@audphile1 Double LP sets were pressed that way for use on turntables with automatic changers.
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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Jason is correct! My Walter / Mahler 9 / Columbia record set has each movement occupying its own side, so it has nothing to do with fitting the length of movements! Movements 1 and 4 are on the first record, and 2 and 3 on the second record. This was done for convenience on stacking auto-players, but is inconvenient for everybody else. I notice that noise is significantly worse on the first record, probably because it has been removed from its sleeve twice as often. It had been in paper sleeves with a plastic liner until recently when I swapped the sleeves for anti-static ones by Nagaoka. Mahler himself was sometimes unsure about the best order for his movements. I am one press of a button away from ordering my next purchases from Presto. Because I love Bruno Walter's performance of the 9th so much, I have included a CD copy by Alto of my record set, which also includes Reiner conducting #5. Under A$17. I discovered there is an earlier Walter performance recorded in Austria just before Hitler merged Austria into Germany. The performers are mainly Jewish. Naxos CD, about A$20. Then I added a five CD set from Warner of Barbirolli conducting #1, #5, #6 and #9 for under A$20 the lot! There will be some vinyl in my order as well ... |
@richardbrand 👍 to music purchases! Cool stuff. I like Barbirolli as well. |
I heard Barbirolli at the Albert Hall (from memory) in one of the long Mahler symphonies - could have been #9. He almost had to be carried to the podium, became fully alive for well over an hour of conduction, then slumped again. Another purchase in my Presto basket is a 7 CD set of Barbirolli conducting Elgar, many are recognised as the best performances of Elgar, ever. About A$32 the lot! I've already got most of these performances, but ... |
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