Building on Rainier, Olympia implements a hollow cantilever and smaller magnet that reduces moving mass, translating to more nimble groove tracing, more nuance and improved specification. A slight decrease in output from Rainier reduces noise in an already-quiet design, improving imaging and perpetuating realism that is rare to come by in this class of cartridge.

“It then delivers the best balance of tonal realism, timing and drive in the entire group. Taken across the spread of its abilities, it takes the test win.” —Hi-Fi Choice Recommended & Group-Test Winner

“The Olympia does move the game on from the Rainier though. It finds detail that the simpler cart cannot and works it effortlessly into a presentation that has enough space around the music itself to mean you can appreciate what it is doing.” —AV Forums Best Buy

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.

Replacing/Upgrading a Sumiko Moving Magnet Stylus

A Stunning View of Our MMs in Action – Featuring Amethyst