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Sumiko MDC-800 tonearm Tonearm Hello, Please contact me if you have this arm for sale. Must be functional and in excellent cosmetic condition. Cheers, Aaron Condition: Must be excellent Payment Method: Region/State: (SA) South Australia/Australia By adhoc 0 Comments Secure Ad AUD $2,200 Date: November 6, 20241 yr
Compared with buying a new mid-tier interconnect for A$2,200, this is hard to justify unless the cable is genuinely from Sumiko’s very top vintage line and in exceptional shape. I can’t benchmark the MDC 800 confidently from the title alone, so at this price it’s a hard sell on name recognition alone; you’d want proof it’s the exact model, length, and that the terminations are original and fully sound before treating it as a serious buy.
The upside here is that a well-kept premium interconnect can be a nice one-and-done piece if it’s coming from a careful owner and hasn’t been abused, bent sharply, or reterminated poorly. Ask for clear photos of both ends, the jacket, and any markings, plus confirmation of length and channel continuity. If everything checks out, it may suit a system where cable quality is already the last big variable, but at A$2,200 the burden of proof is on the listing.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Sumiko was founded in 1972 by David Fletcher and two business partners as an importer for the U.S. audio market, initially focusing on Eastern European speakers before pivoting to Japanese manufactured products. The company is based in Japan and has maintained its heritage of Japanese craftsmanship for nearly five decades. David Fletcher, notably a former particle physicist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, brought technical rigor to the venture from its inception.
Sumiko specializes exclusively in phono cartridges, a focused product category that defines the brand's identity. The company began manufacturing its own cartridges in 1982 with the Talisman model, followed by the groundbreaking Alchemist MC cartridge in 1984—one of the first moving-coil designs to achieve mass production. All cartridges are hand-built in Japan by skilled artisans. The current lineup spans two primary series: the budget-conscious Oyster Moving Magnet line and the premium Reference Moving Coil designs, with the Palo Santos serving as the flagship model.
Sumiko occupies a prestigious position in the high-end analog market, commanding respect among discerning audiophiles worldwide for nearly four decades. The brand has built its reputation on meticulous build quality, excellent tracking performance, and a musical, non-fatiguing sonic presentation. By offering cartridges across multiple price points and technologies—from entry-level to reference-grade—Sumiko serves both committed vinyl enthusiasts and collectors seeking serious analog playback solutions.
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