Audio T Verdict
The Sumiko Starling sits at the top of the brand's current Reference Series and is where some of the technologies introduced by Songbird and Oriole are taken considerably further.
It remains an open-body low-output moving-coil cartridge, but the aluminium cantilever and elliptical or Shibata styli found lower down the range are replaced by a remarkably slender 0.28mm Boron cantilever carrying a nude low-mass Micro-Ridge diamond. The intention is simple: reduce unnecessary moving mass and allow the stylus to follow extremely fine groove information with greater precision.
The generator produces 0.5mV and has a 28-ohm internal impedance, with Sumiko recommending a phono-stage load above 100 ohms and encouraging final loading to be determined by listening. A proper moving-coil phono stage with suitable gain and adjustable loading is therefore a much more natural partner than a conventional MM input.
Starling's open-body construction also demands a little more care than an enclosed cartridge. The generator, internal wiring and cantilever are exposed, while the stylus profile makes accurate alignment, azimuth and VTA particularly worthwhile.
Sumiko specifies a 2.0g tracking force and recommends approximately two-thirds of this value for anti-skate as a starting point. The cartridge weighs 7.4g and has a compliance of 12 x 10-6cm/dyn at 100Hz, making tonearm compatibility another area worth checking rather than simply assuming.
This is not the cartridge to buy if you want something you can bolt on approximately and forget about. Starling rewards a properly engineered turntable, capable tonearm, good MC phono stage and careful setup. Give it that foundation and its Micro-Ridge stylus, Boron cantilever and highly developed generator make it one of Sumiko's most ambitious cartridges.
Sumiko Starling Low Output Moving Coil Cartridge
The Sumiko Starling is a Reference Series low-output moving-coil cartridge combining the brand's open-body architecture with a nude low-mass Micro-Ridge stylus, 0.28mm Boron cantilever and carefully controlled suspension system.
Designed for high-performance turntables and suitable moving-coil phono amplification, Starling is engineered to retrieve extremely fine groove information while controlling unwanted resonance throughout the cartridge structure.
Key features include:
- Low-output moving-coil generator
- Sumiko Reference Series
- Open-body cartridge architecture
- Nude low-mass Micro-Ridge stylus
- 2.5 x 75µm stylus dimensions
- 0.28mm Boron cantilever
- High-purity copper coils
- Specially selected suspension damper
- PEEK generator mounting plate
- Rigid alloy headblock
- 0.5mV output
- 28-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 100-ohm recommended load impedance
- 100–200pF capacitance
- 12Hz–50kHz frequency response
- 30dB channel separation at 1kHz
- Less than 0.5dB channel balance at 1kHz
- 12 x 10-6cm/dyn compliance at 100Hz
- 20-degree vertical tracking angle
- 1.8–2.2g tracking-force range
- 2.0g recommended tracking force
- 7.4g cartridge mass
- Hand-assembled and individually calibrated in Japan
Low Output Moving Coil Design
Starling uses a low-output moving-coil generator.
Instead of moving a magnet in relation to fixed coils, the coils themselves move with the stylus and cantilever within a stationary magnetic field.
Keeping the moving assembly light can allow the stylus to respond rapidly to the extremely small changes encoded within the record groove, but the trade-off is a much lower electrical output than a conventional moving-magnet cartridge.
0.5mV Output
Sumiko specifies an output of:
0.5mV at 3.54cm/sec, 1kHz.
This places Starling firmly in low-output moving-coil territory and means it requires considerably more phono-stage gain than a typical MM or high-output MC cartridge.
A Moving-Coil Phono Stage Is Required
Starling should be partnered with a suitable low-output moving-coil phono stage or another phono solution capable of providing the necessary gain and loading.
A conventional MM-only input will normally provide insufficient gain for its 0.5mV output.
28-Ohm Internal Impedance
The Starling generator has an internal impedance of:
28 ohms at 1kHz.
This specification is important when considering phono-stage loading, but it should not be confused with the external load impedance selected on the phono stage.
Greater Than 100-Ohm Loading
Sumiko recommends a load impedance of:
Greater than 100 ohms.
Unlike the fixed 47k-ohm loading generally used by moving-magnet cartridges, Starling allows some flexibility in the final loading value.
Determine Final Loading by Listening
Sumiko specifically describes the loading recommendation as greater than 100 ohms and suggests determining the final value by ear.
If your phono stage offers adjustable MC loading, values above 100 ohms provide the appropriate area in which to experiment.
The ideal setting can depend on the phono stage, turntable and wider system rather than there being one universal figure that suits every installation.
Phono-Stage Gain Matters Too
Loading and gain are separate settings.
Loading determines the electrical resistance presented to the cartridge, while gain determines how much the tiny 0.5mV signal is amplified before reaching your amplifier.
A suitable MC phono stage therefore needs enough clean gain for Starling as well as an appropriate loading option.
Do Not Choose a Phono Stage From Loading Alone
A phono stage may provide a suitable 100-ohm or higher loading option but still be unsuitable if it cannot provide enough quiet gain for a 0.5mV moving-coil cartridge.
Audio T can help check both gain and loading when matching Starling to a phono stage.
100–200pF Capacitance
Sumiko specifies capacitance of:
100–200pF.
The complete signal path includes the cartridge, tonearm wiring, turntable interconnect and phono-stage input, so electrical matching should be considered as a system rather than looking at the cartridge alone.
High-Purity Copper Coils
Starling uses high-purity copper within its moving coils.
These coils form part of the moving assembly connected to the cantilever and generate the cartridge's electrical output as they move within the magnetic field.
Because the coils themselves must move, their mass and construction are important aspects of a moving-coil cartridge design.
Open-Body Reference Series Architecture
Starling uses Sumiko's open-body Reference Series architecture rather than surrounding the generator with a conventional cartridge shell.
The design aims to reduce the opportunity for unwanted mechanical energy to accumulate within an enclosed cartridge body.
Resonance controlled within the generator is supplemented by providing a path for remaining mechanical energy to travel through the mounting structure and into the tonearm.
PEEK Generator Mounting Plate
The Starling generator is secured to a PEEK mounting plate.
This provides a rigid mechanical interface between the generator and the cartridge's alloy headblock, allowing unwanted energy to be transferred away from the generator structure.
Rigid Alloy Headblock
The alloy headblock forms the mechanical connection between the Starling generator assembly and the tonearm.
Sumiko uses this rigid structure as part of the cartridge's resonance-management strategy, providing a controlled route through which unwanted mechanical energy can leave the cartridge.
Open-Body Construction Requires Extra Care
Removing the conventional cartridge shell leaves Starling's delicate generator, internal wiring and cantilever more exposed.
When installing or handling the cartridge, Sumiko advises holding it only by the top mounting plate or the rear plate carrying the connection pins.
Do not touch the exposed generator, wiring or cantilever.
Carefully Controlled Suspension
Sumiko pays particular attention to the Starling's suspension system.
The cartridge uses a specially controlled synthetic-rubber suspension material rather than relying on a more conventional generic damper.
The intention is to provide predictable mechanical behaviour and maintain the cartridge's designed suspension characteristics over time.
Why Suspension Matters
The suspension has several jobs simultaneously.
It must allow the stylus and cantilever to move in response to the groove, maintain the correct relationship between the moving coils and magnetic circuit, control unwanted movement and support the correct tracking force.
This is one reason why simply running a cartridge at the lowest possible tracking force is not desirable.
0.28mm Boron Cantilever
One of the biggest mechanical differences between Starling and the Sumiko models below it is its:
0.28mm Boron cantilever.
Boron combines very high rigidity with low mass, making it well suited to transferring the tiny movements of a stylus into a moving-coil generator.
The Starling cantilever is considerably slimmer than the reinforced 0.5mm aluminium design used by Songbird and Oriole.
Why Reduce Cantilever Mass?
The stylus and cantilever must repeatedly accelerate, stop and change direction while following extremely small groove modulations.
Reducing moving mass while maintaining rigidity helps the assembly respond more readily to those changes rather than storing unnecessary mechanical energy.
The cantilever must still remain sufficiently rigid to transfer stylus movement accurately to the coils, which is why material choice becomes increasingly important in higher-performance cartridges.
Nude Low-Mass Micro-Ridge Stylus
Starling uses a:
Nude low-mass Micro-Ridge stylus measuring 2.5 x 75µm.
Micro-Ridge is a fine-line stylus profile designed to create a narrow contact area in the direction of groove travel while providing a much longer contact surface vertically along the groove wall.
This allows the stylus to follow very fine groove modulation while spreading tracking force over a relatively large contact area.
Why Use a Micro-Ridge Stylus?
The profile offers several potential advantages when correctly aligned:
- Fine groove-detail retrieval
- Excellent high-frequency tracing
- Extended contact with the groove wall
- Reduced tracing distortion
- Accurate retrieval of complex groove modulation
- Good tracking of inner record grooves
The trade-off is that advanced stylus shapes reveal setup errors more readily than simpler spherical or elliptical designs.
Fine-Line Styli Reward Accurate Alignment
A Micro-Ridge stylus has the potential to extract considerably more information from the groove, but that also makes correct cartridge geometry particularly important.
Overhang, offset angle, VTA and azimuth should all be set carefully rather than approximately.
Accurate Overhang and Offset Angle
Starling should be aligned using the geometry specified by the turntable or tonearm manufacturer, or with a suitable cartridge-alignment protractor.
Moving the cartridge forwards, backwards or rotating it within the headshell changes the path followed by the stylus across the record surface.
Recheck Tracking Force After Alignment
Moving Starling forwards or backwards during alignment can alter the effective tracking force.
Once the final cartridge position has been established, check the tracking force again before continuing with fine setup.
2.0g Recommended Tracking Force
Sumiko specifies a tracking-force range of:
1.8–2.2g.
The recommended starting point is:
2.0g.
Tracking force does more than simply hold the stylus in the groove. It also correctly preloads the suspension and positions the moving coils within the magnetic system.
Tracking Lighter Is Not Automatically Safer
Running below the manufacturer's recommended tracking-force range can prevent the suspension from operating correctly and increase the likelihood of mistracking.
Mistracking can be considerably more damaging to a record than operating the cartridge at its correctly specified tracking force.
Use an Accurate Stylus-Force Gauge
Balance the tonearm and make the initial tracking-force adjustment using the arm manufacturer's procedure.
For final setup, an accurate stylus-force gauge allows the actual force at the record surface to be checked rather than relying entirely on the tonearm counterweight markings.
Anti-Skate Setup
Sumiko recommends approximately two-thirds as much indicated anti-skate as tracking force for Starling.
With the cartridge operating at its recommended 2.0g tracking force, Sumiko suggests approximately:
1.25–1.3g indicated anti-skate.
More Anti-Skate Is Not Necessarily Better
Sumiko specifically advises against simply matching the anti-skate dial numerically to the full tracking force.
The manufacturer's testing suggests that around two-thirds of the tracking-force value provides a more appropriate starting point for Starling's relatively low-compliance moving-coil suspension.
Follow the Tonearm Manufacturer Too
Anti-skate mechanisms vary considerably between tonearms.
A numbered dial, thread-and-weight arrangement and magnetic system do not necessarily produce exactly the same force simply because their scales display similar values.
Use Sumiko's recommendation alongside the tonearm manufacturer's own setup instructions and final listening.
20-Degree Vertical Tracking Angle
Sumiko specifies a vertical tracking angle of:
20 degrees.
On a tonearm with adjustable height, VTA or stylus-rake optimisation can form an important part of final Starling setup.
With a fine Micro-Ridge stylus, small changes in tonearm height can alter the relationship between the stylus contact surfaces and the record groove.
VTA Fine Tuning
Sumiko recommends approaching final VTA adjustment gradually rather than making large changes.
A useful initial reference is to begin with the rear of the tonearm slightly lower and work progressively upwards while listening for changes in timing, clarity and image scale.
Small Adjustments Can Make a Difference
Once Starling is close to its optimum setup, VTA changes can become very small.
A tonearm with precise height adjustment makes this process considerably easier than trying to make large approximate movements.
Azimuth Matters
Azimuth describes the side-to-side angle of the cartridge and stylus when viewed from the front.
Correct azimuth allows the Micro-Ridge stylus to sit correctly between the two groove walls and helps maintain proper left-to-right information retrieval.
An azimuth error can affect:
- High-frequency tracking
- Channel balance
- Stereo focus
- Distortion
- Groove tracing
Azimuth and VTA Interact
Changing azimuth can alter the final relationship between the stylus and groove enough that a small VTA adjustment may subsequently be worthwhile.
For this reason, these are best treated as final fine-tuning adjustments rather than isolated settings.
12Hz to 50kHz Frequency Response
Sumiko specifies:
12Hz–50kHz.
The extended upper figure should not be interpreted as audible bandwidth in isolation. It reflects the behaviour of the complete stylus, cantilever and generator system beyond the conventional audio band.
30dB Channel Separation
Channel separation is specified at:
30dB at 1kHz.
This describes how effectively the cartridge maintains separation between information recovered from the left and right groove walls.
Less Than 0.5dB Channel Balance
Sumiko specifies:
Less than 0.5dB channel balance at 1kHz.
Close channel matching helps support stable stereo imaging and consistent output between the two channels.
7.4g Cartridge Mass
Starling weighs:
7.4g.
This is within the adjustment range of many high-quality tonearms, but weight alone does not determine whether the mechanical combination is appropriate.
12 x 10-6cm/dyn Compliance
Dynamic compliance is specified at:
12 x 10-6cm/dyn at 100Hz.
Compliance describes the flexibility of the cartridge's suspension and should be considered alongside the effective mass of the tonearm when assessing cartridge and arm compatibility.
Check the Complete Tonearm Match
A tonearm may physically accept a 7.4g cartridge but still not necessarily provide an ideal mechanical match.
Effective mass, available counterweight adjustment, compliance, mounting geometry and the arm's adjustment facilities should all be considered.
Initial Running-In Period
Sumiko advises that Starling's suspension changes during its initial playing period as the mechanical components settle.
The manufacturer identifies approximately:
10–20 hours
as the period during which changes in character, output and optimal VTA may occur.
Do Not Continuously Chase the Setup During the First 20 Hours
Sumiko recommends allowing the cartridge to settle rather than repeatedly altering VTA every time its character changes slightly during the initial running-in period.
Set Starling accurately from the outset, play plenty of records and carry out the final fine adjustment after the suspension has had time to settle.
No User-Replaceable Stylus
Starling's stylus, Boron cantilever and moving-coil generator form part of an integrated assembly.
Unlike Sumiko's moving-magnet cartridges, the stylus is therefore not designed to be removed and replaced by the user.
Do Not Attempt to Remove the Stylus Assembly
Starling does not have a detachable replacement stylus.
If the cartridge becomes worn or damaged, contact Audio T to discuss the appropriate service or replacement options.
UK Customers and Sumiko's Re-Tip Exchange
Sumiko's international website refers to a re-tip exchange programme for its moving-coil cartridges.
Sumiko's Published Exchange Scheme Is US Only
The trade-in or re-tip exchange programme advertised on Sumiko's website is specifically stated to apply to US customers.
UK customers should contact Audio T regarding the currently available options if a Starling becomes worn or damaged.
Stylus Care
Starling's fine Micro-Ridge stylus and exposed cantilever deserve careful treatment.
Useful habits include:
- Keep records clean and free from loose dust
- Use an appropriate stylus brush or approved cleaning product
- Clean using a gentle back-to-front motion
- Never apply sideways force to the cantilever
- Keep fingers away from the exposed generator
- Use the tonearm cueing mechanism when lowering the stylus
- Turn amplifier volume down while working around the cartridge
- Work in good light when cleaning or adjusting the cartridge
There Is Very Little Protection Around the Generator
The open-body construction that forms part of Starling's mechanical design also means a careless finger, brush or tool can reach parts that would normally be hidden by a conventional cartridge shell.
Handle Starling only by the appropriate mounting surfaces.
Starling or Songbird?
Songbird
- Reference Series
- Open-body moving coil
- High and low-output versions available
- 0.3 x 0.7mil elliptical stylus
- 0.5mm reinforced aluminium cantilever
- 12Hz–30kHz frequency response
- 30dB channel separation
- 7.4g cartridge mass
- 2.0g recommended tracking force
Starling
- Reference Series
- Open-body low-output moving coil
- 0.5mV output
- Nude low-mass Micro-Ridge stylus
- 0.28mm Boron cantilever
- 12Hz–50kHz frequency response
- 30dB channel separation
- 7.4g cartridge mass
- 2.0g recommended tracking force
Songbird introduces the Reference Series open-body concept at a lower price point, while Starling makes significant changes to the groove-reading assembly through its Micro-Ridge stylus and much slimmer Boron cantilever.
The current Audio T Songbird is the high-output version, making it particularly useful for customers wanting moving-coil construction while retaining suitable MM phono amplification. Starling is a dedicated low-output MC and therefore requires an appropriately capable MC phono stage.
Compare the Sumiko Songbird at Audio T.
Starling or Oriole?
Oriole
- Low-output moving coil
- 0.3mV output
- 5.5-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 55-ohm loading
- Nude Shibata stylus
- 6.5 x 40µm profile
- 0.5mm reinforced aluminium cantilever
- 12Hz–45kHz frequency response
- 7.3g cartridge mass
- 2.0g recommended tracking force
Starling
- Low-output moving coil
- 0.5mV output
- 28-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 100-ohm loading
- Nude Micro-Ridge stylus
- 2.5 x 75µm profile
- 0.28mm Boron cantilever
- 12Hz–50kHz frequency response
- 7.4g cartridge mass
- 2.0g recommended tracking force
Oriole is already a sophisticated low-output design, combining a very low-impedance generator with a nude Shibata line-contact stylus.
Starling moves to a different generator specification and replaces Oriole's reinforced aluminium cantilever with a much finer 0.28mm Boron design carrying a nude low-mass Micro-Ridge stylus.
The two cartridges also present different electrical requirements to the phono stage, so a suitable setup for one should not automatically be assumed to be optimal for the other.
Compare the Sumiko Oriole at Audio T.
Micro-Ridge or Shibata?
Both Micro-Ridge and Shibata are advanced line-contact stylus designs capable of contacting substantially more of the groove wall than a basic spherical or elliptical stylus.
The decision between Oriole and Starling should therefore not be reduced to choosing one stylus name over another.
The cartridges also differ in:
- Cantilever material and diameter
- Moving mass
- Generator impedance
- Output voltage
- Phono-stage loading
- Suspension design
- Overall mechanical behaviour
Cartridge, tonearm, phono stage and system matching remain more meaningful than comparing the stylus profile in isolation.
Does Starling Need an Expensive Turntable?
There is no fixed minimum turntable price at which Starling suddenly becomes appropriate.
What matters more is whether the turntable provides:
- A sufficiently capable tonearm
- Accurate cartridge alignment
- Stable speed performance
- Low mechanical noise
- Appropriate isolation
- Suitable VTA and azimuth adjustment where required
- A phono stage able to exploit the cartridge properly
Installing Starling on a deck unable to support accurate setup is unlikely to extract everything the cartridge can offer.
A Suitable MC Phono Stage Is Essential
Do Not Connect Starling Directly to AUX or CD
Starling produces only 0.5mV and requires substantial phono amplification together with RIAA equalisation.
It must therefore be connected to an appropriate moving-coil phono stage before reaching a conventional amplifier line input.
Using an External MC Phono Stage
If your amplifier does not provide a sufficiently capable moving-coil input, use an external MC phono stage.
The signal path becomes:
Turntable ? MC phono stage ? amplifier line input.
Browse phono stages at Audio T.
Professional Cartridge Fitting
Correct Starling installation may involve:
- Checking tonearm effective-mass compatibility
- Careful physical mounting
- Connecting the cartridge leads without touching the exposed generator
- Setting overhang
- Setting offset angle
- Checking tracking force accurately
- Setting anti-skate
- Adjusting VTA where available
- Adjusting azimuth where available
- Matching MC phono-stage gain
- Optimising phono-stage loading
- Rechecking the setup after the suspension has settled
Starling is exactly the sort of cartridge where professional fitting is worthwhile if you are not already comfortable making these adjustments accurately.
Who Is the Sumiko Starling For?
Well Suited To
- High-performance turntables
- Capable medium-mass tonearms
- Systems with a quality MC phono stage
- Customers wanting a fine Micro-Ridge stylus
- Customers looking to move beyond Songbird or Oriole
- Systems able to reveal very fine cartridge differences
- Customers willing to spend time on accurate setup
- Turntables with useful VTA and azimuth adjustment
Check Before Buying
- 0.5mV low-output moving-coil design
- Requires suitable MC gain
- Greater than 100-ohm recommended loading
- 28-ohm internal impedance
- 7.4g cartridge mass
- 12 x 10-6cm/dyn compliance at 100Hz
- 2.0g recommended tracking force
- Open-body construction requires careful handling
- Micro-Ridge stylus rewards accurate alignment
- Stylus is not user-replaceable
Key Features
- Sumiko Starling
- Reference Series
- Low-output moving-coil cartridge
- Open-body architecture
- Nude low-mass Micro-Ridge stylus
- 2.5 x 75µm stylus dimensions
- 0.28mm Boron cantilever
- High-purity copper coils
- Controlled suspension system
- PEEK generator mounting plate
- Rigid alloy headblock
- 0.5mV output
- 28-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 100-ohm loading
- 100–200pF capacitance
- 12Hz–50kHz frequency response
- 30dB channel separation
- Less than 0.5dB channel balance
- 12 x 10-6cm/dyn compliance
- 20-degree vertical tracking angle
- 1.8–2.2g tracking-force range
- 2.0g recommended tracking force
- Approximately 1.25–1.3g recommended anti-skate starting point
- 7.4g cartridge mass
- 10–20 hour initial settling period
- Non-user-replaceable stylus
- Hand-assembled in Japan
- Individually calibrated and auditioned
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sumiko Starling moving magnet or moving coil?
Starling is a low-output moving-coil cartridge.
What is the output of the Sumiko Starling?
0.5mV at 3.54cm/sec, 1kHz.
Does Starling require an MC phono stage?
Yes. Its 0.5mV output requires suitable low-output moving-coil phono amplification.
What is the internal impedance?
28 ohms at 1kHz.
What phono-stage loading does Sumiko recommend?
Greater than 100 ohms, with the final setting determined by listening.
Can I use a 100-ohm MC input?
Sumiko specifies greater than 100 ohms rather than exactly 100 ohms. If your phono stage provides adjustable loading, Audio T can help determine an appropriate setting for your system.
Can I use Starling with an MM input?
Not normally. A conventional MM input generally does not provide enough gain for Starling's 0.5mV output.
What stylus does Starling use?
A nude low-mass Micro-Ridge stylus measuring 2.5 x 75µm.
What is a Micro-Ridge stylus?
Micro-Ridge is an advanced fine-line stylus profile designed to provide very precise groove tracing and an extended contact area along the groove wall.
What is the cantilever made from?
Boron.
How thick is the cantilever?
Sumiko specifies a diameter of 0.28mm.
What is the frequency response?
12Hz to 50kHz.
What is the channel separation?
30dB at 1kHz.
What is the channel balance?
Less than 0.5dB at 1kHz.
What is the compliance?
12 x 10-6cm/dyn at 100Hz.
What tracking force should I use?
Sumiko recommends 2.0g, within a specified operating range of 1.8–2.2g.
What anti-skate should I use?
Sumiko recommends approximately two-thirds of the tracking-force value. At the recommended 2.0g tracking force, the manufacturer suggests approximately 1.25–1.3g indicated anti-skate as a starting point.
What is the vertical tracking angle?
20 degrees.
Does VTA matter with Starling?
Yes. The fine Micro-Ridge stylus makes careful VTA and stylus-rake optimisation particularly worthwhile on tonearms that provide height adjustment.
Does azimuth matter?
Yes. Incorrect azimuth can affect groove tracing, high-frequency performance, stereo focus and channel balance.
How much does Starling weigh?
7.4g.
How long does Starling take to run in?
Sumiko advises that the cartridge changes during approximately the first 10–20 hours as the suspension settles.
Should I adjust VTA during the running-in period?
Sumiko recommends avoiding constant VTA adjustment during the first 20 hours. Carry out an accurate initial setup, allow the suspension to settle and then revisit final fine adjustment.
Does Starling have a replaceable stylus?
No. The stylus and cantilever assembly is not user-replaceable.
Can I replace the stylus myself?
No. Do not attempt to remove or replace the Starling stylus assembly. Contact Audio T if the cartridge becomes worn or damaged.
Why does Starling have an open body?
Sumiko eliminates the conventional outer cartridge shell to reduce resonance storage and provide a direct mechanical path for unwanted energy to travel through the cartridge structure and into the tonearm.
Is the open body delicate?
Yes. The internal wiring, generator and cantilever are exposed, so Starling should only be handled by its appropriate mounting surfaces.
Is Starling better than Oriole?
Starling is the higher model and introduces a 0.28mm Boron cantilever and nude Micro-Ridge stylus in place of Oriole's reinforced aluminium cantilever and nude Shibata stylus. The two cartridges also use different generator specifications and phono-stage loading.
Where is the Sumiko Starling made?
Starling is hand-assembled at Excel Sound in Yokohama, Japan, with each cartridge individually adjusted, calibrated and auditioned.
Can Audio T fit and align the Sumiko Starling?
Yes. Contact your local Audio T store to discuss tonearm compatibility, professional cartridge fitting, alignment, tracking force, anti-skate, VTA, azimuth and MC phono-stage matching.
Related Sumiko Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- High-performance cartridge matching
- Moving-coil phono-stage matching
- MC gain and loading advice
- Tonearm compatibility checks
- Professional cartridge fitting
- Precision cartridge alignment
- Tracking-force setup
- Anti-skate adjustment
- VTA and stylus-rake guidance
- Azimuth adjustment
- Turntable setup and optimisation
- Stylus-care guidance
- Part-exchange options
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to discuss whether the Sumiko Starling is the right match for your turntable, tonearm and moving-coil phono stage, or to arrange professional cartridge fitting and alignment.