Sumiko Smile Best [extra Quality] < SECURE ◎ >

The nude elliptical stylus shines here. High hats decay naturally. The triangle hits in Steely Dan - "Aja" ring out with shimmer, not splash. Unlike some analytical cartridges (looking at you, Audio-Technica), the Smile Best avoids listener fatigue. You can play 6 sides of vinyl without wanting to turn it off.

| Feature | Sumiko Smile Best | Ortofon 2M Blue | Nagaoka MP-110 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Nude Elliptical | Nude Elliptical | Bonded Elliptical | | Sound | Warm, Musical, Lush | Detailed, Neutral, Airy | Rich, Full, Vintage | | Tracking | Excellent (2.0g) | Very Good (1.8g) | Good (1.8g) | | Best For | Rock, Jazz, Vocals | Classical, Acoustic | Old records, Pop | | Fatigue | Very Low | Moderate | Low | sumiko smile best

The Smile Best has medium compliance. It thrives on medium to medium-heavy tonearms. Think Rega, Pro-Ject (9cc or Carbon), and vintage Japanese S-shaped tonearms (Technics SL-1200). It will not work well on ultra-light linear tracking arms or very heavy old broadcast arms. The nude elliptical stylus shines here