← The components

Miyajima Takumi MC

Cartridge

Relative price

typical

Among the 89 cartridges in the catalogue, this one is typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

Competition record

Assessed against 17 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 120 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • bass control ×73
  • rhythmic grip ×48
  • quietness at rest ×32
  • low-level clarity ×15

Who it comes up against

van den Hul The Frog

38 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Anchored brief, the van den Hul The Frog keeps the slot decisively.

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

butt-thumping bass just isn't its thingStereotimes (Thomas) 2019

van den Hul The Crimson

29 lost · Anchored, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Characterful brief, the van den Hul The Crimson keeps the slot decisively.

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

butt-thumping bass just isn't its thingStereotimes (Thomas) 2019

Goldring Eroica HX MC

8 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Goldring Eroica HX MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Hana EL MC

8 lost · Anchored, Characterful, Intimate, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Hana EL MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

remarkable job tracing groovesPositive Feedback (Gibbs) 2018
butt-thumping bass just isn't its thingStereotimes (Thomas) 2019

Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC

8 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, PRaT, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

butt-thumping bass just isn't its thingStereotimes (Thomas) 2019

van den Hul The Colibri

6 lost · Artisan, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the van den Hul The Colibri keeps the slot clearly.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

butt-thumping bass just isn't its thingStereotimes (Thomas) 2019

Etsuro Urushi Gold MC

4 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC

4 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

van den Hul MC One Special

3 lost · Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Romantic brief, the van den Hul MC One Special keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

almost total lack of groove noise and distortionSoundStage! (Lyle) 2001
butt-thumping bass just isn't its thingStereotimes (Thomas) 2019

Linn Kendo MC

2 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Linn Kendo MC keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Ortofon MC Quintet Black S

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Ortofon MC Quintet Black S keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

Rega Nd3 MM

2 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Rega Nd3 MM keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Linn Koil MC

2 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Linn Koil MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

rounded bassPROXY: AT-OC9 platform
rounded bassPROXY: AT-OC9 platform
butt-thumping bass just isn't its thingStereotimes (Thomas) 2019

Koetsu Azule Platinum MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC keeps the slot clearly.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Koetsu Onyx Platinum MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Koetsu Onyx Platinum MC keeps the slot clearly.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Goldring Eroica LX MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring Eroica LX MC keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Goldring 1042 MM

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring 1042 MM keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Miyajima Takumi MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

What the reviewers said

midrange Miyajima range reviews (Positive Feedback) + owner consensus· Harmonic texture
natural Miyajima owner consensus· Tonal body
Cross Ring Miyajima Cross Ring design· Dynamic coherence
midrange-led Miyajima house DNA· Spatial resolution
a spectacular job portraying the sumptuous voice Stereotimes (Thomas) 2019· Presence & articulation
butt-thumping bass just isn't its thing Stereotimes (Thomas) 2019· Transient attack
bonded elliptical can't compete for ultimate detail The Audiophile Man (Rigby)· Spatial resolution

How it scores

Clarity

  • Spatial resolution 70 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Tonal body 71 from listening evidence
  • Presence & articulation 76 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 71 from listening evidence

Rhythm

  • Transient attack 64 from listening evidence

Specifications

cartridge typeMC
output mv0.2
internal impedance ohm16.0
recommended load ohm100
tracking force g2.3
compliance dynamic um per mn9
weight g8.9
stylus profileline-contact
body materialAfrican Blackwood
frequency response hz20/32000
notes