Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night... One of Our Best Selling Cartridges!

The culmination of years of development, the Sumiko Blackbird high-output moving coil cartridge is now a reality. In just a few short years, Blackbird has quickly become a Music Direct best-seller! The Blackbird is a big step forward for Sumiko and for analog lovers!

'I'd put the Sumiko Blackbird's overall sonic performance, and especially its ability to deliver solid musical performance (if not the last word in resolution) up against almost any cartridge at any price!'
- Michael Fremer, Stereophile

Blackbird has a big, rich sound with great dynamic range, excellent inner detail and as always, Sumiko's characteristic powerful rhythmic drive. Featuring a lightweight and ultra-rigid line-grain boron cantilever and a hot-rodded rigid generator assembly, Blackbird represents a big step forward for Sumiko cartridges. Those familiar with Sumiko's previous offerings will be very surprised at how much of a sonic improvement Blackbird represents.

“This high-output moving-coil is smooth yet detailed, with a wide soundstage and fine low-end authority. Midrange instruments, such as voices and saxes are particularly seductive; images are stable; and transparency, transient quickness, and inner detail are all good!”
- The Absolute Sound, Editor’s Choice Award, October 2006

Weighing it at 9.6 grams, Blackbird is compatible with most tonearm setups, but will work best with a higher mass arm or one with a heavy counterweight. The nude design eliminates resonance and excess weight, allowing the generator assembly and cartridge wires to be visible, an exotic visual treat. Blackbird is a High-Output Moving Coil design, with an output of 2.5 mV, so it is fully compatible with the MM section of most phono stages.

Model: Blackbird
Cartridge Type: HO MC
Frequency Response: 10Hz-50Khz
Output Voltage: 2.5mV
Channel Separation: 35db
Channel Balance: 0.5db
Compliance: 12
Stylus Size: (not provided)
Stylus Shape: Low Mass Special Grind
Load Impedance: 47kΩ
Tracking Force Range: 1.8­-2.2 grams
Recommended Force: 2.1 grams
Weight: 9.6 grams

Sumiko Blackbird The Absolute Sound Review (PDF, 93 KB)

Sumiko Blackbird Audiophile Voice Review (PDF, 3.2 MB)

Sumiko Blackbird AV Guide Review (PDF, 73 KB)

Sumiko Blackbird Stereophile Review (PDF, 604 KB)

Sumiko Blackbird User Manual (PDF, 1.1 MB)

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