@richardbrand just saw your reply. I’m assuming the unit voltage is correct and you just need a proper power cable. Not sure why soulnote says you can’t use any power cord that’s in working order.
Hopefully you get that resolved before the cartridge shows up.
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?
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Optical Phono Cartridges are not revolutionary, as a designs they are recognised to be near 80 years old. The designs have resurfaced from different Brands throughout this 80 year period and there were a selection on models from different Brands approx' 40 years ago. DS Audio are quite content with introducing the Olden Brands that offered designs that were Photo Electric. The DS Audio Cart' is a modern version, utilising modern materials and a not before used method for the light source. I had heard great things about the Optical Cart's, but now know through my encountering a selection of the range in use, which has included the TOTR from the period of the demo's, it was not my preferred experience when it comes to a Cart' making an impression. I'm confident this demo period was taking place near Covid times. |
@reimarc That's fascinating! Turns out a cartridge being microphonic can be a good thing. |
It really is a question of how the manufacturer defines the cartridges' output voltage V. Is it into a load, or into an open circuit? It will be a higher number if measured into an open circuit. In a real circuit, the current should be V divided by the total circuit impedance. There is only one voltage source and it has to drive current through the entire circuit. I am just discovering that the Japanese sometimes have their own ways of defining quantities! |
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