What innovative, unconventional cartridge designs can you recommend?

@richardbrand 

So the specs for the 250v 16A max cable from Lian Dung are 3 core with cross section of 0.75 (18awg ) -1.5mm2 ( 16awg ).

Typically for a power cable for an amplifier you would use 2.5mm2 - 14 awg - which will handle 25 amps - well in excess of most amps. Some of the audiophile jumbo cables run up to 5mm2 which can handle 30amps plus.

So you can see Soulnote have supplied a cable that may in fact outperform more expensive larger cross section cables regardless of cost because there are electrical downsides from having larger cables than necessary.

With regards to the distributor - of course they want to promote after market cables - it helps their bottom line. 

I've got power cables here up to $10k, and I can tell you after experimenting with 3x1.5mm2 power cable from Gotham Audio ( model number 85215 ) as well as no name cable for low demand sources I found it quite illuminating. I used to distribute quite a few cable brands, and over the years I have successfully improved some systems by replacing the audiophile power cables with customer kettle cords.

Always pays to try with an open mind - many audiophile cables are tuned for a specific sound, which may or may not suit a given system. 

@dover 

Power supply in Australia is very different from the North American experience.  Apart from the slower frequency, we need under half as much current to get the same power.  As you know, current is the real villain when it comes to cross-sections of conductors, and also switching noise.

Every suburban street has three phase power. Normally every third house is connected to one phase, but you can pay more and get all three phases.  My place has a 3-phase sauna and a 3-phase sander!

One experience of mine shows where a power cord made an absolutely repeatable, measurable difference.  My free-to-air terrestrial television reception is pretty marginal.  When a KEF subwoofer was powered up, it obliterated the TV signal.  The KEF has a built-in class D amplifier and it was pushing sufficient RFI down the mains cord to take out the TV signal.  A couple of $10 ferrite rings round the same power cord fixed the issue.

@richardbrand 

Yes - I am in New Zealand, so we have the same environment.

What I do know about digital is that it dumps a lot of noise into the earth as well.

I basically run all the signal amplification ( head amp, preamp, power amps ) through one line from the mains board, and run all other ( digital, turntable power supplies ) through a separate line. I like to keep all amplification on one line to minimise earth loop noise.

I had a bad experience from an Australian distributor, when I picked up some stock off him, we ended up with a blown amp because he had chopped the plug and installed a fancy Furutech with phase and neutral round the wrong way. Unbeknown to the distributor that particular American company uses black for phase, and he made a very expensive assumption. Shudder to think how many amps he’s blown up in OZ.

@dover 

Great to hear you are in Godzone!  My kids are 50% Kiwi ... and I run a Perreaux amp.  As your past Prime Minister said when flying into Sydney and told that New Zealanders had the highest crime rate of any ethnic group in Bondi "I don’t know about that, but my statisticians tell me there is a net outflow from New Zealand to Australia and it has the effect of raising the intelligence levels on both sides of the Tasman"

When you say

What I do know about digital is that it dumps a lot of noise into the earth as well

can you clarify whether you mean the earth wire in the power cord, or the planet at large?  In remote areas, Australia also delivers power by SWER (Single Wire Earth Return)  which means that only one wire is run to a property, usually on poles, and the circuit is completed via the ground (the planet), When training to fly gliders, SWERs were counted as a real hazard during remote landings - the poles are way apart, and the wire is virtually invisible but deadly.

In my opinion, audiophiles should concentrate on the electronic noise coming from their own equipment, not noise supplied by the power company.  What do you think?

@richardbrand 

I meant digital dumps a lot of noise back into the earth paths via the power cord.

That's why having any digital equipment on a separate line from the mains board can help, even though ultimately the 2 earths come together at the mains board.

I would agree with your comment about focussing on minimising noise from your own equipment, logic tells me you can't control the incoming power, but you can address issues in your own gear. Getting rid of noise in your own gear is no different to upgrading components, lower noise - more resolution, at a much lower cost.

Interestingly I have used the Naim system power protocols with my amplification - all on one line, power amp first into the wall then preamp then head amp. My distribution box is daisy chained, not star earthed - I've compared the two formats and the daisy chain  with power amp first in to pre to source wins every time. This system has worked well for many high end installations I've done with primarily  non Naim systems. That Naim protocol system has removed mains noise from other non audio sources very effectively. I also make sure the house earth is in good shape, no corrosion, decent wire etc.

I don't like mains filters per se, they tend to suck dynamics. I used to distribute high end years ago, so I've done many installs.