SUMIKO WELLFLEET

Sumiko presents Wellfleet, the newest addition to the Rainier collection, representing a refined evolution of the award-winning Moonstone cartridge design. The project has been perfected by modifying the suspension to achieve optimal performance with a nude elliptical stylus, while retaining the generator and resonance-optimized housing typical of the Rainier series. Wellfleet uses a highly polished nude elliptical stylus, eliminating the bond between the stylus tip and shank, thereby reducing the overall mass of the tip. This weight reduction allows for faster, more direct, and precise movement of the stylus via the cantilever and magnet, resulting in a quicker sonic response and sharper, more detailed central images that draw the listener in more engagingly.

Sonically, Wellfleet delivers immediate, crystal-clear, and highly detailed vocals, highlighting the warmth of the human voice with hints of rasp and emphasized subtleties, all supported by tight and well-controlled bass. Background vocals become clearer, while the listener can discern specific instruments such as the rattle of snare wires or the woody timbre of vintage acoustic guitars. The reduction of surface noise and the perception of a more distant acoustic environment contribute to creating a deep, suspended soundstage.

Flexibility remains a core strength of the brand: five stylus variants compatible with this generator are available, allowing Rainier series owners to easily upgrade their cartridges by switching from Rainier to Olympia, Moonstone, or Wellfleet simply by changing the stylus, without forgetting the valuable RS 78 option.

As with all Sumiko cartridges, Wellfleet is handmade in Yokohama, Japan, near the waters where the legendary oysters that inspired the series name dwell. Every component is selected by expert ear to ensure performance that has moved generations of listeners. Each model is carefully tested and perfected until reaching the highest quality, then produced by world-class craftsmen with great attention to precision and quality. The result is a complete range of cartridges ready to integrate perfectly into any analog system, with the confidence that within this family, the perfect cartridge for every sonic need can be found.

Technical specifications:

• Mass and dimensions: 6.5 g; 17.2 x 18.8 x 29 mm (WxHxD)
• Stylus: nude elliptical 0.3 x 0.7 mil
• Cantilever: aluminum pipe Ø0.5 mm
• Coils: high-purity copper
• Internal impedance: 1,130 Ω
• Load impedance: 47 kΩ
• Frequency response: 12 Hz – 33 kHz
• Output: 3.0 mV
• Channel separation: 30 dB @ 1 kHz
• Channel balance: 0.5 dB @ 1 kHz
• Compliance: 13×10⁻⁶ cm/dyn @ 100 Hz
• Capacitance: 100 pF – 200 pF
• Vertical tracking angle: 26°
• Tracking force range: 1.8 g – 2.2 g
• Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g