Sumiko's top moving-magnet cartridge, with a nude line-contact stylus and a quiet, punchy sound that works with any standard MM phono input.
The Amethyst sits at the top of Sumiko's Oyster series, but it is not just a Moonstone with a better stylus. It gets its own body, built with extra attention to resonance control, and a generator tuned specifically to its stylus and cantilever. A nude 0.2 × 0.8 mil line-contact diamond rides on a 0.5 mm aluminum cantilever, driven by an Alnico magnet and pure copper coils. Output is 2.5 mV, a little lower than the other Oyster models, which helps keep noise down. The stylus assembly is user-replaceable with the RS Amethyst.
Part-Time Audiophile found it tight, punchy and rhythmic, with well-controlled, extended bass and one of the quietest backgrounds the reviewer had heard from a moving magnet. A good low-output moving coil still has more air and dynamic reach, but for listeners who want to stay with MM, the Amethyst is one of the most balanced and musical choices. Its moderate compliance suits medium-mass tonearms. It wants a standard 47 kΩ MM input with 100–200 pF, and because it reveals so much, the quality of the phono stage makes a real difference.
| Type | Moving magnet (MM), user-replaceable stylus |
| Output | 2.5 mV |
| Internal impedance / inductance | 700 Ω / 300 mH |
| Recommended load | 47 kΩ, 100–200 pF |
| Tracking force | 1.8–2.2 g (2.0 g recommended) |
| Compliance | 12 µm/mN (dynamic, lateral) |
| Tracking ability | 70 µm at 315 Hz |
| Weight | 6.5 g |
| Stylus | Nude line-contact diamond, 0.2 × 0.8 mil |
| Cantilever | Aluminum, 0.5 mm |
| Frequency response | 12 Hz – 35 kHz |
| Channel separation / balance | 30 dB at 1 kHz / 0.5 dB |
| Replacement stylus | RS Amethyst |
Pearl Audio is an authorized Sumiko dealer. Call or visit our Portland showroom to talk about matching a cartridge to your tonearm and phono stage.
