Sumiko Olympia Moving Magnet Stylus

The RS Olympia — More Bandwidth From the Body You Already Own

Sumiko's replacement stylus for the Olympia, supplied on its own. The diamond is elliptical at 0.3 by 0.7 mil, on a 0.6 mm aluminum pipe cantilever, and it fits the front of any cartridge in Sumiko's interchangeable group.

Fitted to the same body, the published figures move: frequency response extends to 25 kHz against 20 kHz, channel balance tightens from under 2 dB to under 1.5 dB, and compliance rises from 10 to 12.

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.”

Because the bodies do not change, the published differences between one Sumiko and the next are the stylus and nothing else. That is rare enough to be worth saying plainly: these numbers describe this diamond.

The Numbers That Matter at Setup

On an Olympia body Sumiko publishes 4.0 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 at 100 Hz.

Tracking force is 1.8 to 2.2 g with 2.0 g recommended. Higher compliance means a more freely suspended cantilever, which suits a lighter, well-damped arm better than a heavy one.

See It in Action

What Reviewers Are Saying

Hi-Fi Choice made the Olympia its group-test winner: "It then delivers the best balance of tonal realism, timing and drive in the entire group." Its verdict — "Taken across the spread of its abilities, it takes the test win."

Who Is the RS Olympia Best For?

• Your Olympia is worn — the tip is the consumable and the body carries on
• You own a Rainier — the styli interchange, so this extends response to 25 kHz on the body you have
• You want tighter channel balance — under 1.5 dB published here
• Your arm is light and well damped — 12 compliance asks for that rather than a heavy arm
• You have an Oyster, a Pearl or a Black Pearl — Sumiko built those before this interchangeable range, and each takes its own stylus, listed in replacement styli

How Do You Fit It?

The cartridge never leaves the headshell. Take hold of the fitted assembly by its plastic housing, draw it straight off the front of the body, and press this one on until it seats. Set tracking force to 2.0 g afterwards and nothing else needs touching.

Pairs Well With

What most Olympia 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
• Cartridge alignment tools — for the day the whole cartridge comes off

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it fit my cartridge?

Sumiko lists the Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet and Amethyst as taking interchangeable styli, so any of those bodies accepts it. Oyster, Pearl and Black Pearl take their own.

What changes if I fit this to a Rainier body?

Sumiko says the bodies are identical, so the published Olympia figures are what the stylus brings: 25 kHz of response, channel balance under 1.5 dB, and compliance of 12.

What tracking force should I set?

Sumiko specifies 1.8 to 2.2 g and recommends 2.0 g. Reset it after any stylus change rather than trusting the previous setting.

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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