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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
pindac's avatar
pindac
3,882 posts
 

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.  

richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand OP
1,380 posts
 

@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.

dover
2,498 posts
 

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.

I would trust the AnalogMagik reports more than lunatic ravings of an uninformed luddite. I have not heard of any significant issues with regard to quality control of the DS Audio cartridges. From what I have personally seen, the build quality looks to be very good.

pindac's avatar
pindac
3,882 posts
 

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

 @richardbrand Stated " 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.

@dover Stated " I would trust the AnalogMagik reports more than lunatic ravings of an uninformed luddite."

It was expected and as always - No Beef from my end, live and let live.   

@pindac Has a keenness to experience a ART 20 as well as the ART 1000X, a Ortofon Verismo and a MSL Platinum, with the main interest in the ART Models.

My own Transducers immediately available and the designs being put in place as a result of others undertaking investigations, that can be used with them are also enough to keep myself totally interested in Cartridges.

The DS Audio Range of Cartridges which I have followed for approx' 4 years has not revealed anything that creates the earlier stimulus I had to experience them, which was enough for me to venture on a 600 mile round trip to experience them in use. As already stated " A owned Cartridge still in use today, when compared to the DS  Audio Cartridge, proved to be the much better device to create an indelible musical encounter. This was not a thought limited to myself, a selection of other attendees of which one was a audio media journalist were quick to inquire about my Cartridge and the service who produced it.     

dogberry
960 posts
 

@pindac You haven't commented on what I said. Or did I misunderstand your issue with exotic cantilevers on DS Audio cartridges?

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