Sumiko Audio Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge

Niel Gader has posted a review of the Sumiko Audio Palo Santos Presentation phono cartridge ($3,500) at The Absolute Sound. His conclusions:

…The cartridge revels in small differences, like the grade of grit of the sand blocks throughout this track. Only in minor ways does it leave some performance on the table. It flags ever so slightly in bottom-end resolving power and crunch. And I’ve heard a bit more air and bloom from orchestral strings and winds and generally finer low-level harmonics, but all in all, that is pretty much the ballgame.

In my view the success or failure of any high-end component hinges on its ability to strike a balance among a vast landscape of sonic ideals. You’ll be hard pressed for both time and money seeking a cartridge that significantly betters the Palo Santos Presentation. It’s a cartridge worthy of flagship status with a price that’s approachable and with performance that to these ears is very nearly beyond reproach.

You can read the full review here.