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Phono-Pre Amps & Cartridges Welcome to the Dark Side! |
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#1
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Sumiko Pearwood Celebration II in da house!
Had an opportunity presented to purchase a Sumiko Pearwood Celebration II literally new-in-box for 50% off, so I snagged it. Received it today and installed it in the P5 this evening. Got this as this should be quite a step up on the already excellent Shelter 501 MKII.
The cartridge came beautifully packaged and presented...here are some pix: Nice cartridge box. Owners manual describing the design and implementation of the Pearwood Celebration II... The cartridge.... Setting it up.... Only listened to one side so far, but it sounds gorgeous right out of the box. Rich, full, and sonorous like many fine wood-bodied cartridges, reminds me of a cross between the Koetsu and the Shelter so far....more impressions as I get more LPs on this puppy.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
#2
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Congratulations Stephen!
Looks very nice. I bet it sounds wonderful. Good score |
#3
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Looking good Stephen.
Tell us how it sounds after a few hours on it. Btw, who makes the high end carts for Sumiko? |
#4
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Congrats Stephen !!
This will sound very good for sure, especially with the white belt....
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There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats Albert Schweitzer |
#5
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Quote:
The booklet that comes with the cartridge goes into great detail about the design history of the cartridge, how and why the design choices were made, etc. For example, the Celebration II uses the same exact stylus as the much-vaunted Palos Santos. The thing I like about the Pearwood is the warmth and color to the presentation that wood-bodied cartridges bring. I have a theory that metal-bodied carts can have a ringing component to them, and I think the Shelter certainly does. Having owned three wood-bodied cartridges now, I've become a big fan of them. The only non-wood body I like is the Dynavector XV1 series, which are gorgeous sounding, too. Haven't heard the latest gen naked-bodied carts yet, but the new Lyra Kleos is intriguing.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. Last edited by Puma Cat; 01-25-2012 at 11:58 AM. |
#6
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Great score.
Congratulations on the purchase Stephen. Looking forward to reading your thoughts once you have some hours up on it |
#7
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Thanks, John.
I'm really liking what I hear so far.... Here's another pic, the Pearwood with it's aluminum top plate and wood body matches the cherry P5 really nicely...
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
#8
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Congratulations and thanks for the comments on this cartridge. I run a Sumiko Blackbird in my modded Thorens TD160, and really like the cartridge.
Regards, Jim
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It's all about the Music, but I sure like the way my gear makes it come alive! |
#9
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Here's a pic showing the underside of the Shelter, compared to the Sumiko. Note how the cantilever housing and wrap look identical. This is what makes me think both cartridges were made by the same company. Notice how short the stylus is on the Shelter.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. Last edited by Puma Cat; 01-25-2012 at 04:53 PM. |
#10
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Quote:
The Pearwood only has about an 1hr 20 mins on it so far, but it sounds wonderful right out of the box. The highs are more detailed, yet smoother and sweeter than on the Shelter. I attribute this in part to the wood-body and the superior stylus. The Shelter's highs could be a bit ringy or forward at times, though using a SUT really helped that. Also, the Sumiko stylus is quite a bit quieter in the groove, almost as quiet as the Koetsu. The Shelter always had a bit more groove noise than other cartridges I've owned.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. Last edited by Puma Cat; 01-25-2012 at 04:07 PM. |
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