Soundsmith - Sussurro MI Ebony Phono Cartridge - Low Output Low Compliance

Inspired by Frank Schröder, designed and individually crafted by Peter Ledermann.....Soundsmith's long awaited NEW top of the line moving Iron cartridge ~ The Sussurro ~

"Frank Schröder is not only a highly gifted tone arm designer and builder but also one of the most insightful audio engineers alive today. In an informal meeting at an audio show it would have been easy to have overlooked his suggestion that I work on a low output moving iron cartridge design. However his reasoning was impeccable and the seed for a new product was sown. Frank has been testing our prototypes throughout the development phase, providing his insightful and invaluable feedback along the way.

But the other inside story of The Sussurro is that it is a cartridge designed to specifically address the most critical issues of cartridge design. Because the laws of physics don't change all that often, cartridges must adhere to first principles, and do it carefully - to get sublime results.

In accord with those laws, the Sussurro has an unbelievably low effective moving mass. Among the important benefits of that is the increased effect of the damping system - which means it can be reduced - a critical requirement for retrieving micro detail and not glossing over what you want to hear. The unique Sussurro damping system has been critically tuned as well ~ so that ALL primary resonances are absolutely tamed. Then all critical stationary parts are fixed rigidly within its tiny magnetic structure and the fully shielded magnetic case is engineered for extreme stability - holding all non-moving parts in exact position at all times.

Finally, an innovative energy distribution system designed to effectively transfer the mechanical energy away from the cantilever through the cartridge body into the tone arm.

We are very pleased. You will be too - but be cautioned - when you cue down to listen to just one track, you will wind up playing the complete side and be very late for your meeting. Happens every time." ~Peter Ledermann

Soundsmith cartridges overturn the myth that moving coil cartridges are the only path towards perfection. After all, what is the accepted "advantage" of moving coil cartridges? Low effective moving mass, right? Well, Soundsmith cartridges have got less. Much less. And if you understand EFFECTIVE moving mass, Less IS more. Why is that good? Because when you lower the moving system mass, it's easier to control. If it's easier to control, the stylus can stay in better contact with the groove walls. That's good, because if you can't stay in contact with the groove walls, you can't hear what's on the record.

Technical Specifications:

• Stylus Contact:     Line Nude, 0.100mm SQ
• Radius of curvature:     Optimized Contour Contact Line
• Cantilever:     Ruby
• Recommended Tracking force:     1.8 to 2.2 Grams
• Effective tip mass:      0.30 mg
• Compliance:     10µm/mN (low compliance)
• Frequency response:     20-20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB
• Channel Separation (stereo only):     1000 Hz >34 dB, 50-15,000 >25 dB
• Channel difference:     <0.5 dB (Stereo), <1.0 dB (Mono)
• Output voltage: 5 cm/sec. Lat. RMS 0.3 mV
• Cartridge weight:     8.79 Grams
• Load: Resistance >/= 470 ohms minimum reccomended load
• 1-2K usually optimal for most systems