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Product of the Year 2025, Best Cartridge £100-£250 – What Hi-Fi? Magazine
Smooth, Natural Sound Reproduction
Sumiko's entry-level offering in the new Oyster line-up is the venerable Rainier, which continues the Pearl’s legacy for smooth, natural sound reproduction. After years of development, Sumiko is proud to introduce an all-new integrated body and generator system. The ability to upgrade the stock stylus to the Olympia or Moonstone makes this the perfect entry-level cartridge that will not disappoint for years to come.
Award-Winning Performance
The Rainier received an award from What Hi-Fi? magazine, recognizing it as Product of the Year, Best Cartridge £100-£250 for 2025.
According to the review, "Detail levels are good, but it’s more the musically cohesive way that the Rainier delivers all that information that makes it special. There’s a good dose of dynamics and plenty of punch when required. Tonally, the results are pleasingly full-bodied with a surprisingly rich and powerful bass – a far cry from the usually thin and forward presentations we tend to hear from cartridges at this level."
"Judged by the standards at this level, this Sumiko is a little gem. Set it up with care and have a little patience, and you’ll find this to be one of the best performers anywhere near this price."
"It Should Be on Your Short List"
"The Oyster Rainier performed well with both new and old records. It was far simpler to mount in a headshell than many other cartridges – a real treat for a cartridge swapper such as I – and it appears to work well with nearly any medium-mass arm," notes Thom Moon in his review for SoundStage! Access.
"The next time I’m on the lookout for a new cartridge, the Sumiko Rainier will be on my short list. It should be on yours."
Sumiko's Upgradeable Oyster Series
Rainier is one of four new additions to the acclaimed Oyster series, which comprises Sumiko's most ambitious Moving Magnet (MM) cartridge release to date. The Rainier, Olympia, and Moonstone all utilize a common housing and generator assembly, so the stylus assemblies are interchangeable. You can purchase the Rainier and upgrade to the Olympia or Moonstone without replacing the entire cartridge. The Oyster series sets a new performance standard for the audiophile on a budget.
Over Four Decades of Cartridge Design
Sumiko Oyster cartridges are products resulting from over four decades of cartridge design. Sumiko believes that delivered high performance can be achieved at reasonable prices. The Oyster line is the embodiment of this philosophy. Oyster is your ticket of entry for the high end – a world of high technology, where companies go to great lengths to recreate music in your home.
The Oyster Series offers superior construction and sound quality with an emphasis on real world performance. Whether you have purchased a moving magnet or moving coil Sumiko Oyster, you can be assured of performance and quality second to none.
"Connects to the Soul of the Music"
"This cartridge can connect to the soul of the music very easily. The Rainier shuns the analytical, it warms to passion and sensation," reports Paul Rigby, theaudiophileman.com, April 16, 2020.
"This means that rock, synth and associated music is more sympathetic to its presentation than the accuracy demanded from jazz and classical. If emotion is what you seek in music, if that’s your priority, then the Rainier should definitely be on your demo list."
