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

@lewm 

I hope you are not as anxious as I am!

I really have to thank you for getting me this far into vinyl.  My latest steps have mainly been guided by recommendations, reviews, physics, engineering, and price / discounts.  I rarely make changes to my gear, so I am an unreliable reporter when it comes to changes in sound quality because I do not have much basis for comparison, except large-scale live music.

My normal starting point is skepticism, and a belief that if there is a real difference, it should be explained by physics, now or in the future

Fingers crossed

@pindac Stated " I'm happy to be proven wrong, expose myself to the Public Humiliation through being wrong, "

Not one post made following the post that contains the above, has been in anyway convincing, that a satisfactory description is supplied.

All that is being read by myself, catapults me into what is very much proven for a Cartridge using Technology for Electromagnetic Induction Principles. All of which I am familiar with and when correctly explained fully believe. As the designs are produced as result of 50ish Years of R&D from significant authorities in this field of expertise.

@pindac Stated " I can't answer these inquiries, but there is somebody who can, definitely not the usual contributor to the Gons Analog Section. 

For myself, I have no willingness to accept descriptions that imply that the Typical Cart' design where electromagnetic fields are produced, has identical impact on each system. "

@pindac Stated " I am not the Foe of the Optical Cartridge, I am simply a individual who having experienced them is use on a familiar system at the time. Ended Up not being impressed to the place the design become an item to pursue. "

It is no secret on the Gon, that I have made it known, I have been extremely impressed by the design I was demonstrated for a Low Eddy Signal Path used a system I know very well. I have now developed my own Low Eddy design, even though differences are in place to the design that was most impressive.

The Low Eddy impression lead me to discovering a Cartridge that I have shared the Model on the Gon, that was designed from the Ground Up to be Low Eddy, and this does stick as a Cartridge of Interest.

The modern design Optical Read Cartridge is also a Low Eddy design, as a result it is also a Cartridge I should be showing a keenness towards. As a result of my prior experience, I have no keenness able to be expressed. The issues shared on other forums about the quality control for the Stylus Mounting on the Cantilever. Where Zenith and Azimuth are quite a bit off, is a bitter pill one will have to swallow.

If I was to look at making a Cartridge Purchase from any Brand or Cottage Industry Model that had quality issues reported similar to DS Audio. For myself, I would be making it very very clear to the Vendor, as I do with Vendors in my Vintage Valve purchases. If the delivered item, isn't as it should be, it is coming straight back, with a full refund of monies immediately available. If that arrangement is not on offer, it will be a Cartridge/Valve Sale not to occur. I am fortunate to be able to have Valves immediately measured, and my TT-TA specialist friend loves to use the purpose acquired tools to look at a Stylus condition / mounting on a request. Fortunately Stylus's only wear through use and occasionally known to detach. They are not usually known to reorientate themselves on a Cantilever through general usage, probably not even when scratching the Vinyl for a Hip Hop experience.

My net remains cast to discover a description that really does make sense of this.

Photon - Shadow - Electron - Electrical Impulse. (How does materials used for the structure produced, enabling of this to occur. Benefit the process, other than to be the enabler of the function to occur???

 

@pindac 

The modern design Optical Read Cartridge is also a Low Eddy design

It is a no eddy design.  There’s neither coil nor magnet.

I would refer you to AnalogMagik’s website where they explicitly list DS Audio as being in the top rank for stylus mounting alignment.

In Australia I am protected by the Australian Consumer Law which provides statutory warranties which can be far longer than the manufacturer’s warranty.  I am buying my cartridge in Australia from an Australian business.

I am pleased you have found a technology you like.  I can assure you I will not be scratching for a hip hop experience.

I am sorry I have not provided an explanation you can believe - one of my personal goals here is to improve my ability to describe difficult concepts as simply as possible, but not more so!

Assumption has been the theme so far, in relation to replies offered to my inquiry, a better minded individual than myself on such a matter has stated the following:

"Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong."

Take a look at any Car Reliability Report, where certain Car Models are reported on as being very reliable and worthy of consideration. In the same report there will be a list of Reports about failures from the same Car.

@richardbrand 

AnalogMagik Reports are snippet of products released into the Cartridge Market, what is read, is for the best, if worn like a loose garment, it should not be attached to being an authority on the Quality of released products.

With all the protections available, you also have new knowledge acquired since deciding to purchase, it is either seen as Bona-Fide or quite inaccurate, your choice on such a evaluation of what is and is not.

There is no reason to use the Law Only. If it were myself, I would have the discussion with the supplier. What is being made known to the supplier could end up going back through the supply chain. An improved Quality Control at the assembly end might develop as an outcome.  

@pindac 

An improved Quality Control at the assembly end might develop as an outcome

Now who is making assumptions!  This is quite insulting to DS Audio.  As far as I can tell, the only person on this site who regards you as an authority would be yourself.

You have no interest in buying DS Audio or an ART1000, so why not keep your unhelpful comments to yourself.