Soundsmith Paua MkII
Soundsmith cartridges are handmade in the USA and are little jewels to adorn your most beloved Turntables.
They are a Moving Iron design - the third, less talked about category of cartridge design. This design uses less mass than a Moving Magnet design so it's more reactive and dynamic.
The Paua MkII uses a new Aluminium Cantilever which is stiff where it's needed but is also acoustically dampening in critical areas.
An important factor when we choose we high-end cartridges to stock is their retipping service. We like to recommend cartridges that when something happens to the stylus there's a skilled in-house retipping service. Soundsmith offer just that.
And isn't the new sea shell casing just beautiful!

Soundsmith Paua MkII
The Paua is one of Soundsmith's most highly regarded top of the line low output cartridges. It has won numerous accolades and praise from users and reviewers around the word, including an “Editor’s Choice Award” in 2015 from TAS. Now we introduce the new Paua MKII, employing a newly developed Aluminum alloy used to fashion the MKII's cantilever into a precision acoustic and mechanical lever. It features stiffness in the ranges required, while providing critical damping in other sections of the acoustic spectrum. The reult is an even better Paua, a cartridge that gets raves from its owners, and can be fully rebuilt many times for $550 - a fraction of its original cost - as with all Soundsmith cartridges - 20% or less.
Featuring ultra-low internal moving mass, a specialized telescoping newly developed alloy cantilever and highly polished low mass nude Contact Line stylus, the Paua MKII will add a unique quality of warmth and smoothness to any analog system without leaving behind all the delicate musical details you want and need to hear. The Paua MKII reaches new heights of stylus control and performance, as is confirmed by its incredibly high channel separation figures.
Type: | • Fixed Coil / Moving Iron |
Mount: | • Standard ½” |
Stylus: | • Contact Line, Nude, 0.10 mm square |
Radius of Curvature: | • Nude Contact Line SELECTED |
Cantilever: | • Telescoping Aluminum Alloy |
Recommended Tracking Force: | • 1.7 - 1.9 g |
Effective Tip Mass: | • 0.30 mg |
Compliance: | • 10 µm/mN |
Frequence Response: | • 20 - 20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB |
Channel Separation @ 1000 Hz: | • > 34 dB • N/A (Mono version) |
Channel Separation @ 50 - 15,000 Hz: | • > 25 dB • N/A (Mono version) |
Channel Difference: | • < 0.5 dB • < 1.0 dB (Mono version) |
Output Voltage @ 5cm/sec: | • > 0.40 mV (LOW) |
DC Resistance (DCR): | • 10Ω |
Coil Inductance per channel: | • 2.75 mH |
Suggested Preamp Gain: | • 58 - 64 dB |
Cartridge Weight: | • 12.2 g (ES series) |
Recommended Load Resistance: | • ≥ 470Ω |
Recommended Load Capacitance: | • n/a |
Shipping cost is based on weight. Just add products to our quote request form and we will get back to you with a shipping quote and a link to securely checkout online!
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. Items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery.