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Descrizione:
Fonorivelatore a
bobina mobile, alto livello d’uscita, 2.5 mV, stilo ellittico, peso 6gr.
Scheda fotografica:
Questa puntina
viene montata su alcuni giradischi Project come
questo
Imballo:
Come suona:
Purtroppo non sono molto esperto in
giradischi e puntine , pero' provando questa ho trovato davvero un
gran suono , veloce e musicalissima.
Dal sito:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ranlg&1136137011&read&3&4
This review will deal with the latest
incarnation of the venerable Sumiko Blue Point, that being the Blue
Point No.2 .Pictures show the original Blue Point and the latest version
the Blue Point No.2.
Volumes and volumes of critical acclaim reviews have been published on
the Sumiko Blue Point Moving Coil phono cartridge. In the years since
its debut it has become a modern day icon of analog playback. No it isn't
a $1,000.00 Moving Coil, so don't expect that kind of performance. With
that being said it more than competes with anything up to twice its
retail and sounds superior to most in this price point category.
I have had the original Blue Point several times since its inception,and
have always found it to be a very musical performer when it is
associated with a good tone arm such as the Rega RB 300 and other like
arms. With a good turntable,with a good tone arm and with an above
average phono preamp or preamp with on board phono section as well as
decent interconnects, the Sumiko Blue Point renders one of analogs great
sonic signatures.
The Sumiko Blue Point No.2 takes this sonic signature to a another level
indeed. While retaining the basic original signature the No.2 has more
than embellished what was once a very musical presentation. The No.2 is
everything the original was,plus whatever Sumiko has done, the No.2 far
surpasses the original in overall presentation.
Out of the box the No.2 is somewhat on the bright side. It takes the No.2
anywhere from 35 to 50 hours to develop the final signature, and you
will know it when it comes in,theres no guessing. Its full signature
will show speed,detail,sound stage and extended depth, that the original
did not have. The Sumiko Blue Point No.2 is one of those rare cartridges
that one can listen to for hours on end and never feel listener fatique.
It has a .3 x .7 elliptical stylus that retrieves every nuance from the
vinyl, plus its channel separation of 32dB is astounding by any
subjective judgement.
Basically we are all looking for the same type of perfomance from a
phono cartridge. The ability to play music as we percieve it to be. To
have it interact with the components we have on hand. The Blue Point No.2
is a superlative performer, that works well with a vast majority of
components and renders one solid musical performance after another. In
short the Blue Point No.2 does not do one or two things very well,it
performs very well across the entire spectrum, without calling attention
to itself. Remember components are only there to serve the music, not
the other way around. And yes phono cartridges are components and to be
evaluated as such.
As with all phono cartridges and the Blue Point No.2 is no exception, it
is system dependent. It will not be a panacea for other components that
need replacing or upgrading. To extract the best from the Blue Point No.2
it needs to be associated with the best equipment that is within your
budget. Given that the Sumiko Blue Point No.2 will deliver all the music
one could ask for.
Listed Below are some of the LPs used for evaluation of the Sumiko Blue
Point No.2
Bob James - Hands Down (Columbia FC 38067)
Hiroshima - Self Titled - (Arista MFSL1-525)
John Coltrane - Blue Train - (Blue Note BST 81577)
Wes Montgomery - Bumpin' - (Verve V6-8625)
Rickie Lee Jones - Self Titled - (Warner BSK 3296)
Wynton Marsalis - Live Blues Alley - (Columbia PC2-40675)
Eric Gale - Forecast - (KUDU Records KU 11)(CTI Records)
Kenny Burrell & Grover Washington Jr - (Blue Note BT 85106)
Earl Klugh - Finger Painting - (Blue Note MFSL 1-025)
Larry Carlton - Friends - (Warner 23834-1)
Sadao Watanabe - Autumn Blow - (Inner City IC 6064)
Doobie Brothers - Minute by Minute - (Warner BSK 3193)
Santana - Zebop - (Columbia FC37158)
Pat Metheny Group - American Garage - (ECM 1-1155)
Frederick Fennel - Cleveland Symphonic Winds - (Telarc 5038)
Paul Desmond/Jim Hall - Complete Recordings - Mosaic(MR6-120)
Actually listen to more LPs than listed above, but this gives one an
idea of the program material that was used.
The turntable is the Rega P3 with Deep Groove sub platter and Iron Audio
Acrylic Platter. The Rega RB 300 tone arm is equipped with the J.A.
Michell Counter Weight.
Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 Specifications.
Cartridge Type: MC
Frequency Response: 15Hz-35KHz
Output Voltage/Channel: 2.5mV
Channel Separation: 32dB
Channel Balance: 0.5dB
Compliance: (x10-6 cm/dyne) 15
Stylus Size/Shape: .3x.7/Elliptical
Load Impedance: 47k Ohms
Tracking Force Range: 1.6-2.0 grams
Recommended Force: 1.8 grams
Cartridge Weight: 6.3 grams
Have found that tracking at its maximum of 2 grams delivers the best
performance, trackability, and signature.
What Sumiko has done with the Blue Point No.2 is raised its elevation to
that of the Blue Point Special II, while the Blue Point Special is now a
MKIII variant.
If memory serves me correct the original Blue Point came out at $175.00
in late 80s or early 90s. The No.2 now retails for $299.00 and is worth
every dollar. With careful shopping it is possible to get for about $249.00.
In my opinion to do sonically better than the No.2 you will have to go
to the Benz Micro Ace HO or the Dynavector
20X HO at twice the price. Or the ultimate from Sumiko the Blackbird at
well over twice the price at $799.00. Trying to keep the comparison in
the high output moving coil arena.
How Sumiko is able to continue to make vast strides in the Blue Point ,while
keeping the price so very affordable is a mystery to me. Great sounding
high output moving coils are indeed hard to come by. But Sumiko has been
a leader in this field for years and the new Blue Point No.2 is
testament to that fact. In fact I no longer own low output Moving Coils.
The hassel of getting the right set up for a low output MC, no longer
appeals to me. The high output moving coils of today have managed to
narrow the gap considerably to thier higher cost brethern and offer a
sonic signature that is on par,with all but the most esoteric low output
Moving Coils. No need for a head amp or transformer and the added
expense of additional cables. For me and I dare say for a vast majority
of us high output Moving Coils like the Sumiko Blue Point No.2 more than
fills the requirement of musical playback in the analog medium.
So should one find themselves needing to replace or update thier current
phono cartridge, the Sumiko Blue Point No.2 should be on the short list.
While it may have an entry level price tag, the Blue Point No.2 clearly
performs at a level not thought possible a few short years ago.
Here is a product that has stood the test of time, has had and continues
to have a loyal following. One of the true enduring values in analog
playback. At its price/performance ratio, it just doesn't get much
better than this. A proven winner,from a time honored manufacturer,that
continues to embrace the vinyl medium,long after vinyls golden days. For
me that speaks volumes about Sumiko and its products and commitment to
analog playback.
Well done and Bravo - Sumiko!
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