How Cartridges Fall Out Of Favor Over Time

And now for something (almost) completely new - optical cartridges as realised by DS Audio.

These overcome the low output of LOMC designs while simultaneously reducing apparent tip mass even further.  Far better signal to noise ratios and better trackability at the same time.  Try outputs of 70-millivolts versus 5 for MM and low fractions of a millivolt for LOMC.

Unfortunately, DS Audio's optical cartridges require non-standard phono stages because their output is position dependent, not velocity dependent.  Several manufacturers have obliged so far ...

Strain Gauge anyone?

@mylogic believe it or not but even after cancelling the V15 line here in the states Shure continued to make them and sell in Japan up until a couple of years ago. You can still buy a V15 III for $800 on eBay today.  Add a Jico VN35HE SAS stylus and you’ve still got a killer mm cartridge. 

VDH for me. I want the truth. I never touched bass or treble knobs when my first receiver had them or touch them in my car. No tubes. Clean, fast and detailed with good tight, deep bass.

Also, they have the longest lasting styli, which makes the value conscious audiophile (which of course is an oxymoron) in me happy. I don't change equipment  very often at all anymore, and don't play around with things, so no mono cartridges for me. I set it to sound the best I can and forget it and just sit back and enjoy the music.

Another way of separating the Optical Cart' especially the DS Audio design for the optical Cart', is that usually a Cartridge design is all about the Magnet Selection.

Cartridges are typically produced using 3 Types of Magnet, with two of these Types being classed as extremely high efficient magnets.

Individuals has selected Cart's for decades using the Magnet Material as one if the the factors that is the deal breaker? / deal maker?

The informed individual even being with knowledge of Magnet type is unknowing of their selection for a Magnet is ine produced to have either Anistropic / Isotropic Properties. It is also unknown to them how such a design for the direction of magnetisation and whether the uniformity of magnetisation is to influence the magnetic field when converting Kinetic Energy into Electrical Energy to be sent for adding gain.

It is a biggy to get the usual Cartridge user, especially the passionately attached to a Brand / Design Cartridge user, to consider using a design that is nit depending on a Magnet. Such as the DS Audio design does not depend in a Magnet. 

One has to accept the adoption of such a Cartridge is depending on micro LEDS micro Photo Cells reading depths shadow that is cast from Groove Modulation.

I know the 'Kb' in use as a modified design, as well as the DS Audio design. Where both were used in direct comparison. Both were compared on a £200Kish Audio System, where my assessment and that of some others was that the DS Audio Cartridge failed to make a impression in the way the 'Kb' was to offer. Inquiries followed about the 'Kb' + mod's and how they were able to be achieved. Read into that what one will.

I know today the 'Kb' + mod's, has a cost that is far less than some of the Designs sold as DS Audio compatible Phono Equalisers.   

I remain loyal to the Magnet and what is seemingly a traditional maintained mechanical interface, to transfer kinetic energy for conversion to electrical energy to be further sent to have gain added and be treated in a complex RIAA Circuit. 

A Photo Cell to produce a Electrical Energy and referred to simplified RIAA Circuit, does not stimulate enough to return for further experiences.