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.
Products that are Awaiting Stock are items that we would normally carry on stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse, but are currently unavailable. Chances are there is already more on the way, but if you would like a more accurate availability status please feel free to Contact Us.
Urgent order items are products that we do not normally carry on stock, but they are typically held on stock by our European suppliers. Depending on availability, we will seek to order these products quickly, when we have an enquiry. They can therefore be subject to quicker availability times than "Special Order" products.
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.
Wellfleet utilises a highly polished nude elliptical stylus, eliminating the bonding between the stylus tip and shank. With the new assembly, excessive mass in the shank is cut away to further reduce tip mass, resulting in a faster, more direct, and more accurate response to the stylus’ movement by the cantilever and magnet. Sonically, this increases speed and focuses central images, pulling them toward the listener with a heightened sense of detail.
With the Wellfleet, vocals are immediate, clear, and detailed, and the warmth of human vocal work becomes more apparent with hints of rasp and emphasised subtleties, boosted by tight and well-controlled bass. Backing vocals become easier to discern, and the listener is able to identify distinct instrumentation such as the rattle of snare wires, or the woody twang of vintage acoustic guitars. Listeners will hear an improvement in surface noise and sense a more distanced backdrop, facilitating a deeply suspended image.
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.
Sumiko Wellfleet Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge Review
"Even when compared with more expensive cartridges, its wide bandwidth, diligent detail retrieval, and ease of operation make it well worth an audition."
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.
