Sumiko Songbird Moving Coil Cartridge
- Free Mainland UK Shipping on orders over £100
- Official Hi-Fi Retailer since 1973
- Usually in stock and dispatched in 1-5 working days
We offer free delivery on all orders over £100 to mainland UK. Orders under £100 are subject to a £6.50 shipping charge.
Delivery is available across mainland UK. If you are located outside mainland UK and would like a shipping quote, please get in touch before placing your order.
We aim to dispatch in-stock items as soon as possible provided that we physically have the stock - but please note that sometimes we have to order from our supplier for certain products, in which case delivery should take place within 1-5 working days of the order being placed.
Tracking details or estimated delivery timescales will be provided once your order has been processed. If there are any delays due to stock availability, we will contact you as soon as possible with the option to wait or receive a full refund.
Please note that certain products may be subject to specific distance selling or delivery regulations. If you are unsure about a product or its delivery terms, we recommend contacting us before purchase.
You can cancel your order within 14 days of receiving your goods, in line with UK distance selling regulations. Once you’ve notified us, you have a further 14 days to return the item. Please contact us by email, phone or in writing before sending anything back.
Items must be returned in original condition and packaging, including all accessories, manuals and any promotional items. The cost of return is your responsibility and we strongly recommend insuring the goods, as refunds cannot be issued for damaged or incomplete returns. If items show excessive handling, are missing components, or cannot be resold as new, a reasonable deduction may be made.
Please note that used headphones (for hygiene reasons) and custom or special-order items cannot be returned. If you need assistance arranging a return, we’re always happy to help.
Product Summary
The Sumiko Songbird is an open-body moving coil cartridge designed to bring greater refinement, detail and musical flow from a capable turntable. Available in both High Output and Low Output versions, it gives customers a choice between moving coil performance for standard MM phono inputs or a lower-output option for dedicated MC phono stages.
Both versions use an elliptical 0.3 × 0.7 mil stylus, a reinforced aluminium pipe cantilever and high-purity copper coils. Sumiko’s open-architecture body design helps reduce unwanted resonance, allowing the cartridge to sound clear, spacious and naturally balanced.
The High Output version is ideal for systems with a moving magnet phono input, while the Low Output version is designed for use with a suitable moving coil phono stage. This makes the Songbird a flexible choice for vinyl listeners who want the character and imaging of a moving coil cartridge while matching the right output to their system.
Key Benefits
- Open-body moving coil design helps deliver a spacious, detailed and engaging sound
- Available in High Output and Low Output versions to suit different phono stages
- High Output version works with standard MM phono inputs
- Low Output version is designed for dedicated MC phono stages and offers improved resolution and dynamics
- Elliptical stylus tracks the groove cleanly for a balanced mix of detail and musical smoothness
- Reinforced aluminium pipe cantilever supports clear, responsive tracking
- Open-architecture body helps reduce resonance and unwanted colouration
- Hand-assembled in Japan for consistent quality and precision
- 1 year manufacturer's warranty
Technical Specifications
Cartridge Type
- Type: Moving coil phono cartridge
- Available Versions: High Output and Low Output
- Stylus: Elliptical, 0.3 × 0.7 mil
- Cantilever: 0.5 mm reinforced aluminium pipe
- Coils: High-purity copper
- Replacement Stylus: Re-tip exchange through dealer
High Output Version
- Design Principle: High Output Moving Coil
- Output Voltage: 2.5 mV at 3.54 cm/sec, 1 kHz
- Internal Impedance: 135 Ohms at 1 kHz
- Load Impedance: 47 kOhms
- Recommended Load Capacitance: 100 pF – 200 pF
- Suitable Phono Stage: Moving magnet input
Low Output Version
- Design Principle: Low Output Moving Coil
- Output Voltage: 0.5 mV at 3.54 cm/sec, 1 kHz
- Internal Impedance: 28 Ohms at 1 kHz
- Load Impedance: Greater than 100 Ohms, determine by ear
- Recommended Load Capacitance: 100 pF – 200 pF
- Suitable Phono Stage: Moving coil input
Shared Performance
- Frequency Response: 12 Hz – 30 kHz
- Channel Separation: 30 dB at 1 kHz
- Channel Balance: Less than 1 dB at 1 kHz
- Compliance: 12 × 10-6 cm/dyn at 100 Hz
- Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°
- Tracking Force Range: 1.8 g – 2.2 g
- Recommended Tracking Force: 2.0 g
What’s in the Box
- Sumiko Songbird moving coil cartridge
- Stylus guard
- Mounting hardware
- Product documentation
