← The components

Sumiko Oyster MM

Cartridge

Relative price

well below typical

Among the 89 cartridges in the catalogue, this one is well below 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 14 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 38 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

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

  • speed stability ×19
  • midrange truth ×10
  • quietness at rest ×10
  • low-level clarity ×6
  • rhythmic grip ×2

Who it comes up against

van den Hul The Frog

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 Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

got the job doneAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

van den Hul The Crimson

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 Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

Hana EL MC

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 Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

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

got the job doneAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC

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 Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

got the job doneAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

Etsuro Urushi Gold MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

This cartridge’s output has no matching input on the phono stage in this system.

Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC

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 Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

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

metallic or cardboardy aftertasteAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

Linn Kendo MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

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

On its own merits the Sumiko Oyster MM 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 HX MC

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 Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

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

got the job doneAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

van den Hul MC One Special

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 gives up most on speed stability.

On its own merits the Sumiko Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

metallic or cardboardy aftertasteAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

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 Sumiko Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below 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 decisively.

On its own merits the Sumiko Oyster MM 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

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 Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

metallic or cardboardy aftertasteAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018
metallic or cardboardy aftertasteAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

Rega Nd3 MM

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 Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

got the job doneAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

Linn Koil MC

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 midrange truth.

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

On its own merits the Sumiko Oyster MM is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

entry-level MC for those stepping up from AdiktCymbiosis dealer + Linn cartridge family overview
metallic or cardboardy aftertasteAnalog Planet (Fremer) 2018

What the reviewers said

honest Sumiko Oyster-series owner/dealer consensus· Tonal body
entry Sumiko Oyster series (elliptical/conical stylus class)· Spatial resolution
even Sumiko owner consensus· Tonal consistency
22dB channel separation at 1kHz SPEC: channel separation 22dB @1kHz (manufacturer)· Spatial naturalness
metallic or cardboardy aftertaste Analog Planet (Fremer) 2018· Harmonic texture
got the job done Analog Planet (Fremer) 2018· Electrical noise floor

How it scores

Clarity

  • Spatial resolution 69 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Tonal body 70 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 69 from listening evidence
  • Spatial naturalness 68 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Tonal consistency 70 from listening evidence

Specifications

cartridge typeMM
output mv5.0
internal impedance ohm1130.0
recommended load ohm47000
recommended capacitance pf100/200
tracking force g1.5/2.5
compliance dynamic um per mn17
weight g5.5
stylus profilespherical
cantilever materialaluminium
frequency response hz30/20000
channel separation db22.0
notes