Skip to product information
1 of 1
Soundsmith

Soundsmith Sussurro Mk II ES Moving Iron Cartridge

Soundsmith Sussurro Mk II ES Moving Iron Cartridge

SALE Sold out
Regular price $4,999.95 In stock now!
Regular price $4,999.95 Sale price $4,999.95 In stock now!
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Pay Over Time

This product is an exception to our normal return policy.

Product questions? Found a lower price?

Let us know: 909.931.9686 or chat.

Trade-in Form

Tell us about yourself

Tell us about your trade-in item

Please note: We are unable to accept cables, tables, and carts.

This item qualifies to earn HiFives. What's a HiFive?

View full details

Soundsmith Sussurro Mk II ES

MCs were my reference for highest-quality LP playback- until I heard records played with a Soundsmith Sussurro MI, which (inspired by tonearm designer Frank Schroder) features ultralow effective moving mass, low voltage output, and a ruby-crystal cantilever with a nude line-contact diamond stylus. I heard the Sussurro only briefly, but I remember thinking, This could be the best cartridge that ever was!
— HERB REICHERT, STEREOPHILE, 2015
The Sussurro is a unique cartridge... It traced the grooves quietly and tracked them very well. It wasn't the last word in resolution of detail, but it came very close. Most important, its tonal balance was pleasingly neutral, slightly accenting midrange lushness. If you listen to mostly acoustic music and your tastes run toward warmth and lushness, but with plenty of detail and robust top end, you can't go wrong with the Soundsmith Sussurro.
— MICHAEL FREMER, STEREOPHILE, 2012

New ES Series DEMS Design

Made in  the USA. Rebuild Price? ~  $650 ~  Less than 20% of MSRP, as always ! - Includes a two-year warranty for original owner!

The Sussurro ~ critical design decisions, realized. Lowest internal mass. Best damping. Esoteric stylus and cantilever. If you need to stay in constant contact, your cartridge has arrived.  

Inspired by Frank Schröder, designed and individually hand made by Peter Ledermann, Soundsmith's Sussurro is a cartridge designed to specifically address the most intricate and critical issues of cartridge design. The new MKII Sussurro has a newly designed moving iron element to reduce moving mass by 70%; extremely low stored energy, the new MKII damping system and an innovative energy distribution path to effectively transfer mechanical energy away from the cantilever through the cartridge body into the tone arm. So what does all this mean??

Low jitter. Jitter? You probably thought that was a term reserved for digital systems. Not so. Stylus jitter is responsible for loss of detail, and making a cartridge sound, well, like a cartridge. The Sussurro stays in constant contact with the record groove. If you are not in constant contact, you can’t hear what has truly been recorded.

What is DEMS?

“Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.” – Peter Ledermann.

2018’s RMAF show was the official launch of Soundsmith’s new ES series of cartridges, where the attendees experienced the latest exploration into overlooked areas of cartridge design and solutions from Soundsmith.

The ES line features not only a dramatic new look, but is a significant evolution of the DEMS system design (Dynamic Energy Management System). The new Soundsmith ES cartridge designs are a significant advancement in cartridge performance due to their ability to direct internal vibrational forces without reflection and disperse them properly to the tone arm. The absence of reflections enables the stylus to stay in far greater statistical contact with the groove walls — a critically important technical refinement. Increased liquidity and reduced “grain,” without loss of detail are some of the immediately discernible advantages of Soundsmith’s new ES models.

The new line also features Azimuth adjustment built-in to each cartridge, as well as the option for electrical isolation for hum-prone systems.

Every cartridge in Soundsmith’s lineup will now feature our sleek new ES body design. The upgrade is far more than cosmetic; the new shape is a departure from the reflective and “boxy” design of many cartridges whose internal construction contribute to uncontrolled vibrational issues adversely effecting performance. Peter says, “Think of how singing in an open field compares with singing in a shower.” Soundsmith has always challenged conventions, looking deeper into nuances of cartridge design that dramatically affect immediate and long term performance. These have included extreme reductions of moving mass and the use of novel materials and designs. The new ES lineup is a continuation of that research and development.

Specifications

Type: Fixed Coil / Moving Iron
Mount: Standard ½”
Stylus: Contact Line, Nude, 0.10 mm square Selected
Radius of Curvature: Optimized Contour Contact Line
Cantilever: Ruby
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.8 - 2.2 g
Effective Tip Mass: 0.30 mg
Compliance: 10 µm/mN
Frequence Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB
Channel Separation
@ 1000 Hz:
> 34 dB
N/A (Mono version)
Channel Separation
@ 50 - 15,000 Hz:
> 25 dB
N/A (Mono version)
Channel Difference: < 0.5 dB
< 01.0 dB (Mono Version)
Output Voltage
@ 5cm/sec:
> 0.40 mV (HIGH)
DC Resistance (DCR): 10Ω
Coil Inductance per channel: 2.75 mH
Suggested Preamp Gain: 58 - 64 dB
Cartridge Weight: 12.2 g (ES series)
Recommended Load Resistance: ≥ 470Ω
Recommended Load Capacitance: n/a