Murasakino “Sumile” - New Cartridge.

[bazelio]

Red Sparrow: It is a very fussy cart so be warned. If it works, it is incredible as though no cart is there. If it doesn’t it will sound super thin and sterile.

The Red Sparrow I had on my Kuzma for a two week demo. Fantastic cart. I can't unhear it now. Interesting though, I didn't find it to be fussy. I did find it very sensitive to VTA. But once you nail VTA, which wasn't difficult to do, boy does it sound wonderful. Soundstage depth like you've never heard. Ever. Detail and dynamism and yet never fatiguing. I did think it was maybe a touch lacking in the bottom end. Certainly not "thin and sterile" though. Not even close.

One downside: it was a very low rider. So low in fact that I couldn't use the Kuzma periphery ring because the Red Sparrow body would contact it.

 

[mjsdb]

Hi All, I'm thinking of purchasing the Sumile, but after reading the reviews and comments here, am wondering if could be a "big bold seat of your pants" kind of presentation which would be nice for a while, but fatiguing over time? If so..not really my thing. Regards.

 

[shakti]

Hi All, I'm thinking of purchasing the Sumile, but after reading the reviews and comments here, am wondering if could be a "big bold seat of your pants" kind of presentation which would be nice for a while, but fatiguing over time? If so..not really my thing. Regards.

from which comment did you get this message from?

In comparison to many other very popular carts (like colibri, Atlas and so on) the Sumile is very well balanced. But May be the Sumile is too boring for some listeners, because of this

Anyhow, you will not find many in the used market , which means, that the most owners still have use it or have it as part of their Cart collection.

 

[mjsdb]

Thanks Shakti.

No particular message, just the fact that some say it is "live" sounding, and no mention of a relaxed sound in any reviews I have read.

I believe I will purchase it.

Regards

 

[mjsdb]

Hi,
I'm also wondering if anyone has tried the Murisakino SUT, or could recommend other manufacturers SUT's which would work well with this cartridge, and other low internal impedance cartridges.
Apologies if this topic has already been covered somewhere else.
Regards.

 

[shakti]

have a look into the audiomarkt.de marketplace.From France a dedicated japanese step up for Sumile is on offer

 

[mjsdb]

Thanks Shakti, will do. FYI Sumile Cart. is in the house.

 

[shakti]

if you contact the French step up,
greetings to Jean Christoph, reliable seller
Juergen

 

[goldeneraguy]

mjsdb, I await your thoughts .
If your audio bias' are anything like mine you will be amazed at what this beauty can do.
Enjoy

 

[byrdparis]

Oh wow,

I'm so happy more and more "discovered" this wonderful cart!

till this day i think it must be one of my FAV!

Awesome musical sound cartridge!

 

[kodomo]

Where does the sound character fall into for this cartridge after break-in, in regards to VdH Colibri MS Strad?

 

[shakti]

Where does the sound character fall into for this cartridge after break-in, in regards to VdH Colibri MS Strad?

difficult to compare, as both Carts do require different tonearms (compliance is very different) and different PhonoPre set up, Sumile likes Step Up, low impedance, high output. The MS likes direct Phono Pre connection, high impedance, very high output.
So right in the beginning, there are many variables more, that just the 2 carts.

Putting both carts in a good environment, you can enjoy both a lot. MS gives you an unforgiving point of view into the quality of your records. If you have great records, you will enjoy the the power and the energy of the MS. But very often, some say too often, you will face a situation, where the sybillants will be too prominent.

The Sumile is more a kind of musical magician, a musical allrounder. It Is beautiful voiced in a very natural direction and has a nice flow.
You can hear with the Sumile hours and hours with a smile

If you like to have a flavor of both, I can recommend to listen to a Soundsmith Hyperion OCL. You need again a more heavy tonearm, like your Kuzma, and preferable a direct connection (no transformer) to your Phonopre.

 

[montesquieu]

Late to the party here but enjoying the Murasakino Sumile enormously. Superbly balanced performer, phenomenal sense of 'rightness'. I'm actually finding it a very hard cartridge to describe. Refined but energetic, detailed without any sense of being over-analytical, rich in terms of timbre and density without being thick or over-saturated. Certainly the best cartridge I've had in the setup, though on chamber music the Madake runs it close for expressiveness and communication.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Hi Tom, +1 on your fantastic Sumile. I'll let you into a little secret, I thought your Madake just had the edge. But the sound of both was really exemplary on tone, and especially texture.
I felt the Madake had the edge with a smidgeon more bite or attack.

 

[iaxel]

Late to the party here but enjoying the Murasakino Sumile enormously. Superbly balanced performer, phenomenal sense of 'rightness'. I'm actually finding it a very hard cartridge to describe. Refined but energetic, detailed without any sense of being over-analytical, rich in terms of timbre and density without being thick or over-saturated. Certainly the best cartridge I've had in the setup, though on chamber music the Madake runs it close for expressiveness and communication.

Have you heard the Miyajima Destiny? I was wondering how it compares to the Madake.

 

[montesquieu]

No I haven’t. I heard the Saboten L and preferred the Madake though to be fair it sounded a lot more ‘modern’ and might be preferable to some. I’d love to hear the Destiny but not aware of any in my circle in the U.K.

 

[kodomo]

I have the Madake and bought a Fuuga. Had a problem with the Fuuga and can change it to Sumile. I have a transimpedance preamp now so I prefer low resistance cartridges. Fuuga is 2ohm and sumile is 1.2ohm. Should I go for an exchange of fuuga or does anyone think sumile is a better cartridge. It has an advantage over fuuga with lower resistance but that is just one point and not it is not a very big gap. I have a standart length Kuzma 4 point arm.

 

[tima]

I have the Madake and bought a Fuuga. Had a problem with the Fuuga and can change it to Sumile. I have a transimpedance preamp now so I prefer low resistance cartridges. Fuuga is 2ohm and sumile is 1.2ohm. Should I go for an exchange of fuuga or does anyone think sumile is a better cartridge. It has an advantage over fuuga with lower resistance but that is just one point and not it is not a very big gap. I have a standart length Kuzma 4 point arm.

What problem did you have with the Fuuga?

 

[kodomo]

What problem did you have with the Fuuga?

It was lost in post and came after about 2 months. I think it got damaged in the process because the channel balance was off about 7db. Maybe the coils got out of alignment.

 

[montesquieu]

It was lost in post and came after about 2 months. I think it got damaged in the process because the channel balance was off about 7db. Maybe the coils got out of alignment.

I had that issue with my first Ikeda 9TT - its replacement was fine.