Sumiko Moonstone Phono Cartridge Paired w/Technics OEM Headshell - NEW

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General:
The Sumiko Moonstone is a great high performance Moving-Magnet (MM) Phono cartridge. Featuring a solid output voltage at 3mv, it pairs well with many different phono stages. 

The Moonstone is part of the Oyster series by Sumiko that's achieved many glowing reviews. The Moonstone is a very respectable mid-level cartridge that also features a replaceable stylus. 

This Sumiko is paired and aligned with a brand new OEM Technics Headshell making it even easier to get started.  It's ready to plug and play with the proper overhang set for Technics SL series 'tables.  Easy to adjust if you have a different turntable too.

Cartridge and headshell are new, and will be carefully packed and shipped in a wood phono cartridge box capable of housing both cartridge and headshell mounted and ready to go.

From a great review by Michael Fremer via Analogue Planet:
"The Moonstone is an affordable high-performance moving magnet cartridge that utilizes the powerful mechanically-generated electromotive forces of the moving magnet to help give your playback extra punch and convincing realism. Exceptionally well-balanced and dimensionally dense, the breathtaking dynamics of the Moonstone outperform many comparably priced moving coil cartridges without requiring the huge investment in preampfification." 

More from Sumiko:
The apex of our 3 new Oysters, Moonstone is dressed to impress. Further reducing moving-mass & output and topped off with our listen-tested 0.3 x 0.7mil elliptical diamond, Moonstone transcribes sonic imagery with weight, richness, depth & sparkle. Texture is keenly realistic. The sonic image is suspended and well-controlled over a nearly-absent noise floor, providing fantastic clarity without etch nor confusion. Compatible with MM preamps and the vast majority of tonearms out there, Moonstone is a must-have for audiophiles on a budget.

Our Latest Oysters
Designed for discerning, value-minded audiophiles, Rainier, Olympia & Moonstone supplement & complement our existing range of Oysters. They build upon, enhance & refine the sonic character that listeners worldwide have enjoyed for decades. New innovation in cartridge design addresses the problem of resonance — the things that need to happen around a generator to voice a cartridge with honesty. The housing thusly disperses & dissipates resonance, making way for effortless, transparent sonics that are enlivened with intimate nuance. The voicing is true to natural harmonics, space around voices & instruments as well as their attack & decay. Unique to these 3 Oysters (not to mention Amethyst), experience a diminutive backdrop that bolsters sonic images with a degree of aptitude reminiscent of moving coil designs.

Upgrade Path
Rainier, Olympia & Moonstone replacement styli are interchangeable. We encourage you to follow the upgrade path to experience the best of what this design has to offer!

Hand-Crafted in Japan
From Oyster to Reference, each Sumiko phono cartridge is crafted by hand in Yokohama, Japan — near the waters where our namesake Oysters dwell. We’ve selected by ear the finest materials that combine to deliver performance that has enlightened generations of listeners. Each design is thoroughly auditioned until perfected. Production is then executed by world-class cartridge makers with a collective eye for precision & quality. The result is a full horizon of cartridges eager to introduce themselves to your analog system — we firmly believe there’s a perfect cartridge for you here.

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:
Brand New

Cosmetic Condition:
New = Factory sealed and unopened. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab.

Included:
Just the Unit

Packing:
Will be packed using our highly developed in-house process and custom packing materials.Specs:
Mass & Dimension
6.5g, 17.2 x 18.8 x 29mm (W x H x D)

Stylus
0.3 x 0.7mil Elliptical

Cantilever
⌀0.5mm Aluminum Pipe

Coils
High-Purity Copper

Internal Impedance
1,130 Ω

Load Impedance
47k Ω

Frequency Response
12 Hz – 33 kHz

Output
3.0mV

Channel Separation
30 dB @ 1 kHz

Channel Balance
0.5 dB @ 1 kHz

Compliance
12 × 10-6cm/dyn @ 100 Hz

Capacitance
100 pF – 200 pF

Vertical Tracking Angle
25°

Tracking Force Range
1.8g – 2.2g

Recommended Tracking Force
2.0g

Replacement Stylus Unit
RS Rainier, RS Olympia or RS Moonstone (Interchangeable)

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.