What innovative, unconventional cartridge designs can you recommend?

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.

  https://www.fan-vinyl.de/ds-audio-003-erfahrung

@reimarc That's fascinating! Turns out a cartridge being microphonic can be a good thing.

RB, in your calculation of current, I think current out is equivalent to V out divided by internal impedance, rather than by load R. Load Z determines what becomes of the output.

@lewm 

RB, in your calculation of current, I think current out is equivalent to V out divided by internal impedance, rather than by load R. Load Z determines what becomes of the output.

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!

@audphile1 

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

I have had a good look at the power cord SoulNote supplied, and without dissecting it, it does look like a standard, earthed, three connection power cord.  The distributor, you and common sense, all say any power cord will do.  The distributor also says all his customers use expensive audiophile-grade power cords!

So why does SoulNote explicitly state that only the supplied power cord should be used?  Possibly it has magic properties, internal shielding, anti-static impregnation, hidden ferrite rings.  I don’t know. 

Or possibly, they don’t want their customers to waste money on expensive aftermarket cords!  I prefer that explanation.

In another thread, we are discussing XLR cables.  SoulNote produces XLR cables which are unshielded, but specifies shielded in the user manual for my SoulNote E.1 Ver 2 Equalizer.  They are not shy of charging big money.  Their RCC-1 Clock Cable is about A$16,000 for 1.2-m.  Fortunately you only need one per clock