Cartridge Compliance/Arm Mass chart
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The following is a quick reference for Soundsmith cartridges and tone arm mass matching; The simple rule is that the LIGHTER the arm, the HIGHER the compliance must be. How can you get around this? By using a heavier cartridge, and/or our EZ mount screws, you can effectively make the arm heavier. |
| Model [click names below for more] |
Cartridge version |
Cartridge Mass (grams) |
Compliance μm/mN |
Cartridge Output |
Recommended Loading |
for Tone Arm Mass (grams) |
| The Voice | standard | 6.8 9.2 (ES) |
22 (Medium) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 12 |
| Sotto Voce | standard | 6.8 | 22 (Medium) | Medium (1.1mV) | ≥ 1500 Ω | ≤ 12 |
| Aida | standard | 6.8 9.2 (ES) |
22 (Medium) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 12 |
| Norma | standard | 6.8 | 22 (Medium) | Medium (1.1mV) | ≥ 1500 Ω | ≤ 12 |
| Boheme | standard | 6.8 | 22 (Medium) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 12 |
| Carmen | standard | 6.8 9.2 (ES) |
22 (Medium) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 12 |
| Otello | standard | 6.8 9.2 (ES) |
22 (Medium) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 12 |
| The Voice | High Compliance* | 6.8 9.2 (ES) |
28 (High) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 8 |
| Sotto Voce | High Compliance* | 6.8 | 28 (High) | Medium (1.1mV) | ≥ 1500 Ω | ≤ 8 |
| Aida | High Compliance* | 6.8 9.2 (ES) |
28 (High) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 8 |
| Norma | High Compliance* | 6.8 | 28 (High) | Medium (1.1mV) | ≥ 1500 Ω | ≤ 8 |
| Boheme | High Compliance* | 6.8 | 28 (High) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 8 |
| Carmen | High Compliance* | 6.8 9.2 (ES) |
28 (High) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 8 |
| Otello | High Compliance* | 6.8 9.2 (ES) |
28 (High) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | ≤ 8 |
| Hyperion | standard | 10.25 12.2 (ES) |
10 (Low) | Low (0.4mV) | 470 - 1000 Ω | 7 - 29 |
| Helios | standard | 10.25 | 10 (Low) | Medium (1.1mV) | ≥ 1500 Ω | 7 - 29 |
| Sussurro | standard | 10.25 12.2 (ES) |
10 (Low) | Low (0.4mV) | 470 - 1000 Ω | 7 - 29 |
| Mezzo | standard | 10.25 | 10 (Low) | Medium (1.1mV) | ≥ 1500 Ω | 7 - 29 |
| Paua | standard | 10.25 12.2 (ES) |
10 (Low) | Low (0.4mV) | 470 - 1000 Ω | 7 - 29 |
| Nautilus | standard | 10.25 | 10 (Low) | Medium (1.1mV) | ≥ 1500 Ω | 7 - 29 |
| Zephyr MIMC Star | standard | 10.25 12.2 (ES) |
10 (Low) | Low (0.4mV) | 470 - 1000 Ω | 7 - 29 |
| Zephyr MK III | standard | 10.25 12.2 (ES) |
10 (Low) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | 7 - 29 |
| Irox Ultimate | standard | 10.25 | 10 (Low) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | 7 - 29 |
| Irox Blue | standard | 10.25 | 10 (Low) | High (2.12mV) | 47 kΩ | 7 - 29 |
| NA | 10.25 | 10 (Low) | N/A | NA |
7 - 29 |
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| * SPECIAL ORDER only | ||||||
"The Soundsmith Carmen's ultra-low-mass MI assembly plays with more agility, is more naturally detailed, and sounds less stressed than any MC I'm aware of. Its treble is not dull or rolled off—it's just the most authentic treble I've experienced from a phonographic transducer." 
