-Mass Elliptical Stylus Assembly on Alum. Alloy Cantilever [Front & Top Hi-Res Zoom]
Sumiko Moonstone Threaded Mounting Holes & Tonearm Lead Connection Pins
Sumiko RS Moonstone Replacement Stylus
Sumiko Moonstone MM Phono Cartridge on Technics 1200 Turntable
Moonstone on Debut Carbon EVO Turntable
Sumiko Moonstone High-Fidelity Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge w/ Low-Mass Elliptical Stylus & 3.0mV Output — Depth & Richness
Sumiko Moonstone Phono Cartridge — Low-Mass Elliptical Stylus Assembly on Alum. Alloy Cantilever [Front & Top Hi-Res Zoom]
Sumiko Moonstone Threaded Mounting Holes & Tonearm Lead Connection Pins
Sumiko RS Moonstone Replacement Stylus
MOONSTONE
Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge
Further reducing moving-mass with a lighter cantilever and magnet, Moonstone transcribes sonic imagery with weight, richness, depth & sparkle. Texture and nuance are readily available to the ear. The sonic image is well-controlled and suspended over a black background, delivering a highly immersive experience without fatigue.

“With the Moonstone, when bass slam was called for, it came. When a sweet midrange was demanded, it was there in spades. When crisp, sparkling highs were the need, the Moonstone fulfilled it.” —SoundStage! Editor’s Choice

“Moonstone produced highly sophisticated, delicate, rich, somewhat warm sound free of any obvious mechanical artifacts and resolved a surprising amount of low level information sufficient to keep me listening for an entire evening…” —Analog Planet

Our Oyster MM Cartridges
Our Oyster Series cartridges have established themselves as smooth, warm and refined alternatives to more aggressive-sounding options. They are exceptionally crafted with premium materials, enabling highly musical, poised and polished sonics that steer clear of listening fatigue. An integrated body and generator system stifles internal resonance and readily transfers uncontrolled energy from the cartridge to the tonearm where it is dissipated harmlessly. This reduces distortion and coloration, leaving you with pure analog fidelity that conveys the emotional message embedded in your music.

Upgrade Path
Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet and Amethyst use interchangeable stylus replacements. This allows you to upgrade when it suits you, or to keep a backup around for worn records. The cartridge bodies are identical with the exception of Amethyst, which uses an enhanced anatomy but remains compatible with the full range of styli. As you move up, you achieve improved fidelity with varying cantilevers, magnets and stylus tips, all of which bear audible improvements in detail, imagining, resolution and more.

Handmade in Japan
Each Sumiko phono cartridge is hand-assembled by the world-class cartridge makers at Excel Sound in Yokohama, Japan – a relationship we’ve proudly maintained for nearly forty years. We use only the finest materials that combine to deliver performance that has enlightened generations of listeners. Each design is thoroughly auditioned until it meets our stringent standards for sound. Production is then executed by expert craftsmen with a collective eye for precision & quality. The result is a family of cartridges that render emotion through tonally balanced, refined and fatigueless analog reproduction.

Upgrade Path
Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet and Amethyst use interchangeable stylus replacements. This allows you to upgrade when it suits you, or to keep a backup around for worn records. The cartridge bodies are identical with the exception of Amethyst, which uses an enhanced anatomy but remains compatible with the full range of styli. As you move up, you achieve improved fidelity with varying cantilevers, magnets and stylus tips, all of which bear audible improvements in detail, imagining, resolution and more.

Handmade in Japan
Each Sumiko phono cartridge is hand-assembled by the world-class cartridge makers at Excel Sound in Yokohama, Japan – a relationship we’ve proudly maintained for nearly forty years. We use only the finest materials that combine to deliver performance that has enlightened generations of listeners. Each design is thoroughly auditioned until it meets our stringent standards for sound. Production is then executed by expert craftsmen with a collective eye for precision & quality. The result is a family of cartridges that render emotion through tonally balanced, refined and fatigueless analog reproduction.

Designed for discerning, value-minded audiophiles, Rainier, Olympia & Moonstone supplement & complement our existing range of Oysters. They build upon, enhance & refine the sonic character that listeners worldwide have enjoyed for decades. New innovation in cartridge design addresses the problem of resonance — the things that need to happen around a generator to voice a cartridge with honesty. The housing thusly disperses & dissipates resonance, making way for effortless, transparent sonics that are enlivened with intimate nuance. The voicing is true to natural harmonics, space around voices & instruments as well as their attack & decay. Unique to these 3 Oysters (not to mention Amethyst), experience a diminutive backdrop that bolsters sonic images with a degree of aptitude reminiscent of moving coil designs.

Rainier, Olympia & Moonstone replacement styli are interchangeable. We encourage you to follow the upgrade path to experience the best of what this design has to offer!

From Oyster to Reference, each Sumiko phono cartridge is crafted by hand in Yokohama, Japan — near the waters where our namesake Oysters dwell. We’ve selected by ear the finest materials that combine to deliver performance that has enlightened generations of listeners. Each design is thoroughly auditioned until perfected. Production is then executed by world-class cartridge makers with a collective eye for precision & quality. The result is a full horizon of cartridges eager to introduce themselves to your analog system — we firmly believe there’s a perfect cartridge for you here.

Cartridge Type: Moving Magnet
Stylus: Elliptical
Cantilever Material: aluminum pipe
Wire Material: pure copper
Internal Impedance: 1,130Ω
Load Impedance: 47kΩ
Frequency Response: 15Hz – 25kHz
Output Voltage: 5.0mV
Channel Separation: 25dB @ 1kHz
Channel Balance: 1.5dB @ 1kHz
Compliance: 10×10-6 cm/dyn @ 100Hz
Recommended Load Capacitance: 100pF – 200pF
Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°
Tracking Force: 1.8g – 2.2g
Recommended Force: 2.0g
Cartridge Weight: 6.5g

Replacement Stylus Unit:
RS Rainier $339.00

Over 40 years and worldwide, our classic Oyster Series has left thousands of captivated listeners in its wake. The series is comprised of our Oyster (MM), Black Pearl (MM), Pearl (MM), Blue Point No. 2 (HOMC) & Blue Point Special EVO III (H & LOMC) — each capable of delivering a degree of refinement you have yet to hear from your turntable system. The cartridges have established themselves over decades as high-value gems that dependably out-perform listeners’ expectations for their dollar. Marked by honesty in analog reproduction, our Oyster Series remains true to what’s in the groove, impressively and convincingly voiced to bring you closer to your music.

From Oyster to Reference, each Sumiko phono cartridge is crafted by hand in Yokohama, Japan — near the waters where our namesake Oysters dwell. We’ve selected by ear the finest materials that combine to deliver performance that has enlightened generations of listeners. Each design is thoroughly auditioned until perfected. Production is then executed by world-class cartridge makers with a collective eye for precision & quality. The result is a full horizon of cartridges eager to introduce themselves to your analog system — we firmly believe there’s a perfect cartridge for you here.
Cartridge Type: Moving Magnet
Frequency Response: 12Hz – 30kHz
Output Voltage: 4.0mV
Load Impedance: 47kΩ
Channel Separation: 3dB @ 1kHz
Channel Balance: <0.5dB @ 1kHz
Stylus Type: Elliptical
Compliance: 12×10-6 cm/dyn
Tracking Force Range: 1.5g – 2.0g
Recommended Force: 2.0g
Cartridge Weight: 6.0g

Replacement stylus:
Pearl $229.00

Sumiko’s Classic Oysters
Over 40 years and worldwide, our classic Oyster Series has left thousands of captivated listeners in its wake. The series is comprised of Sumiko’s Oyster (MM), Black Pearl (MM), Pearl (MM), Blue Point No. 2 (MC) & Blue Point Special EVO III (MC) — each capable of delivering a degree of refinement you have yet to hear from your turntable system. The cartridges have established themselves over decades as high-value gems that dependably out-perform listeners’ expectations for their dollar. Marked by honesty in analog reproduction, Sumiko’s Oyster Series remains true to what’s in the groove, impressively and convincingly voiced to bring you closer to your music.

Hand-Crafted in Japan
From Oyster to Reference, each Sumiko phono cartridge is crafted by hand in Yokohama, Japan — near the waters where our namesake Oysters dwell. Sumiko have selected by ear the finest materials that combine to deliver performance that has enlightened generations of listeners. Each design is thoroughly auditioned until perfected. Production is then executed by world-class cartridge makers with a collective eye for precision & quality. The result is a full horizon of cartridges eager to introduce themselves to your analog system — Sumiko firmly believe there’s a perfect cartridge for you here.

Specifications…
Mass & Dimension: 5.3g, 18.2 x 18 x 30.50mm (WxHxD)
Stylus: 0.7mil Spherical
Cantilever: Aluminum Pipe
Coils: High-Purity Copper
Internal Impedance: 1,130Ω
Load Impedance: 47kΩ
Frequency Response: 30Hz – 20kHz
Output: 5.0mV
Channel Separation: 25dB @ 1kHz
Channel Balance: 1dB @ 1kHz
Compliance: 12×10-6cm/dyn @ 100Hz
Capacitance: 100pF – 200pF
Vertical Tracking Angle: 25°
Tracking Force Range: 1.5g – 2.5g
Recommended Tracking Force: 2.3g
Replacement Stylus Unit: RS Oyster

Sumiko’s Classic Oysters
Over 40 years and worldwide, Sumiko’s classic Oyster Series has left thousands of captivated listeners in its wake. The series is comprised of their Oyster (MM), Black Pearl (MM), Pearl (MM), Blue Point No. 2 (HOMC) & Blue Point Special EVO III (H & LOMC) — each capable of delivering a degree of refinement you have yet to hear from your turntable system. The cartridges have established themselves over decades as high-value gems that dependably out-perform listeners’ expectations for their dollar. Marked by honesty in analog reproduction, Sumiko’s Oyster Series remains true to what’s in the groove, impressively and convincingly voiced to bring you closer to your music.

Hand-Crafted in Japan
From Oyster to Reference, each Sumiko phono cartridge is crafted by hand in Yokohama, Japan — near the waters where Sumiko’s namesake Oysters dwell. They’ve selected by ear the finest materials that combine to deliver performance that has enlightened generations of listeners. Each design is thoroughly auditioned until perfected. Production is then executed by world-class cartridge makers with a collective eye for precision & quality. The result is a full horizon of cartridges eager to introduce themselves to your analog system — Sumiko firmly believe there’s a perfect cartridge for you here.

Specifications…
Stylus: 0.7mil Spherical
Cantilever: Aluminum Pipe
Coils: High-Purity Copper
Internal Impedance: 1,130Ω
Load Impedance: 47kΩ
Frequency Response: 18Hz – 27kHz
Output: 4.0mV
Channel Separation: 28dB @ 1kHz
Channel Balance: 0.5dB @ 1kHz
Compliance: 12×10-6cm/dyn @ 100Hz
Capacitance: 100pF – 200pF
Vertical Tracking Angle: 25°
Tracking Force Range: 1.5g – 2.0g
Recommended Tracking Force: 2.0g
Replacement Stylus Unit: RS Black Pearl