With the release of the new Cusis line of Moving Coil cartridges, analogue specialist Michell Engineering now covers all the high-end turntable bases.
The new Cusis cartridge line encompasses a variety of price points starting at the Cusis E entry level MC, through to the mid-level Cusis S and culminating at the flagship Cusis M. Michell Engineering told SoundStage! Australia, “The Cusis series of cartridges have been developed to reproduce your beloved music as accurately as possible, without colouration. As with all our products we use simple elegant design, high quality materials and superior engineering to achieve the best possible sound quality.”
To back that statement, even the entry level Cusis E features high quality materials which have been perfected to offer superb value for money. Key pointers are the large aluminium chassis and ‘High Density Acetyl’ body and the aluminium cantilever construction supporting the elliptical stylus. Pure OFC copper and is used for the coil wiring which is reinforced by a samarium-cobalt magnet system. The Cusis E’s frequency response has been quoted as 20 Hz to 25 kHz while the output voltage is said to be 0.35mV with a channel separation of 23dB.
The Cusis S is said to enhance on the E-level with claims of improved detail and overall frequency response. Adopted now are a Shibata stylus and Boron cantilever with a similar aluminium chassis and ‘High Density Acetyl’ body. As promised, the frequency response is extended to 20 Hz to 35 kHz while output increases slightly to 0.40mV with the channel separation improving to 25dB.
The flagship Cusis M introduces what Michell Engineering refers to as an ‘Ultra-precise Microline’ stylus supported by a redesigned body which is now constructed from carbon-loaded resonant damping material. Michell Engineering also claims class-leading frequency response for the Cusis M which now spans from 15 Hz to 45 kHz while the output is now 0.25mV with an improved channel separation of 28dB.
The new cartridges start at AU$1500 for the Cusis E, with pricing escalating to AU$2800 for the Cusis S and AU$5000 for the range-topping Cusis M.
Michell Engineering Cusis Cartridges
Price: Cusis E AU$1500, Cusis S AU$2800, Cusis M AU$5000
Australian Distributor: Radiance Audio Visual
+61 (0) 2 9659 1117
www.radianceav.com.au
