Sumiko Moonstone Moving Magnet Phono Stylus

The RS Moonstone — A Lighter Cantilever, and Where the Output Drops

Sumiko's replacement stylus for the Moonstone, sold singly. It carries an elliptical diamond at 0.3 by 0.7 mil on a 0.5 mm aluminum pipe cantilever — a narrower tube than the rungs below it use.

A thinner pipe weighs less, and mass at the end of a cantilever is the hardest thing for a groove to move. Output falls to 3.0 mV as a consequence, which is a trade rather than a loss: fewer turns of wire, less to drag.

Fit, Profile and Compatibility

Which Bodies It Belongs On

Sumiko states it plainly: “Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet and Amethyst use interchangeable stylus replacements,” and adds that “The cartridge bodies are identical with the exception of Amethyst, which uses an enhanced anatomy but remains compatible with the full range of styli.”

One consequence is that you can move down as well as up. If a record is rough enough that you would rather not put a fine tip near it, a cheaper assembly from the same group drops straight in for the afternoon.

The Numbers That Matter at Setup

On a Moonstone body Sumiko publishes 3.0 mV of output, 12 Hz – 25 kHz, 25 dB of channel separation, channel balance under 1.5 dB and compliance of 12 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyn.

Tracking force is 1.8 to 2.2 g, recommended 2.0 g. Check your phono stage before ordering: 3.0 mV is comfortable for most moving magnet inputs but is lower than the 5.0 mV at the bottom of this range, so a stage short of gain will show it.

See It in Action

Who Is the RS Moonstone Best For?

• Your Moonstone is worn — replacing the tip restores it without touching the arm
• You own a Rainier or Olympia — the styli interchange, so this fits your existing body
• You want less mass at the tip — a 0.5 mm cantilever against the 0.6 mm used lower down
• Your phono stage has gain to spare — 3.0 mV is a step down in output from the entry rungs
• Your cartridge is an Oyster, Pearl or Black Pearl — none of the three belongs to this group, and each takes its own stylus; see replacement styli

How Do You Fit It?

The cartridge stays on the arm throughout. Hold the fitted assembly by its housing, draw it straight off the front of the body, and press this one on until it seats. Then set tracking force to 2.0 g — geometry has not moved, but mass has.

Pairs Well With

What most Moonstone owners shop alongside.

• Stylus force gauges — how you set the 2.0 g this one asks for
• Stylus cleaning — what decides how long the new tip lasts
• Record cleaning solutions — a clean record is the cheapest stylus insurance there is
• Record brushes — a pass before each side keeps grit out of the groove

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it fit my cartridge?

Sumiko lists Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet and Amethyst as sharing interchangeable styli, so any of those bodies takes it. Oyster, Pearl and Black Pearl do not.

Will 3.0 mV be enough for my phono stage?

It is a normal moving magnet output and most stages handle it easily. If yours is a budget built-in stage that already sounds quiet, the 5.0 mV rung will suit it better.

What tracking force should I set?

Sumiko specifies 1.8 to 2.2 g and recommends 2.0 g. Set it with a gauge after fitting.

How long does a stylus last?

Around 1,000 hours is the usual figure, though it turns on how clean your records are and how accurately the cartridge is set up. A worn tip damages records, so replace it on schedule rather than by ear.

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