Who it comes up against
12 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Twin Arms
Against the Anchored brief, the van den Hul The Frog 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 speed stability.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
forgiving of cracks and pops, great trackervinylengine (SiamP)
6 lost · BBC Sound, Characterful, Intimate
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 speed stability.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
4 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.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
forgiving of cracks and pops, great trackervinylengine (SiamP)
4 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 speed stability.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
forgiving of cracks and pops, great trackervinylengine (SiamP)
2 lost · Vocals-First
This cartridge’s output has no matching input on the phono stage in this system.
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the Cyrus Classic PHONO, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
super rich and spaciousStereophile (Reichert) 2026
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Linn Kendo MC keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Goldring Eroica HX MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
forgiving of cracks and pops, great trackervinylengine (SiamP)
1 lost · Romantic
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 midrange truth.
With the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G), the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
musicalityvan den Hul house DNA
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring Eroica LX MC keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring 1042 MM keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
1 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Ortofon MC Quintet Black S keeps the slot decisively.
With the Cyrus Classic PHONO, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
With the Roksan Attessa Unipivot tonearm, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
never sounds harsh or aggressive, yet beautifully detailedAudiophilia review (Sep 2025)
never sounds harsh or aggressive, yet beautifully detailedAudiophilia review (Sep 2025)
1 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 Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
forgiving of cracks and pops, great trackervinylengine (SiamP)
1 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 speed stability.
On its own merits the Sumiko Black Pearl MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
entry-level MC for those stepping up from AdiktCymbiosis dealer + Linn cartridge family overview