Soundsmith Sussuro MKII Cartridge

Soundsmith Sussurro MKII Low-Output HiFi Turntable Cartridge

The Soundsmith Sussurro MKII is a low-output moving iron cartridge built around a fixed-coil design that targets one specific problem: stylus jitter. Jitter occurs when the stylus loses constant contact with the groove wall, and any momentary loss of contact means information cut into the vinyl simply isn't read. The Sussurro MKII addresses this through a newly designed moving iron element that cuts moving mass by 70 percent compared with earlier versions, alongside a redesigned damping system and an energy distribution path that channels mechanical energy away from the cantilever, through the cartridge body, and into the tonearm. Soundsmith designed the Sussurro MKII, inspired by the work of Frank Schröder, as a dedicated answer to the most demanding aspects of cartridge engineering, and Peter Ledermann, Soundsmith's President and Chief Engineer, hand makes each unit individually.

Why buyers choose the Sussurro MKII

What makes the Sussurro MKII different from other low-output cartridges?

The Sussurro MKII's main differentiator is its combination of a ruby cantilever with Soundsmith's fixed-coil construction. Ruby gives the cantilever the rigidity needed to maintain constant groove contact, working alongside the cartridge's low effective tip mass of 0.30 mg and compliance of 10 µm/mN to keep the stylus tracking accurately rather than skating or losing contact during complex passages. The fixed-coil design itself reduces stylus jitter and limits the noise that gets transferred back into the record during playback, which is the mechanical basis for the clarity and detail Soundsmith associates with this cartridge. The stylus is cut from pure diamond in a Line Contact profile, specifically the Optimized Contour Contact Line shape, which mirrors the geometry of the cutting stylus used to master vinyl records. Matching this profile maximises the contact area between stylus and groove wall, supporting accurate retrieval of the information actually cut into the record.

Will the Sussurro MKII suit my turntable and tonearm?

The Sussurro MKII uses a standard ½ inch mount, so it fits any tonearm headshell built to that common standard without requiring an adapter. Buyers should set tracking force within the recommended 1.8 to 2.2 g range and use a tonearm capable of supporting the cartridge's 12.2 g weight (ES series) without exceeding its mass limits. Because compliance and effective mass interact to determine resonant frequency, a tonearm with appropriately matched effective mass will help keep this resonance within the ideal range for stable tracking.

What phono stage settings does the Sussurro MKII need?

As a low-output design rated at 0.4 mV, the Sussurro MKII needs a phono stage or step-up device offering 58 to 64 dB of gain to bring its signal up to line level without introducing excessive noise. Buyers should set load resistance to 470Ω or higher; load capacitance settings aren't applicable to this fixed-coil design. The cartridge's DC resistance of 10Ω and coil inductance of 2.75 mH per channel are the electrical characteristics a phono preamp's input stage works against, so confirming these gain and loading figures against your phono stage's specifications before purchase will help ensure a clean signal path.

How does the Sussurro MKII perform across the stereo image and frequency range?

The Sussurro MKII delivers a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz within ±1.0 dB, covering the full audible range with minimal deviation. Channel separation exceeds 34 dB at 1,000 Hz and stays above 25 dB across 50 Hz to 15,000 Hz, while channel difference stays below 0.5 dB. Together these figures describe a cartridge that keeps left and right channels distinct and balanced across the audible spectrum, which is the electrical basis for accurate stereo imaging during playback.

Who hand builds the Sussurro MKII?

Every Sussurro MKII is individually hand made by Peter Ledermann, Soundsmith's President and Chief Engineer, at the company's factory in Peekskill, New York. Soundsmith has operated from Westchester County, New York since 1972 and is known for its cartridge expertise, including cartridge restoration work and the development of Strain Gauge and Fixed Coil cartridge technologies.

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