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What innovative, unconventional cartridge designs can you recommend?

Most cartridges have a stylus and cantilever where the transducer (magnet, iron or coil) sits on the far end of the cantilever.  What other designs are there?

I am mindful of two designs which put the business end right on top of the stylus.  The first is the moving coil (MC) Audio Technica AT-ART1000 which places two tiny coils, each 0.9-mm diameter, with eight turns of wire directly above the stylus.  Australian price is about AUD-7000 and there apparently is a newer model, slightly less exxe. the ART1000X.  This has square coils for a bit more output, and threaded mounting holes.

A downside is that stylus replacement involves a factory maintenance program and the Australian website page describing this service does not exist.

Another design is optical, exemplified by DS Audio's range.  While these still need a stylus to trace the groove, the signal is produced by reading the intensity of light produced by a Light Emitting Diode (LED) hitting two sensors.  Between the LED and the sensors are two 'shades' mounted above the stylus which change the amount of light as the stylus vibrates.  These cartridges need a special "photo-stage" to replace the conventional phono-stage which is an additional expense.

Australian prices including photo-stages range from AUD-2,150 for the DS-E1 to the DS Master 3 at approximately AUD-40,800, which is a bit outside my price range!  Where is the sweet spot?

What other way-out designs are there?

richardbrand
richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand OP
1,420 posts
 

@devinplombier 

"barely larger than an XXL cigarette pack!", converts the cartridge’s signal to a format compatible with any preamp’s MM phono input

That was another red flag for me on Mr Nixie’s product set.  I think he equalises the optical signal, converting it from position-dependent to velocity-dependent, while leaving the RIAA conversion untouched.  Using a pre-amplifier’s MM input deals with RIAA.

But it also negates one of DS Audio’s unique selling propositions - the voltage output from the cartridge is about 14 times higher than a typical MM.  Mr Nixie reduces the output voltage (not good for the signal-to-noise ratio) only for the pre-amplifier to boost it up again.  No thank you, Mr Nixie.

I am unclear whether Knoff Hoff is a German attempt at humour - a knock off maybe?  Any way, I knoff hoffed it from my list!

devinplombier
1,679 posts
 

This thread meanders among topics related to optical cartridges and equalization, and it's pretty interesting (to me, at least) 

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/diy-optical-cartridge-preamp.371231/

 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,057 posts
 

@richardbrand 

Have you had a chance to test drive it yet?

maxson
100 posts
 

Just got a DS003 system myself, tho running on the JVC/FR64s while the Holbo is waiting for a motor replacement.

I wouldn't call it a game changer myself, but it's pretty sweet--I was afraid it would sound too digital in my all-tube, all-analog system. But it didn't, just a clean, clear window into the music space.

I saw the Nixie stuff after I'd already paid for the DS energizer or I might have reconsidered, especially the RIAA converter. I couldn't make it for $900 or any amount for that matter, nor do I mind enthusiastic, non-PR-processed language on a website created by a techhie. 

I am intrigued tho by the idea that I could run the 003 through my Joule Electra phono stage instead of a dedicated equalizer.

richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand OP
1,420 posts
 

@audphile1 

It will be several weeks before I can use it in earnest!. My installation is in Canberra but I spend much of my time in Sydney.  The optical cartridge is several weeks away, so all I can try the SoulNote on is MM cartridges.

The SoulNote was shipped with a power cord that is not suitable for Australia.  The instruction manual insists that no power cord than the one supplied should ever be used, so I am in a Catch 22 situation.

I am not sure if the supplied power cord is earthed (grounded) or floating (double insulated device) or shielded.  I'll email SoulNote before dissecting it ...

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