The Star of the Sumiko Ensemble
If a picture is worth a thousand words, Starling raises the question of what a sound image could be worth. Music's unique ability to reach us with an intensity far beyond what we can hear is evident in the very existence of our hobby. It's fair to say that these are feelings we pursue, and when evoked by the most convincing rendition of your favorite recordings, those feelings can be all the more profound. A sonic experience can be priceless, and we designed the Starling system to make that experience a reality in your system. In addition to the resonance-optimized cartridge housing and generator we adopted from the Songbird, the Starling features a rigid boron cantilever equipped with an extremely low-mass Microridge stylus. Microridge is a diamond cut, prized worldwide for its uniformity combined with richness and clarity. Rarely has this famous top-of-the-line driver achieved such agility in the groove—especially not at the price of the Starling. What you'll experience are magnificently floating soundscapes that place you exactly where you want to be—in the third row, center.
We're immensely excited about these latest additions to our Reference Open-Body MC range. Our newest favorites—Songbird & Starling—are a strong refinement of our proven Blackbird & BPS EVO III designs. Our new generator is securely anchored in a highly rigid, resonance-optimized cabinet block, allowing it to work its magic with supreme control, free from unwanted internal resonance. The generator unit is flexible and robust, delivering the highest possible fidelity in a perfect balance of clarity and drama. The result is an industry-leading, holographic imaging with an irresistibly 'real' feel. The Starling delivers a level of honesty and refinement we couldn't be prouder of, and we look forward to you hearing it for yourself.
The Sumiko Starling is suitable for medium- and heavy-duty tonearms.
Technical Specifications
Output Voltage: 0.5mV
Amplifier Input/Termination: Phono MC/>100Ω
Weight: 9.5g
Stylus Dynamic Compliance, Lateral: 12μm*
Stylus Diamond: MicroRidge (r/r 2.5 x 75μm).
Boron Cantilever
Tracking Force: 2g
*Stylus compliance measured at 100Hz