Building on Rainier, Olympia implements an upgraded cantilever assembly that reduces moving mass, translating to more nimble groove tracing, extended nuance and expanded frequency response. A slight decrease in output from Rainier reduces noise in an already-quiet design, improving imaging and perpetuating realism that’s rare to come by in this class of cartridge.
Designed for discerning, value-minded audiophiles, Rainier, Olympia & Moonstone supplement & complement Sumiko's existing range of Oysters. They build upon, enhance & refine the sonic character that listeners worldwide have enjoyed for decades. New innovation in cartridge design addresses the problem of resonance (things need to happen around a generator to voice a cartridge with honesty.) The housing thusly disperses & dissipates resonance, making way for effortless, transparent sonics that are enlivened with intimate nuance. The voicing is true to natural harmonics, space around voices & instruments as well as their attack & decay. Experience a diminutive backdrop that bolsters sonic images with a degree of aptitude reminiscent of moving coil designs that's unique to these Oyster cartridges.
Rainier, Olympia & Moonstone replacement styli are interchangeable. We encourage you to follow the upgrade path to experience the best of what this design has to offer!
From Oyster to Reference, each Sumiko phono cartridge is crafted by hand in Yokohama, Japan — near the waters where their namesake Oysters dwell. The finest materials have been ear-selected 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.