Sumiko is excited to be introducing the the long-awaited RS 78 stylus for 78rpm discs! This stylus is interchangeable with each of our latest MM replacement styli — Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet & Amethyst — and it’s never been easier to switch over to shellac when you get the itch. It uses a 78-appropriate bonded 3mil spherical diamond with aluminum cantilever, tracks between 4.0 – 5.5g with a recommended VTF of 5.0g.

To be as clear as possible, what we’re offering here is only the replacement stylus (the yellow piece). It’s pictured both installed and uninstalled, but the 2nd image in the reel depicts what you’ll be getting when you order.

Considerations for 78rpm Records

Please note that it’s not advisable to play shellac 78rpm discs with a 33/45rpm stylus.  Meant to track the ‘microgrooves’ of 33s & 45s, it will sound poor and cause undue harm to the shellac (and potentially the cartridge!). Sumiko has developed RS 78 for this very reason. The stylus tracks the grooves properly and reduces the risk of harm to your collection. Keep in mind that Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet & Amethsyt are stereo MM phono cartridges, meaning that their normal job is to transcribe 2 channels (left and right) of musical information. When using RS 78 with any of these cartridges, what you’ll hear is the one channel of musical information (mono) of the 78 in both stereo channels.

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. 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.

Replacing/Upgrading a Sumiko Moving Magnet Stylus

A Stunning View of Our MMs in Action – Featuring Amethyst