This product is no longer available to order and will not be coming back into stock.
In Stock products are those that are currently held in stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse. This stock status is updated regularly but is subject to change at very short notice.
Products that are Awaiting Stock are items that we would normally carry on stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse, but are currently unavailable. Chances are there is already more on the way, but if you would like a more accurate availability status please feel free to Contact Us.
Urgent order items are products that we do not normally carry on stock, but they are typically held on stock by our European suppliers. Depending on availability, we will seek to order these products quickly, when we have an enquiry. They can therefore be subject to quicker availability times than "Special Order" products.
Special Order items are those that are most often built to order. For these items, we tend to experience longer lead times as we negotiate them into the production line with our suppliers.
The Amethyst is the flagship of the series, and easily Sumiko's most ambitious moving magnet cartridge to date. Featuring a nude Line-Contact stylus coupled to a 0.5mm diameter aluminium cantilever, it's capable of extracting every minute detail from the record groove. Due to the level of fidelity on offer, the Amethyst also employs a mechanically enhanced body compared to the more affordable Rainier, Olympia and Moonstone models. With its unique body, the Amethyst's upgraded generator assembly provides ultra-low noise, hair-raising dynamics, incredible sound staging and superior tracking ability. This exceptional cartridge is so accomplished, it even surpasses some moving coil cartridges in resolution and detail.
Designed for discerning, value-minded audiophiles, Sumiko's latest generation premium moving magnet Oysters build upon, enhance and refine the sonic character that listeners worldwide have enjoyed for decades. The cartridge body design addresses the problem of resonance by dispersing and dissipating it away from the generator system resulting in a sound quality, reminiscent of moving coil designs.
From Oyster to Reference, each Sumiko phono cartridge is crafted by hand in Yokohama, Japan — near the waters where their namesake Oysters dwell. They’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 and quality.
Hi-Fi World take a tour of our high-end MM cartridge
"It offers the sound of the past with performance of today."
Sumiko Amethyst Review
"It produces a pure and effortless sound, without any hint of muddiness."
Henley Says...
The premium moving magnets in the Sumiko Oyster range combine classic, high-end sound with modern technology and convenient interchanging styli. We love them because each model in the range packs clever technology into their anti-resonant body, and each delivers Sumiko's warm, rich sound signature, becoming more and more nuanced as you travel up the series toward the stand-alone Amethyst model. The later addition of the Wellfleet gave further depth and flexibility for the whole range. These are ideal for anyone who wants big sound on a budget.
Cartridge installation takes time and requires a level of understanding for the turntable/tonearm you are fiiting to. We've put together some comprehensive advice and size guides, available here, which will help you through each step of the procedure.
However, if at any time you feel uncomfortable with the task at hand, be sure to contact us or your local retailer for assistance.
