Songbird

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Songbird Low
A truly high-end moving coil without the esoteric price tag, utilising a skeletal body fixed to an anti-resonant aluminium mounting plate for an uninterrupted sonic performance.

The Songbird was created to take the iconic Blue Point Special cartridge and enhance the design for a step up in both construction and fidelity, taking a great leap toward true high-end audio.

No aspect of the cartridge's design was left to chance. Inspired by the range-topping Starling, the Songbird is an open-architecture moving coil cartridge that excels at providing rich vocals, while also delivering low-mids and bass with poise and control. The benefit of the physical design is that resonances often associated with external housings are eliminated in the Songbird, yet to enhance this further the cartridge also boasts a CNC precision-milled high-grade aluminium mounting plate so the cartridge system can perform effortlessly.

The coated aluminium cantilever employed in the Songbird provides excellent energy transfer from the stylus to the coils. Further, the synthetic rubber suspension system is tuned so the hardness and repulsion factor are optimised for a controlled acoustic performance over a long lifespan. 

The sophisticated Songbird design results in a combination of superior dynamics and excellent long term tracking ability. When finished with Sumiko's popular 0.3 x 0.7 micron elliptical low-mass stylus, you can guarantee it will always sing as beautifully as its name suggests.

As it's part of the Reference Series, the Songbird is painstakingly crafted by hand in a process that involves hours of labour. After assembly, final adjustments are made using a battery of test records, and performance is hand-calibrated for your enjoyment.

The Songbird is available in two output options. The standard "Low" output version has an output voltage comparable to most other moving coils, and requires either a step-up transformer or an MC phono stage for matching to a hi-fi system. The "High" output version is a type that many other cartridge manufacturers have struggled to achieve with such success. SUMIKO high output moving coils can be paired with almost any MM phono stage, and the Songbird marries a low-mass cantilever to a powerful generator system for 2.5mV of output.

Songbird is truly a high-end cartridge without the esoteric price tag.

  • Overhead mounting cartridge for installing into a headshell
  • CNC-machined aluminium mounting plate
  • Moving Coil cartridge design
  • Open body construction avoids resonances around the generator system
  • Elliptical diamond stylus
  • Deep and wide soundstage with a touch of warmth
Songbird High
A truly high-end moving coil without the esoteric price tag, utilising a skeletal body fixed to an anti-resonant aluminium mounting plate for an uninterrupted sonic performance.

The Songbird was created to take the iconic Blue Point Special cartridge and enhance the design for a step up in both construction and fidelity, taking a great leap toward true high-end audio.

No aspect of the cartridge's design was left to chance. Inspired by the range-topping Starling, the Songbird is an open-architecture moving coil cartridge that excels at providing rich vocals, while also delivering low-mids and bass with poise and control. The benefit of the physical design is that resonances often associated with external housings are eliminated in the Songbird, yet to enhance this further the cartridge also boasts a CNC precision-milled high-grade aluminium mounting plate so the cartridge system can perform effortlessly.

The coated aluminium cantilever employed in the Songbird provides excellent energy transfer from the stylus to the coils. Further, the synthetic rubber suspension system is tuned so the hardness and repulsion factor are optimised for a controlled acoustic performance over a long lifespan. 

The sophisticated Songbird design results in a combination of superior dynamics and excellent long term tracking ability. When finished with Sumiko's popular 0.3 x 0.7 micron elliptical low-mass stylus, you can guarantee it will always sing as beautifully as its name suggests.

As it's part of the Reference Series, the Songbird is painstakingly crafted by hand in a process that involves hours of labour. After assembly, final adjustments are made using a battery of test records, and performance is hand-calibrated for your enjoyment.

The Songbird is available in two output options. The standard "Low" output version has an output voltage comparable to most other moving coils, and requires either a step-up transformer or an MC phono stage for matching to a hi-fi system. The "High" output version is a type that many other cartridge manufacturers have struggled to achieve with such success. SUMIKO high output moving coils can be paired with almost any MM phono stage, and the Songbird marries a low-mass cantilever to a powerful generator system for 2.5mV of output.

Songbird is truly a high-end cartridge without the esoteric price tag.

  • Overhead mounting cartridge for installing into a headshell
  • CNC-machined aluminium mounting plate
  • Moving Coil cartridge design
  • Open body construction avoids resonances around the generator system
  • Elliptical diamond stylus
  • Particularly adept with presenting vocals and acoustic instruments
  • High-output design for connecting to a MM phono stage

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.

Songbird Low

RRP: £899.95

A truly high-end moving coil without the esoteric price tag, utilising a skeletal body fixed to an anti-resonant aluminium mounting plate for an uninterrupted sonic performance.

Songbird

Particularly adept with vocals & acoustic instruments, Sumiko created Songbird to make genuine moving coil imaging available to any listener. It delivers the sweetest highs over a robust, rich yet clear low-midrange. Like its big sibling Starling, Songbird suspends sonic images in a highly controlled manner. As opposed to music being flung from your speakers, you’re placed among the naturally-positioned instruments in the soundstage, close in proximity to the intimate nuances of the musical material.

Open Body Design

The Songbird and the superior Starling model are a heavy refinement on the long-standing Blue Point Special EVO III design. Securely anchored to a highly rigid, resonance-optimised headblock, the specialised generator system is free to work its magic with the utmost control, free of unwanted internal resonance. The generator assembly is flexible and sturdy, offering the highest fidelity possible in a perfect balance of clarity and romance. The result is industry-leading, holographic imaging with irresistibly ‘true’ sweetness. Each delivers a degree of honesty & refinement that you couldn't be more impressed by.

High or Low?

Sumiko are the market-leaders in high-output Moving Coil designs. So if you have an MM phono stage but want a premium MC experience, there’s a good chance Songbird High is the cartridge you’ve been dreaming about.

Clear and ultra-musical with just the right degree of warmth, the Songbird Low offers an even deeper soundstage with greater reach width-wise. As it’s generally more quiet thus allowing more detail to surface, you’ll be shocked by the surprises it yields even in the recordings you’re most familiar with. Stunningly holographic in a manner that approaches that of Starling, Songbird Low maximises the refinement of your MC system at a price that’s well below reasonable considering the performance it achieves.

Get the right Songbird for your system.

Hi-Fi Choice , August 2021

Hi-Fi Choice "Recommends" the Songbird Low

"An extremely accomplished cart at a relatively affordable price that will work in a wide variety of systems."

See full review

Jay Garrett , StereoNet Applause , July 2020

StereoNet give the Songbird Low an Applause Award

"Uncomplicated to set up and is instantly gratifying to set ears upon."

See full review

Paul Rigby , The Audiophile Man , April 2020

Paul Rigby takes a shine to our "rather naked" Songbird

"The Songbird is all about feeling. It wants to reach out and touch you, in a terribly hetero way, of course. It wants to get drunk with you, give you a bear hug and exclaim, “I love you, man <sniff>.”"

See full review

Noel Keywood , Hi-Fi World , August 2020

Noel Keywood checks out the Songbird High

"Sumiko’s Songbird has some great sonic strengths: think fine bass, solid and expressive, excellent mid-band vocals with body and dynamic punch"

See full review


format_quoteHenley Says...

The Sumiko Songbird is a superb Cartridge, available at an even better price. Offering rich vocals, prominent bass, and a visually striking appearance, the Songbird is able to delivery a truly present, and captivating performance. 

The option to choose between both Low and High Output is very helpful to many, as the High output version enables those with phono preamps specific to Moving Magnet cartridges, the ability to integrate a Moving Coil Cartridge into their system without any additional components.

I recently purchased a Songbird myself, and to say the least I am completely infatuated. The cartridged has elevated my system entirely, and has given me a quality of sound I didnt think possible. I could not recommend the Songbird enough!

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Jack Armstrong Operations Coordinator

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  • 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.

  • PDF | 102 Kb | Hi-Fi Choice Review

  • PDF | 1006 Kb | Hi-Fi World Review

  • PDF | 607 Kb | User Guide

  • JPG | 327 Kb | Stock Photo (Front)

  • JPG | 17 Mb | Stock Photo (Lifestyle)

  • JPG | 480 Kb | Stock Photo (Rear)