Michell Audio MICHELL CUSIS M
The MICHELL CUSIS M delivers transparent midrange, richly descriptive bass and a remarkably airy soundstage. Its boron/Microline assembly traces dynamic piano passages with poise, revealing instrumental colour and quiet-space detail with fluid ease. hi-fi+ found this moving-coil design especially compelling for its natural, even-handed musicality and exceptional spatial insight.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
88/100
Features Usability
78/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Transparent, natural midrange with vivid instrumental colour and fluid note definition.
Exceptional air, space and separation around instruments, creating a highly open presentation.
Consummate tracking of demanding dynamic peaks, with strong bass timbre and low-level detail.
Cons
Large body obscures the cantilever, making precise horizontal alignment more difficult than with most cartridges.
Low 0.25mV output benefits from a capable low-noise phono stage and careful system matching.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
The Cusis M is described as the strongest-sounding model in Michell's three-cartridge range, combining a notably transparent, natural midband with extended, tonally descriptive bass. Its fluid handling of notes, vivid instrumental colour and unusually spacious presentation make it a highly revealing yet musically persuasive moving-coil design.
Overall Sound
95/100
The review calls the Cusis M the best-sounding of the range and finds it highly accomplished across the board. Particular praise goes to its transparent, natural midband, extended bass and ability to reveal the colour and vibrancy of orchestral recordings without losing musical flow.
Tracking Retrieval
96/100
The Microline-equipped Cusis M is praised for consummate tracking through demanding piano dynamics, while preserving the hush and subtle pauses around the notes. The reviewer also found every note fluid and traceable, with surface noise absent on a high-quality pressing after careful setup.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
Among the three Cusis models, the M was the one that most convincingly conjured air and space around the music. That observation points to an open, well-separated presentation rather than merely a broad but vague stage.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 78/100
Tonearm compatibility / system fit. This is a low-output, low-compliance moving-coil cartridge, so it benefits from a suitably matched arm and phono stage with appropriate gain and loading. Precise alignment is especially important with its Microline stylus.
Tonearm Compatibility
78/100
At 8.1g and with low compliance, the Cusis M is best partnered with an appropriate medium-to-higher-mass tonearm and a capable moving-coil phono input or step-up transformer. The reviewer specifically found horizontal alignment more difficult than usual because the large body obscures the cantilever, making careful setup and magnification worthwhile.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
The Cusis M uses a carbon-loaded acrylic body alongside a boron cantilever and precision Microline stylus, reflecting a thoughtfully specified premium cartridge. Review commentary on long-term durability and assembly finish is limited, but nothing reported raises concerns about its execution.
Value for Money
94/100
At roughly the £2,000 level cited by the review, the Cusis M is described as a sweet cartridge and one to beat in its market. Its combination of high-resolution tracking, natural tone and spatial insight gives the premium asking price strong support against similarly priced moving-coil alternatives.
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Specifications
- Tracking Force
- 2.0g
- Loading
- 100 Ω
- Frequency Response
- 15-45000Hz
- Output Voltage
- 0.25mV
- Weight
- 8.1g
- Cantilever Material
- Boron
- Stylus Profile
- Ultra-precise Microline
- Channel Balance
- <1dB
- Channel Separation
- 28dB
- Compliance
- 8x10-6cm/dyne
- Tracking Ability
- 70µ / 2.0g
- Internal Impedence
- 3 Ω
- Type
- Moving Coil
- Coil Material
- Pure 30µ Copper
- Run-in Period
- > 40 Hours
- Body Material
- Carbon Loaded Acrylic
Manufacturer's Description — Michell Audio
The Cusis M offers the audiophile an ultra high-end listening experience at a cost which belies its ability.
It's quite simply one of the most accurate and musical moving coil cartridges available at any price.
All of Michell's Cusis cartridges share the same moving coil design. At the heart of the cartridge is a samarium-cobalt magnet which is combined with pure iron to create a very stable magnetic field within the cartridge.
30μ pure copper wire is used to precision wind the cartridge coils onto an ultra-lightweight armature, which is mounted onto a specially designed damper.
The damper has been specifically designed to give the stylus assembly the perfect support, which ensures the stylus tracks the groove precisely.
The number of coils, resultant output and body material, have all been optimised for each model’s stylus assembly, to give the best possible audio output.
The construction of the cartridge has been carefully designed to eliminate vibration and resonance. The aluminium chassis is designed to absorb unwanted vibration and give a rigid platform to mount the cartridge parts.
The body materials, shapes and exterior patterns have also been designed to further reduce vibration and resonance, resulting in truly unrivalled levels of detail and neutrality.
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Authorized dealers for Michell Audio MICHELL CUSIS M
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- Holt Hill — online and in-store — Andover, Massachusetts, United States (website)
- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
- Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- Analog Matters — online and in-store — Ormond Beach, Florida, United States (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Atelier 13 Audio — in-store — Forest Hills, Tennessee, United States (website)
- Audio Advice — online and in-store — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States (website)
- Audio Advisor — online and in-store — Michigan, United States (website)
and 67 more verified dealers