Celebration 40 vs Starling
The Starling's cartridge type is MC against the Celebration 40's MM. Both share output (0.5 mV), tracking force (2.0 g), and stylus type (Microridge).
AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
The Celebration 40 is Sumiko's 40th-anniversary Reference Line moving-coil cartridge, positioned one step below the flagship Palo Santos Presentation in Sumiko's range. It uses the same solid, ultra low-mass 75µm x 2.5µm Microridge stylus as Palo Santos, mounted on a long-grain boron cantilever for excellent energy transfer and enhanced retrieval of micro-detail and spatial information. The generator and a milled Teflon back-plate are clamped in an anti-resonant machined aluminum cradle and housed in a plumwood body, a construction aimed at maximizing rigidity and minimizing unwanted resonances. Compared with the Pearwood Celebration II it replaces, Celebration 40 features revised coil windings with higher-purity copper, lower impedance, and reduced moving mass, contributing to greater resolution, dynamics, and overall clarity. Sonically it is voiced for rich tonal color with deep, articulate bass, open and airy treble, and a spacious, stable soundstage, while remaining low in listening fatigue. Recommended tracking force is around 2.0 g (1.9–2.2 g) with a typical loading of 100 Ω at the phono stage.
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
Estimated price (community-sourced)
Original retail — discontinued, no used price recorded yet
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The Starling's cartridge type is MC against the Celebration 40's MM. Both share output (0.5 mV), tracking force (2.0 g), and stylus type (Microridge).
The Ultimate Exceed OMEGA's output is 0.2 mV against the Celebration 40's 0.5 mV and its cartridge type MC against MM. Both share tracking force (2.0 g) and stylus type (Microridge).
The Airy 3S's output is 0.3 mV against the Celebration 40's 0.5 mV and its cartridge type MC against MM. Both share tracking force (2.0 g) and stylus type (Microridge).
The MC Reference's output is 0.4 mV against the Celebration 40's 0.5 mV, its tracking force 1.8 g against 2.0 g, and its cartridge type MC against MM. Both share stylus type (Microridge).
AMG (Analog Manufaktur Germany) Teatro
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