Sumiko Oriole
Low-output moving coil (MC) cartridge from Sumiko, fitted with a bare Shibata diamond and a reinforced aluminium cantilever.
Description
The Oriole is a low-output moving coil (MC) cartridge, designed to be fitted to a tonearm and convert the signal engraved in the groove of a vinyl record into an electrical signal. It belongs to the range of Sumiko cartridges handmade in Japan, at Excel Sound in Yokohama.
The stylus is a bare Shibata diamond of 6.5 x 40 µm, mounted on a reinforced aluminium tube cantilever with a diameter of 0.5 mm. This linear-contact tip geometry follows the bottom of the groove more precisely than a conical or elliptical tip, which favours the reproduction of detail and fast transients. The high-purity copper coils and an internal impedance of 5.5 Ω characterise a low-impedance generator, designed to limit signal losses ahead of preamplification.
The output of 0.3 mV (measured at 3.54 cm/s, 1 kHz) places the Oriole among low-output MC cartridges: it requires a phono preamplifier or a step-up transformer suited to this type of output, with a load impedance greater than 55 Ω. The frequency response extends from 12 Hz to 45 kHz, channel separation reaches 30 dB at 1 kHz, and channel balance remains below 0.5 dB, values that reflect good stereophonic coherence.
This cartridge is aimed at vinyl enthusiasts who already have a phono stage compatible with low-output MC cartridges, in a system where the turntable, tonearm and cabling have been carefully chosen to make the most of this level of detail. The recommended tracking force is 2.0 g, within an accepted range of 1.8 g to 2.2 g, and the vertical tracking angle is 20°.
Technical specifications
| Weight | 7.3 g |
| Stylus type | Bare Shibata (6.5 x 40 µm) |
| Cantilever | Reinforced aluminium tube, 0.5 mm diameter |
| Coils | High-purity copper |
| Internal impedance | 5.5 Ω (1 kHz) |
| Load impedance | >55 Ω |
| Frequency response | 12 Hz – 45 kHz |
| Output | 0.3 mV (3.54 cm/s, 1 kHz) |
| Channel separation | 30 dB (1 kHz) |
| Channel balance | <0.5 dB (1 kHz) |
| Capacitance | 100 pF – 200 pF |
| Vertical tracking angle | 20° |
| Tracking force range | 1.8 g – 2.2 g |
| Recommended tracking force | 2.0 g |
What to check before buying used
When buying used, priority attention should be given to the condition of the Shibata diamond and the aluminium cantilever, the elements most exposed to wear and impact: a worn stylus or a misaligned cantilever significantly degrades playback and is not always visible to the naked eye. It is also worth checking the integrity of the connection wires and the cartridge body, as well as ensuring the tracking force setting is consistent with the original values before returning the cartridge to service on a tonearm.
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