SUMIKO OLYMPIA

The Sumiko Olympia represents a refined evolution of the Rainier model, building upon its design foundation with targeted technical upgrades aimed at enhancing dynamic response and sonic transparency. Its key innovation lies in the implementation of a new, lighter, and more responsive cantilever, allowing for more precise and sensitive groove tracing. This upgrade translates into extended high-frequency reproduction, greater nuance, and more secure tracking even during complex musical passages. A slight reduction in output compared to the Rainier helps to further lower background noise—already well-controlled—enhancing instrument separation and delivering an even more convincing and three-dimensional soundstage, with remarkable realism for its price range.

Olympia is developed to complete and expand the Oyster family alongside the Rainier and Moonstone models, preserving the musical character that has long defined Sumiko cartridges. This new generation effectively tackles internal resonance management, a crucial factor in achieving superior sound quality. The cartridge body is specifically engineered to dissipate unwanted vibrations, resulting in a smooth, natural, and transparent presentation, enriched by a coherent tonal balance and fine microdynamics that bring even the subtlest details to life. The soundstage unfolds naturally, with well-separated instruments precisely placed in space, while the tonal balance respects the musicality of the original recording, recalling in some respects the sophistication of moving coil designs.

Like other cartridges in the line, Olympia is compatible with a range of interchangeable replacement styli, offering a simple and flexible upgrade path tailored to individual listening preferences and needs. Each Sumiko cartridge is handcrafted in Yokohama, Japan, following rigorous artisanal processes and careful auditioning during final tuning. Material selection is guided by sensory evaluation to ensure authentic, engaging, and enduring sound quality. Olympia embodies this philosophy, designed to enrich the listening experience of those seeking audiophile performance at an accessible price point, while remaining true to Sumiko’s analog heritage.

Technical Specifications:

• Mass & dimensions: 6.5 g; 17.2 x 18.8 x 29 mm (W x H x D)
• Stylus: 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical
• Cantilever: aluminum pipe
• Coils: high-purity copper
• Internal impedance: 1,130 Ω
• Load impedance: 47 kΩ
• Frequency response: 12 Hz – 30 kHz
• Output: 4.0 mV
• Channel separation: 30 dB @ 1 kHz
• Channel balance: 1.5 dB @ 1 kHz
• Compliance: 12×10⁻⁶ cm/dyne @ 100 Hz
• Capacitance: 100 pF – 200 pF
• Vertical tracking angle: 25°
• Tracking force range: 1.8 g – 2.2 g
• Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g