Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 Cart Impressions

[samurai7595]

For owners of the McIntosh MT5 turntable, what's been your experience/impression of the McIntosh provided Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 high-output MC cart (i.e. tracking accuracy, sound, etc.)?

I'm looking at getting the MT2 which supposedly will also be fitted with this cart.

If you've replaced it, why and with what did you replace it with?

 

[feinstei]

I couldn't stand my Sumiko Blue Point 2 and took it off of my MT-5 after giving it a chance for a couple of days. Thin, poor stereo image, no depth to the sound on RCA Living Stereo classical LP's. I absolutely hated it.

I found that the Shure V15 Type III with an elliptical stylus was a good match and I played that for about a month but it still lacked "perfection".

I then tried a Denon 103R and it was a beautiful match. Nice "depth" and "warmth" to the sound of the 1960's vintage classical LP's in my collection.

Lastly, I tried the ClearAudio Talismann II (which is the cartridge that's on the MT-10) that I found on one of the auction sites with the McIntosh branding for a few hundred dollars. Despite the fact that the "compliance" of the MT-5 is much higher (15 x 10-6 dyne) than the MT-10 (6 x 10-6 dyne), I found the MT-10 McIntosh cartridge (the ClearAudio Talismann II) to be the most detail-revealing and rich sounding cartridge that I've ever heard. I just played the Classic Records pressing of "Casino Royale" on my MT-5 (with the MT-10) cartridge last night and I was blown away by Dusty Springfield's "Look Of Love" performance as well as Herb Alpert's "Casino Royale" theme. The imaging created an incredible illusion of the band being in the room. The music had 3D depth and was well balanced on both vocals and Herb's trumpet solos.

If you do search for the McIntosh cartridge, please note that there were two generations of it. The MT-10 cartridge was originally a ClearAudio Talismann model 1. New MT-10's are fitted with the superior ClearAudio Talismann model II. Make sure you're getting the new model.

 

[ron-c]

Into a McIntosh MC phono section, loaded at 1000 ohms the BPII sounds great and is a good tracker.
Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[4-2-7]

I don't have the Mac table but the cart is most of the sound anyway.

I wouldn't buy a BP II, but I love my Sumiko Blackbirds and Blue Point EVO III.

If I had that table it would have a Blackbird on it and I have it on the three SOTA Star decks I have hooked up.

 

[Ricktptman]

I have four BP's (one original and three II's), a Blackbird and various Shure V-15's, Denons and AT's including the 150mlx. I LOVE the BP II's. The Blackbird is a bit more finely delicate and detailed, but the house sound (like Mac's house sound) is top dead center to my ears. One more opinion.....enjoy, they're all great cartridges. I have a few Pearls on a couple of restored PL-5x0's from the '70's. Separation might suffer a bit, but the house sound is still there.

 

[Johnny_Law]

I really like my original Sumiko Blue Point on my AR-XD into my C24 (into my MC7300). I alternate between the XD w/ the Sumiko and my Luxman PD121 w/ Grace tone arm and Grado black cart and really enjoy both. However I've heard that the Blue Point #2 is much different than the original, so I'm not sure what use this is to you.