Sumiko Songbird Low

Songbird Low is the low-output version of the Songbird moving coil cartridge. Fewer turns of copper in the coils reduce moving mass and internal impedance, which the maker links to better detail, dynamics, resolution and transients compared with the high-output version. Tonal balance is described as neutral, with extended highs, clear mids and deep, textured bass.

It uses an open-architecture construction instead of a conventional cartridge body. Internal resonance is damped within the generator, and the rest passes through a PEEK generator mounting plate and a stiff alloy headblock into the tonearm, where it is dissipated. The generator uses pure metals, with high-purity copper coils and a 0.5 mm reinforced aluminum pipe cantilever carrying an elliptical 0.3 x 0.7 mil stylus.

The stylus is not user-replaceable. Worn cartridges go through a re-tip exchange via a dealer, and a trade-in discount is offered to US customers only. Each cartridge is hand-assembled by Excel Sound in Yokohama, Japan. Output is 0.5 mV, so it needs a phono stage with moving coil input; load impedance is set by ear above 100 ohms.