Sumiko Wellfleet MM cartridge

MM cartridge

Nude elliptical stylus

Aluminium cantilever

Made in Japan

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Manufacturer : SUMIKO

539,00 €

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Description

The Sumiko Wellfleet MM cartridge is the fourth model of the new “Oyster Series” offered by Californian manufacturer Sumiko. This range now proposes five models: the Amethyst, the Rainier, the Olympia, the Wellfleet and the Moonstone.

SUMIKO WELLFLEET MM CARTRIDGE: BODY

The appearance of this Wellfleet cartridge will not suit everyone’s taste, but it’s nothing like competing products. The matte black finish provides a very qualitative aspect.

It’s installed and fixed with screws and a brass threaded mounting hole. We especially like this clamping system allowing to prevent the use of nuts and providing excellent tightening torque. However, this won’t please the owners of Thorens “vintage” turntables with their ancient headshells preventing an installation from above.

The body of the cartridge and the generator underwent a “damping” treatment allowing to drastically reduce internal resonance and limit colouration.

SUMIKO WELLFLEET MM CARTRIDGE: STYLUS

The stylus is a 0.3 x 0.7 mil slim nude elliptical version. It’s mounted on a 0.5 mm aluminium cantilever. Sumiko applied and enhanced the principle of the Sumiko Moonstone MM cartridge with a readjustment of the suspension for optimum performance with the stylus. The highly polished stylus of the Wellfleet is not glued, but stamped on the cantilever. Thanks to this assembly, the cantilever is lighter, which allows a faster, more direct and precise response.

Coils use a very pure and oxygen-free copper. It’s worth mentioning that the moving magnets are different and more powerful than that of the Sumiko Olympia cartridge.

SUMIKO WELLFLEET MM CARTRIDGE: COMBINATIONS

Thanks to its weight and compliance, the Sumiko Wellfleet MM cartridge can be associated with most low effective mass tonearms.

It’s also possible to combine it with a good MM phono preamplifier  having a gain of at least 42 dB and a load capacitance of 100 pF.

SUMIKO WELLFLEET MM CARTRIDGE: TESTING AND LISTENING

The reproduction of the Sumiko Wellfleet MM cartridge is very dynamic and physical, while offering unusual realism. The set provides very convincing presence and balance for an MM cartridge. Vocals are instantaneous, clear and detailed. High frequencies are relatively soft. Low frequencies are clearly present and properly controlled.

Surface noise is less present compared to the manufacturer’s lower-end models. The 3D soundstage is pretty demonstrative. Timbres are really pretty and realistic for a phono cartridge in this price range.

This Sumiko Wellfleet MM cartridge is designed for analogue lovers owning a good turntable, but not necessarily a very high-end phono preamplifier.

Would recommend +++

Franck

Principle: moving magnet

Stylus: 0.3 x 0.7 mil nude elliptical

Cantilever: 0.5 mm aluminium

Coil: pure copper

Frequency response: 12 Hz - 33 kHz

Output level: 3 mV

Channel separation: 30 dB

Channel balance: 0.5 dB

Compliance: 22 x 10-6 cm/dyne at 10 Hz

Load impedance: 47 kΩ

Load capacitance: 100 - 200 pF

Tracking force range: 1.8 - 2.2 g

Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g

Weight: 6.5 g

Stylus compatibility: Wellfleet and Moonstone

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Sumiko Wellfleet MM cartridge

Sumiko Wellfleet MM cartridge

MM cartridge

Nude elliptical stylus

Aluminium cantilever

Made in Japan

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