Sumiko Pearl???

c137u5 · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject: Sumiko Pearl???

Any one have any thoughts on this cart ive heard mixed reviews and wonder what u guys think

jake · senior member Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 344

The reason for mixed reviews?
How does it sound in YOUR rig. In my rig it sounds mediocre. I have a feeling it could sound much better in a different system though. Too bad we can't borrow them all and find out what works best in our rigs at home, where the real listening is done.

Letitroll98 · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:39 am Post subject:

It's okay, inoffensive, soft, pleasant, warm and inviting. Not much detail, soft, indistinct bass, a bit smeared and flat in soundstage. But no high frequency nasties, tracks fine, safe as an OEM supplied by Pro-Ject tables. I like the sound of the cartridge, I'm just not in the least excited by it.

c137u5 · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

so far i think it sounds qite a bit better than the shure m97xE i was using

Letitroll98 · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 3:53 am Post subject:

banerjba · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:54 pm Post subject:

I have a bunch of different carts on interchangeable headshells. Sumiko Pearl is one of them.

I love mine which I use on my Technics 1200 and the similar Toshiba SR-F770. On these tables, it is a full bodied cartridge with a nice round sound, good bass and not overly bright. Of course phono pre-amp makes a difference. Balance is pefect on my Rega Fono, a little uneven on the Pro-ject PhonoBox2 and a bit bright (but not excessively so) on the one built into my McIntosh integrated, which is far more transparent.

The Sumiko Blue Point is more detailed and refined (at more than double the price), the Ortofon 2M Red is more even sounding with tighter, better defined extremes (price is similar to Pearl) and the much cheaper Grado Black has less bass, depth and speed but a much more even midrange. The Ortofon OM10 is smoother than the Pearl but slightly woolly and veiled sounding.

All are great for the money. None suck. All can be bettered.

mtr33 · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject:

I had Black Pearl and I can recommend it only for my all enemies Smile

33audio · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject:

I bought a Black Pearl years ago to see if a .5 mil stylus would get below groove echo.

Getting to thicker groove wall down deeper in the groove helps greatly with echo, but also usually put the stylus dead center in the wear pattern.

Used records have often been played with a worn stylus which is smaller and sinks deeper into the groove.

The BP is a good budget cartridge, if you have an unworn groove.

The Pearl on the other hand has a 4x8 stylus which gets a little above the usual 4x7 contact area in the groove.

banerjba · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:34 pm Post subject:

33audio · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:08 am Post subject:

Yes, it is a 2x8 on the Pearl. I checked the Oyster Series booklet.

I would have put a 2x8 on this Black Pearl, but the stylii don't appear to be interchangeble.

I have many records with distortion at high groove velocity due to the former owner's worn tip. If Sumiko has close tolerances on their tip sizes the 2x8 may actually ride above the damage.

Stanton and Grado have very wide tolerances, no telling what the size really is. I talked to Joe Grado on the phone years ago and he said that their ellipticals were .3-mil nominal, but actually closer to .4-mil. They don't like to publish their tip specs, but I recall that their ellipticals are .6 mil across the groove. No telling what the Grado "Special Elliiptical" is. I guess the patent might divulge the size.

The first ellipticals that came out in the early/mid 60s were 2x9 and 4x9. The manufacturers probably wanted to launch the elliptical into the audio world without having the purchaser hear the damage caused by his old cart.

Some of the early Pickerings were 4x8, but now they only make the 4x7 as far as I have seen.

Roger15ohm · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:58 am Post subject:

I just bought Sumiko Pearl weeks ago. Firstly very nice presentation for a budget cart. Some complaints is the set screws are too short and quite difficuit to mount on my RB250. I am not sure what will happen to thicker headshell.

Compare to my semi spoilt Rega bias cart, Sumiko is strong in mid and low, (punchy bass) which really suprised me. But Rega's high and transparency is much much better. I am still a biginner in sorting cart. Propably my setup don't works neither one but will figure it out soon but far this is my experience with this cart. Hopefully after hours of run in can give me a better sonic performance and upgrading the tonearm cable. Or someone can give me some advice here?. Very Happy

banerjba · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject:

Roger15ohm · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:08 am Post subject:

Banerjba.

Thanks for the tips. I'd been introduced to the 2M. Might go for that soon after my tonearm diy rewiring. Also the Denon 103 is quite an affordable cart.

Any idea about the Grado reference Platinium 1 ?

I am using Lenco 75 on diy plinth. I am using Ls3/5a 11 ohm rosewood. I'd just uniform the arm with Techno weight and these 2 days will go for the cardas 33 aw installation. Hope i can do it properly. Just happen to pop in here that this topic interest me.

Best regards,

Wan.

banerjba · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:19 am Post subject:

Dadimo · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject:

For the cost of a replacement stylus for the pearl you could have one of these:
http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant.....ry_Code=A3
It has a better diamond.