New Reference Open Architecture Design
The Starling is Sumiko's new reference open architecture design featuring a MicroRidge stylus on a boron cantilever in a low output/low mass configuration. This is a powerful, dynamic cartridge with a very refined coherent presentation. The Starling is the latest manifestation of Sumiko’s forty years of refinement of phono cartridge design. It features a new CNC‐precision milled high grade aluminum body with optimized resonance properties.
Starling's open-architecture design builds on the strengths of the Songbird. With the addition of a long-grain boron cantilever and a MicroRidge stylus, the Starling offers significant improvements in resolution and dynamic range over the Songbird.
Building on the Strengths of the Blue Point Special
Both the Starling and the Songbird build upon the strengths of, and lessons learned from, the best-selling high-end cartridge in the world, The Blue Point Special. No aspect of the cartridge's design was left to chance. To avoid unwanted external resonance storage the conventional cartridge body was eliminated. This allowed for the construction of the most efficient path for evacuating internal resonance through the structure of the cartridge directly into the tonearm. This low mechanical impedance mounting system, combined with the optimization of mass, provides the perfect environment for the carefully chosen working elements of the cartridge.
The premium boron cantilever chosen for the Songbird provides excellent energy transfer from the stylus to the coils.
