This product is no longer available to order and will not be coming back into stock.
In Stock products are those that are currently held in stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse. This stock status is updated regularly but is subject to change at very short notice.
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Special Order items are those that are most often built to order. For these items, we tend to experience longer lead times as we negotiate them into the production line with our suppliers.
Exclusive products are sold only through one, or sometimes a very small number of dealers. As part of their commitment to the product’s exclusivity, they carry most of the available stock. To find out your best dealer for this product and to check its availability with them, click the ‘Recommended Dealers’ button under the product gallery on this page.
The Rainier is a venerable cartridge which expands on Sumiko's legacy for smooth, natural sound reproduction in its affordable cartridge models. After years of development, the Rainier features an integrated body and generator system that significantly reduces internal resonances. Finished with an expertly shaped elliptical stylus, the Rainier is capable of extracting even the more nuanced musical details.
Designed for discerning, value-minded audiophiles, Sumiko's latest generation premium moving magnet Oysters build upon, enhance and refine the sonic character that listeners worldwide have enjoyed for decades. The cartridge body design addresses the problem of resonance by dispersing and dissipating it away from the generator system resulting in a sound quality, reminiscent of moving coil designs.
From Oyster to Reference, each Sumiko phono cartridge is crafted by hand in Yokohama, Japan — near the waters where their namesake Oysters dwell. They’ve selected by ear the finest materials that combine to deliver performance that has enlightened generations of listeners. Each design is thoroughly auditioned until perfected. Production is then executed by world-class cartridge makers with a collective eye for precision and quality.
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5 Stars for our "fun and affordable" moving magnet!
"This is a nicely made unit, with a body designed to support the internal generator assembly rigidly while minimising unwanted internal resonances."
"...the Rainier should be on your demo list"
"Now I repeat, detail was still plentiful, cymbal hits were infused with space and reverberation, the flute was overflowing with human effort and emotion while the acoustic guitar was distinct, it never hid within the mix which can sometimes happen with less effective cartridges."
What Hi-Fi? Awards 2023 - Best Accessories
"A fun and affordable cartridge – what’s not to like?"
Henley Says...
The premium moving magnets in the Sumiko Oyster range combine classic, high-end sound with modern technology and convenient interchanging styli. We love them because each model in the range packs clever technology into their anti-resonant body, and each delivers Sumiko's warm, rich sound signature, becoming more and more nuanced as you travel up the series toward the stand-alone Amethyst model. The later addition of the Wellfleet gave further depth and flexibility for the whole range. These are ideal for anyone who wants big sound on a budget.
Cartridge installation takes time and requires a level of understanding for the turntable/tonearm you are fiiting to. We've put together some comprehensive advice and size guides, available here, which will help you through each step of the procedure.
However, if at any time you feel uncomfortable with the task at hand, be sure to contact us or your local retailer for assistance.
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