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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
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,938 posts
 

Holbo air bearing table, soulnote phono stage, ds audio cart on the way…nah you’re not turning into a real audiophile…until you get better cables!

tcutter's avatar
tcutter
399 posts
 

I agree that SolidSteel makes very nice racks. I have a 30 year-old 410 series along with their newer HF series rack and amp stands.

Douglas connection had a couple of HF series 3 shelf racks for sale. Here is a link.

https://douglasconnection.com/product/solidsteel-hf-series-high-end-audio-rack/

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,938 posts
 

@richardbrand I need to spend a bit more time listening with the phono stage resting on nob springs to determine if I like the effect. 
I played two records so far: Heifetz Mendelssohn Concerto (Analogue Productions 33rpm) and Bill Evans “Sunday At The Village Vanguard” (Craft Recordings). 
With both albums I’ve noticed increased speed, faster bass and dynamics, more air and more details as well as slightly wider soundstage. The new leanness in the lower registers makes for faster and more accurate bass but I’m not sure I love the effect. 
I will play with different loading for springs. Right now 3 nobs with 2 springs in each. Could be a bit light. 

richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand OP
1,389 posts
 

@tcutter 

If I had a copy of "If I were a rich man" I'd play it now!

There seems to be a world of difference between the high end SolidSteel racks and the ones I can barely afford as a poor old Aussie pensioner!

Somebody in N America will get a bargain.  Thanks for pointing these out ...

richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand OP
1,389 posts
 

@audphile1 

I am pretty sure I have a CD copy of the Mendelssohn but I can’t find it right now.  It was the second LP my dad ever bought, and I thought the Prokofiev #2 on the second side was a complete waste of vinyl.  Now it is one of my favourites.

My partner thought her Joshua Bell was good - then I played Heifetz.  Say no more.

We have more in common than I thought.  If you had to recommend one Bill Evans record, what would it be?  My search for jazz I really like has been pretty fruitless so far ...

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