VPI Aries 2 , SME IV & Rotel RC 1090, cartridge?

No responses yet. How about the Ortofon Rohmann, Jubilee or Kontrapunkt B?

The specifications of the Sumiko Blackbird (cartridge weight 9.6g, compliance 12 microns/mN) suggest that it should pair well with the SME IV tonearm for a combined resonance frequency of about 10Hz. As long as the output of the cartridge (2.5 mV) is compatible with the gain in your Rotel phono stage, you should be in good shape. If your Rotel phono stage is a standard 47k Ohm moving magnet phono stage, you should be in business.

To be safe, however, it would be good to hear from someone who has experience in mounting the Sumiko Blackbird on the SME IV or V series arms - just to be sure there are no physical compatibility problems between the cartridge and the tonearm.

Hi Cincy_bob,
The Rotel's phono stage is switchable between mm at 47kohm and mc at 100 ohms. That's why I also asked about those Ortofon cartridges I believe they all suggest >30 ohms. Or, as in the case of the Kontrapunkt, 50 to 200 ohms.