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

So I had to ask ChatGPT do resonances affect the sound of electronic components

Unwanted Audio Effects (Noise)

Unintended resonances in electronic components or the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) itself can cause undesirable acoustic noise, often referred to as "coil whine" or "buzzing". 

  • Component Vibration: Phenomena like the piezoelectric effect or magnetostriction can cause components (especially capacitors and inductors) to vibrate physically in response to oscillating electrical signals.
  • Audible Noise: If these mechanical vibrations occur within the human hearing range, they can produce an annoying audible buzz or rattle, especially if the PCB or enclosure amplifies the vibration at its own natural frequency.
  • Signal Interference: These vibrations can also be converted back into unwanted electrical signals (microphonics), which introduce noise and distortion into the audio output, subtly affecting the clarity and fidelity of the sound. 

You know this discussion inspired me to try a spare set of nobsprings that I have under my Whest phono stage. I have to find them first. But I will report my findings. 

Unfortunately my entire analog setup is not optimized from placement standpoint -at the moment I have the table next to speaker, phono stage is currently on the floor (pergo on concrete). Speaker cabinets are solid but the speakers fart backwards which I manage with bass traps but still. This is my recent few months old get back to vinyl setup  

 

 

@audphile1 

I know the feeling!

My SoulNote went walkabout yesterday and I don't know why!  Skidded sideways a bit.  It is in a SolidSteel S3 rack and the shelves are slippery melamine finish on thick MDF, which combined with the un-spiked pillars could have created a skating rink.  So I'll make an anti-skating device.

Actually, I will shortly make up a sub shelf like the more expensive SolidSteel shelves have.

Done it.  Used acacia block-wood from a kitchen top.  Acacia mistaken identity.

Spikes now replace pillars.  And I think I trod on some of that 2-m of spare XLR cable which created the walkabout!

I used to own S4 for many years. Those spiked cones supposedly drained vibration but there were a few times where my components almost fell off. 
I did like that rack though.I went with SoldiSteel amp stands where my components sit now and sold the rack. I will eventually need a rack for the table and phono stage. 
 

So I located the nob springs and situated them under the phono stage and placed a large Darko style door stop on top of it. Will need more time but initial impressions slightly faster more airy sound.