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.
No aspect of the Starling's design was left to chance. It is an open-architecture moving coil cartridge that renders the grandeur of an orchestra while still preserving air and space, and also delivers every detail of a nuanced Jazz recording with its responsive dynamics and deep silences. The benefit of the physical design is that resonances often associated with external housings are eliminated in the Starling, 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 mechanical silence of the Starling concedes a dynamic linearity across the entire spectrum that allows it to handle even the most demanding passages with effortless poise and convincing drive.
The long-grain boron cantilever employed in the Starling provides class-leading 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 Starling design results in a combination of superior dynamics and excellent long term tracking ability. When finished with the specially ground, low-mass, high-end MicroRidge stylus, tremendous amounts of detail can be extracted from the record groove.
As it's part of the Reference Series, the Starling 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 Starling is a traditional "low output" moving coil, but its fidelity and technical characteristics mean that it delivers a truly high-end sound when paired with the appropriate equipment in a high-end vinyl system.
An "Outstanding Product" review from Hi-Fi News
"It is very crisp and detailed but it has a poise, polish and panache that is alluringly addictive."
Henley Says...
Sumiko Reference Series are as much about making a beautiful visual impact as they are about forging a flawless musical presentation. Many of the models feature gorgeously crafted wooden bodies and those that don't boast a striking skeletal design - fully showing off the mechanical parts and improving response timing thanks to the trimmed-down weight.
These top-of-the-range cartridges are most identifiable by their highly controlled performance that particularly excels with vocals and acoustic instruments, meaning that live performances stand out in an impressive way, giving you a smooth, lifelike experience.
If you are interested in the Starling and would like to know more, or are building a high-end system and would like some advice, reach out to one of our expert team today.
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.
