Sumiko Blue Point No.3 High MC Cartridge - Pre-mounted for Technics Turntables

Free Shipping (Contiguous U.S. Only)

General:
The Sumiko Blue Point No. 3 is one of our favorite high-output moving coil (MC) cartridges. It offers an excellent balance of performance and value, delivering the benefits of MC cartridge design at an accessible price point. It is also a rare treat for us to see one arrive in pre-loved condition.

Thanks to its high-output design, the Blue Point No. 3 can be used with virtually any moving magnet (MM) phono stage, including those built into many integrated amplifiers and preamplifiers. This allows listeners to enjoy the speed, detail, and refinement of an MC cartridge without requiring a dedicated MC phono stage.

This particular Blue Point No. 3 has been installed on an original Technics headshell, making it plug-and-play ready for compatible Technics turntables such as the SL-1200G, SL-1200GR2, SL-1300G, SL-50C and SL-1500C.  

The cartridge has been carefully inspected under our shop microscope and is in excellent condition, showing little to no visible stylus wear. ($750 value $599+$149)

More From Sumiko:
Next-Gen Moving Coil Phono Pickup
Far be it for us to modify a design that’s proven so practical and pleasing to such a wide variety of listeners, but as Sumiko has pushed forward in recent years with our exploration of resonance optimization, it was a matter of time before our classic Blue Point No. 2 was re-evaluated. Blue Point No. 2 – among the world’s first high-output MC cartridges – across decades has become something of a staple among listeners looking for a taste of moving coil sonics without the added expense of MC pre-amplification. We’ve long loved this cartridge and it will remain dear to us among our heritage lineup, but indeed we’ve got another ‘Point’ to make…

Along with the release of our Reference Celebration 40, we bring you Blue Point No. 3 – another nod to our 40 years of cartridge development in the pursuit to enrich your listening experience. We’ve taken a close look & listen at the resonance properties of Blue Point No. 2 and have recognized room for refinement. Resonance having a more significant impact than many listeners may realize, we sought to reimagine how the housing resonates around the generator… and we feel we’ve struck gold.

The sonic presentation of Blue Point No. 3 harkens back to vintage Shure & Stanton MMs remembered for their smoothness. With our tried & true MC generator system, that smoothness is enhanced with the subtlety & nuance you’d expect from a Sumiko MC. First and foremost – and if ever the word were appropriate – Blue Point No. 3 assembles its sonic picture from the ground up with its oh-so buttery low-end response. Bass enthusiasts are in for a treat here. Full & warm yet defined & textured, the coziness of the bass will invite you right in. It doesn’t stop there, however. You can expect the similar lushness through the mids that remain decipherable, high-frequency attack & decay that’s simply sweet & airy.

Having developed such a refinement on a classic design, introducing a low-output variant was a no-brainer. As strongly as we stand behind Blue Point No. 3 High, Blue Point No. 3 Low is a game changer. Owners of MC phonostages can experience the same listenability mentioned above, but with the depth & imaging typical of a low-output design, then some. As with its predecessors, Blue Point No. 3 remains a high-value performer that’s easy on your pocket book, and with the introduction of Blue Point No. 3 Low, there’s a Blue Point for everyone!

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
Little to no wear visible, stylus is clean.

Brand Background:
For nearly 40 years, SUMIKO has provided the finest array of phono cartridges to discriminating analog enthusiasts around the world. The long list of iconic models produced by SUMIKO reads like a “who’s who” of analog audio’s illustrious past.

Ownership:
Single Owner

General Sound:
Smooth, uncolored, undistorted natural and clean

Cosmetic Condition:
9/10 = Excellent. Perfect physical condition, gently used. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab.

Included:
Unit and box

Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing

Specs:
Mass
6g

Stylus
0.3 x 0.7mil Elliptical

Cantilever
Aluminium Pipe

Coils
High-Purity Copper

Internal Impedance
135 Ω

Load Impedance
47k Ω

Frequency Response
13 Hz – 35 kHz

Output Voltage
2.5mV @ 1 kHz

Channel Separation
30 dB @ 1 kHz

Channel Balance
<1 dB @ 1 kHz

Compliance
12 × 10-6cm/dyn @ 100 Hz

Capacitance
100pF – 200pF

Vertical Tracking Angle
20°

Tracking Force Range
1.8g – 2.2g

Recommended Tracking Force
2.0g

Replacement Stylus Unit
Re-Tip Exchange (See Your Local Dealer, in this case SkyFi Audio)

Testing Process:
We start by doing a detailed physical inspection under light magnification to asses the cantilever condition, its position in the cartridge body, and the condition of the suspension.

We also inspect any coil wires and the output connections to make sure it hasn't been strained. We then perform a light cleaning with specialized agents and very carefully blow dry with compressed air.

Following that, we conduct a thorough examination using our Wild Heerbrugg professional microscope. From there we can asses the wear and quality of the stylus and determine how much use it has seen, and if there are any mechanical issues. We can also identify if it needs further cleaning or care.

We then move the cartridge to a digital microscope where we take photos of the cantilever and stylus for future reference.

Next we move to the test bench where we can check for continuity of each channel and resistance.

On certain cartridges (or if the technician feels necessary) we install the cartridge on a turntable and run several test records to ascertain tacking ability, distortion, and compliance.