Sumiko Oriole Moving Coil Cartridge

A Shibata line-contact MC cartridge with high-efficiency, low-impedance generator. Hand-assembled in Japan

The Oriole maintains the tonally balanced, refined, and fatigueless character for which Sumiko is globally regarded. Enhanced with a high-efficiency, low-impedance generator as well as a nude Shibata line-contact stylus, the Oriole is a meaningful upgrade from the Songbird, approaching the performance of Sumiko's venerable Starling.  

The stylus and generator deliver impeccable detail retrieval, emotionally captivating dynamics, speedy attack, and sweet resolution. Deeply musical and endlessly listenable, Oriole's wholly analog-sounding character portrays musical material in natural balance with its surrounding ambience, and with life-like nuance. 

Reference Series Open-Body MCs

Sumiko's Reference Series open-architecture cartridges minimize the potential for coloration and distortion due to energy buildup. Internal resonance is damped within the generator while the remaining resonance travels up through the bonded mounting plate and headblock, then down the tonearm, where it is dissipated harmlessly. 

Trade In or Trade Up

Sumiko offers a retip exchange or discount for most of its MC cartridges, eliminating a large headache for owners of these delicate devices. Contact us to find out the current policy. 

Hand-Crafted in Japan

Each Sumiko phono cartridge is hand-assembled by the world-class cartridge makers at Excel Sound in Yokohama, Japan. This is a relationship that Sumiko has proudly maintained for nearly forty years. 

Specifications

Stylus: Nude Shibata (6.5 x 40 µm)

Cantilever: ⌀0.5 mm reinforced aluminum pipe

Coils: High-purity copper

Internal Impedance: 5.5 Ω 

Load Impedance: >55 Ω 

Frequency Response: 12 Hz–45 kHz

Output: 0.3 mV 

Channel Separation: 30 dB 

Channel Balance: <0.5 dB 

Compliance: 12 x 10^-6 cm/dyn (100 Hz)

Capacitance: 100 pF–200 pF

Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°

Tracking Force Range: 1.8 g–2.2 g

Recommended Tracking Force: 2 g

Weight: 7.3 g