The Soundsmith Carmen MKII is a high-output moving-iron / fixed-coil phono cartridge designed to deliver excellent performance at a comparatively affordable price point. It emphasizes purity of tone, a lush but well-controlled midrange, and smooth presentation. The body is handmade (often in solid ebony), and it offers solid resolution and detail with relatively low distortion. Ideal for listeners who want clarity and musicality, especially with vinyl playback that preserves nuance and depth.

-Fixed Coil / Moving Iron Design — for reduced mechanical noise and jitter, good for detail.
-High Output — allows use with standard MM/MI phono preamps without needing a step-up transformer.
-Nude Elliptical Stylus, Hyper-Elliptical Shape — very low-mass stylus for precise groove tracing and better upper frequency extension.
-Aluminum Alloy Cantilever — balances stiffness and minimal damping to let the stylus follow grooves precisely.
-“ES DEMS” Body Design — includes improved mechanical design and damping / isolation (DEMS = Dynamic Energy Management System) to reduce harmful vibrations and ensure clarity.
-Dual Compliance Options — standard medium compliance, and optionally high compliance for tonearms which favor that.
-Handmade Solid Ebony Case — quality build, durable, adds to aesthetic and mechanical stability.

Cartridge Type: - Fixed Coil / Moving Iron
Stylus: - Nude Elliptical, 0.120 mm square, Hyper-Elliptical shape
Radius of Curvature: - 6 × 17 µm
Cantilever: - Aluminum Alloy
Recommended Tracking Force
-1.3 - 1.6 g (standard / medium compliance)
-Special order: 1.0 - 1.2 g (high compliance)
Effective Tip Mass: -~ 0.35 mg
Compliance
~ 22 µm/mN (Medium compliance)
~ 28 µm/mN (High compliance, special order)
Output Voltage: - ~ 2.12 mV
Frequency Response: -~ 20 – 20,000 Hz ±2.5 dB
Channel Separation
> 26 dB at 1,000 Hz (Stereo)
> 20 dB from 50 – 15,000 Hz
Channel Difference
< 1.6 dB (Stereo)
< 1.0 dB (Mono version)
Cartridge Weight: - ~ 9.2 grams for ES-series body
Loading: - ≥ 47 kΩ recommended load resistance

Orders ship Sunday through Friday from our offices in Dubai, UAE.

In-stock products typically ship within 48 hours and should be expected to arrive in 3-4 business days. Orders outside of the UAE should be expected to arrive in 5-7 business days.

Pre-order and backorder products will state the approximate delivery timeline beside the Add To Cart button.

If you would like to place a custom order, chat with our specialists for a guided shopping experience. Once your order has been placed, a timeline will be provided depending on your order details.

- Free delivery within the UAE
- Shipping charges will be calculated upon checkout for orders outside of the UAE (Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia & Qatar).
- Taxes and duties are calculated according to the applicable laws of the state or country an item is shipped to and are the customer's responsibility.

For additional information on shipping and our exchange & return policy visit our help center.

Installation charges are applicable and can be paid upon delivery for our clients based in Dubai.

- Installation Charges: AED 450 Per Hour
- Speaker Cables: AED 32 Per Meter
- Trunking: AED 10 Per Meter

For clients based outside of the UAE, please contact our specialists and we will share an estimate based on your requirements.