Soundsmith Cartridge Range
We are not permitted to offer this brand of cartridge outside the UK.
The Soundsmith Range
Although most entry-level cartridges from all manufacturers are machine made, Soundsmiths are hand made. Even so, the reality is that when you are manufacturing something so tiny, that has to perform so well, all of them are not the same. If you don’t see this statement from other manufacturers, then this is a “secret” they don’t want to share, and quite understandably so.
Soundsmith Cartridges are each carefully hand built before we test and keep accurate records by serial number of their performance. Those that meet or exceed specifications are sold. But, there are always a few that don’t measure well. These are broken down and some parts are used again. This does cost money, But the ones that pass the stringent testing out-perform many cartridges selling for two, three, four, or even five times the price.
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Soundsmith Cartridge Range Comparison
| Cartridge | Hyperion | Carmen MK2 | Sussurro | Paua | The Voice | Aida | Zephyr MIMC | Zephyr MK3 | Otello |
| Cartridge Type | Fixed Coil | Fixed Coil | Fixed Coil | Fixed Coil | Fixed Coil | Fixed Coil | Fixed Coil | Fixed Coil | Fixed Coil |
| Stylus Type | Contact Line O.C. Contact Line | Elliptical | O.C. Contact Line | Contact Line | Contact Line | Contact Line | Contact Line | Contact Line | Elliptical |
| Output | Low | High | Low | Low | High | High | Low | High | High |
| Stylus | Contact Line Nude, 0.100mm SQ | Nude Elliptical, 0.120mm SQ | Contact Line Nude, 0.100mm SQ | Contact Line Nude, 0.100mm SQ | Contact Line Nude, 0.100mm SQ selected for low noise | Contact Line Nude, 0.100mm SQ | Contact Line | Ultra Low Mass Nude | Elliptical Titanium Bonded, 0.20mm Round |
| Radius of curvature | – | 6 x 17 μm | OCL (Optimized Contour Contact Line) Selected | Nude Contact Line Selected | OCL (Optimized Contour Contact Line) | OCL (Optimized Contour Contact Line) | 6 x 17 μm | – | – |
| Selected Diamond shapes | CL or Optimized (OCL) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cantilever |
Cactus “Spine” | Aluminum Alloy | Ruby | Telescoping Aluminum Alloy | Ruby | Ruby | Laser Drilled Sapphire | New Soundsmith Aluminum Alloy | Aluminum Alloy |
| Recommended tracking force | 1.8 to 2.2 grams | 1.3 to 1.6 grams | 1.8 to 2.2 grams | 1.7 to 1.9 grams | 1.3 – 1.6 grams | 1.3 – 1.6 grams | 1.8 to 2.2 grams | 1.8 to 2.2 grams | 1.3 – 1.6 grams |
| Effective tip mass | 0.30 mg | 0.35 mg | 0.30 mg | 0.30 mg | 0.30 mg | 0.30 mg | 0.32 mg | 0.28 mg | 0.50 mg |
| Compliance |
10 μm/mN (low compliance) (LT) | 12 μm/mN vertical | 7 μm/mN horizontal | 28 μm/mN (high), 22 μm/mN (medium) | 10μm/mN (low compliance) | 10 μm/mN (low compliance) | 28 μm/mN (high), 22 μm/mN (medium) | 28 μm/mN (high), 22 μm/mN (medium) | 10 μm/mN (low compliance) | 10μm/mN (low compliance) | 28 μm/mN (high), 22 μm/mN (medium) |
| Frequency response | 20-20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB | 20-20,000 Hz ± 2.5 dB | 20-20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB | 20-20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB | 20-20,000 Hz ±1.0 dB | 20-20,000 Hz ±1.0 dB | 15-45,000 Hz ± 2.0 dB | 15-45,000 Hz ± 2.0 dB | 20-20,000 Hz ± 2.5 dB |
| Channel separation | 1000 Hz >36 dB (LT: > 34dB), 50-15,000 >25 dB (stereo) | 1000 Hz >26 dB, 50-15,000 >20 dB | 1000 Hz >34 dB, 50-15,000 >25 dB | 1000 Hz >34 dB 50-15,000 >25 dB | 1000 Hz >30 dB, 50-15,000 >25 dB | 1000 Hz >30 dB, 50-15,000 >25 dB | 1000 Hz >28 dB, 50-15,000 >25 dB | 1000 Hz >28 dB, 50-15,000 >25 dB | 1000 Hz >24 dB, 50-15,000 >20 dB |
| Channel difference | <0.5 dB (Stereo) <1.0 dB (Mono) | <1.6 dB (Stereo), <1.0 dB (Mono) | <0.5 dB (Stereo) <1.0 dB (Mono) | <0.5 dB (Stereo), <1.0 dB (Mono) | <0.5 dB (Stereo), <1.0 dB (Mono) | <0.5 dB (Stereo), <1.0 dB (Mono) | <1.0 dB (Stereo), <0.5 dB (Dual Mono) | <1.0 dB (Stereo), <0.5 dB | <1.8 dB (Stereo), <1.0 dB (Mono) |
| Output Voltage | ≥0.4 mV | 2.12 mV | ≥0.4 mV | ≥0.4 mV | 2.12 mV | 2.12 mV | ≥0.4 mV | 2.4 mV | >2.12 mV |
| DC Resistance | 10-11 Ω each channel | – | 10-11 Ω each channel | 10-11 Ω each channel | – | – | 10-11 Ω each channel | – | – |
| Coil | 2.75 mH each channel | – | 2.75 mH each channel | 2.75 mH each channel | – | – | 2.75 mH each channel | – | – |
| Suggested Preamp Gain | 58-64 dB | – | 58-64 dB | 58-64 dB | – | – | 58-64 dB | – | – |
| Cartridge weight | 10.25 grams | 6.8 grams | 10.25 grams | 10.25 grams | 6.8 grams | 6.8 grams | 10.25 grams | 10.27 grams | 6.8 grams |
| Stylus to Mounting Hole Offset | ≈ 10mm (0.4″) | ≈ 10mm (0.4″ | ≈ 10mm (0.4″) | ≈ 10mm (0.4″) | ≈ 10mm (0.4″) | ≈ 10mm (0.4″) | ≈ 10mm (0.4″) | ≈ 10mm (0.4″) | ≈ 10mm (0.4″) |
| Loading | ≥ 470 Ω | ≥ 47 kΩ | ≥ 470 Ω | ≥ 470 Ω | ≥ 47 kΩ | ≥ 47 kΩ | ≥ 470 Ω | ≥ 47 kΩ | ≥ 47 kΩ |
