SUMIKO SONGBIRD HIGH

The Songbird is an MC phono cartridge specifically designed to highlight vocals and acoustic instruments, offering every listener the opportunity to enjoy the imaging typical of high-quality moving coil cartridges. It features sweet, clear highs and a robust, rich yet transparent low-midrange. This cartridge creates a soundstage where instruments are suspended with great control. Unlike other experiences where the music seems to be projected out of the speakers, the Songbird places the listener amidst the instruments, allowing them to capture the intimate and natural nuances of the musical material. For those with an MM phono section, the Songbird High is likely the cartridge they have always dreamed of.

This model is part of the latest Reference open-body MC lineup, a significant evolution from the Blackbird and BPS EVO III models that inspired it. Anchored to a rigid, resonance-optimized headblock, the new generation of generators works with great control, eliminating any unwanted internal resonance. The generator assembly is both flexible and sturdy, offering the highest fidelity with a perfect balance of clarity and warmth. The result is industry-leading, holographic imaging with an irresistibly “sweet” and natural sound, delivering a level of honesty and refinement that Sumiko is especially proud of and that listeners will appreciate firsthand.

Like all Sumiko cartridges, the Songbird is handcrafted in Yokohama, Japan, near the waters where the famous oysters that gave the series its name live. The materials are carefully selected by ear to ensure performance that has captivated generations of enthusiasts. Each model is meticulously tested and refined until it reaches the highest quality, then produced by world-class artisans with extreme attention to precision and quality. The result is a complete range of cartridges ready to integrate perfectly into any analog system, with the certainty that within this family there is the ideal cartridge for every sonic need.

Technical specifications:

• Mass and dimensions: 8.5 g; 17 x 18 x 28.5 mm (WxHxD)
• Stylus: 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical
• Cantilever: treated aluminum pipe Ø0.5 mm
• Coils: high-purity copper
• Internal impedance: 135 Ω
• Load impedance: 47 kΩ
• Frequency response: 12 Hz – 40 kHz
• Output: 2.5 mV
• Channel separation: 30 dB @ 1 kHz
• Channel balance: <0.5 dB @ 1 kHz
• Compliance: 12×10⁻⁶ cm/dyn @ 100 Hz
• Capacitance: 100 pF – 200 pF
• Vertical tracking angle: 20°
• Tracking force range: 1.8 g – 2.2 g
• Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g