BlackBird Lo vs Blue Point No. 3 Low
The Blue Point No. 3 Low's output is 0.5 mV against the BlackBird Lo's 0.7 mV and its channel separation 30 dB against 35 dB. Both share compliance (12 cu) and tracking force (2.0 g).
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Estimated price (community-sourced)
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
The Sumiko BlackBird Lo is a low-output moving coil (MC) phono cartridge renowned for its exceedingly low noise, wide dynamic range, and exceptional fidelity within its price class. Featuring an open-generator body and a rigid generator housing, it minimizes both external and internal resonances, reducing distortion common in closed-body designs. The cartridge uses a hand-ground elliptical stylus mounted on a long-grain boron cantilever, ensuring efficient energy transfer, superior tracking, extended low-frequency response, and impressive dynamic range. The BlackBird Lo is compatible with a wide range of tonearms and is celebrated for its musicality, resolution, and three-dimensional soundstage. It is considered a reference cartridge for discerning analog enthusiasts and is now discontinued.
Phono cartridge specifications
Size, weight, and appearance
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
Components that show up alongside the BlackBird Lo in real systems. A verdict means the pair has been checked for compatibility and headroom — open it to see how the two get along.
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The Blue Point No. 3 Low's output is 0.5 mV against the BlackBird Lo's 0.7 mV and its channel separation 30 dB against 35 dB. Both share compliance (12 cu) and tracking force (2.0 g).
The Virtuoso Talisman DTI's output is 1.8 mV against the BlackBird Lo's 0.7 mV and its compliance 15 cu against 12 cu. Both share tracking force (2.0 g) and channel separation (35 dB).
The L-04lo's output is 0.4 mV against the BlackBird Lo's 0.7 mV, its compliance 15 cu against 12 cu, its tracking force 1.8 g against 2.0 g, and its cartridge type MC against LOMC.
The ML's output is 0.4 mV against the BlackBird Lo's 0.7 mV, its compliance 10 cu against 12 cu, and its channel separation 30 dB against 35 dB. Both share tracking force (2.0 g).
Both turn up in the same documented systems.
Blue Point No. 3
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