SUMIKO RAINIER

Rainier represents the latest evolution of the Oyster line, raising the standards of what can be expected from an affordably priced MM cartridge. Its housing has been developed and selected to optimize resonance, delivering a well-defined soundstage characterized by crystalline clarity and a warm, enveloping tone. Despite its impressive quietness, Rainier maintains a strong sonic impact, precisely positioning instruments and vocals in their natural space. The result is a broader, rounder soundstage than one might expect in this price range.

This new generation of Oyster cartridges, which also includes the Olympia and Moonstone models, targets listeners seeking refined sound without compromising value. Designed to enhance and perfect the sonic character that has always defined the series, these cartridges innovatively address the issue of resonance by dispersing and canceling its effects. This allows for a transparent and fluid sound, enriched with intimate and delicate nuances. The result is a faithful reproduction of natural harmonics, the space around voices and instruments, as well as their attack and decay. A unique feature of these models, shared also by the Amethyst, is the ability to create a minimal sonic backdrop that supports sound images with a precision almost typical of moving coil cartridges.

Like all Sumiko cartridges, Rainier is handcrafted in Yokohama, Japan, near the waters where the legendary oysters that gave the series its name dwell. Materials are carefully selected to ensure performance that satisfies generations of enthusiasts. Each model is rigorously tested and refined until optimal quality is achieved, then produced by world-class craftsmen with meticulous attention to precision and quality. The result is a complete range of cartridges ready to integrate perfectly into the analog system of those who choose them, with the certainty that this family includes the ideal solution for every sonic need.

Technical specifications:

• Mass and dimensions: 6.5 g; 17.2 x 18.8 x 29 mm (WxHxD)
• Stylus: 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical
• Cantilever: aluminum tube
• Coils: high-purity copper
• Internal impedance: 1,130 Ω
• Load impedance: 47 kΩ
• Frequency response: 15 Hz – 25 kHz
• Output: 5.0 mV
• Channel separation: 25 dB @ 1 kHz
• Channel balance: 1.5 dB @ 1 kHz
• Compliance: 10×10⁻⁶ cm/dyn @ 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