What innovative, unconventional cartridge designs can you recommend?

Dear @richardbrand  :   Thank’s for your reply.

The global issue is that MUSIC lovers/Audiophiles as me already had and have first hand experiences in and at different stages with the best and worst cartridges ( every kind ) what gave us that that kind of spec ( measured spec ) FR in the marvelous quality performer vintage Technics has or have a true meaning that we can " liten " and compare against other kind of cartridges including the best today ones.

Btw, with all respect to Korf has not all the information because it’s not the MK4 the one with the lower tip mass, I already posted  on this matter.

Good that you are a true MUSIC lover for several years but when we are inside the analog vinyl MUSIC/sound reproduction you need to have a lot more first hand experiences ( diversity ) with the global medium that you just don’t have and why my reference to you as a newbie.

In my opinion for any one of us could have the " analog experiences " we have to work very hard in build an room/system around the overall analog alternative and this means: 

LPs, several cartridges, experiences through several different audio systems, TTs, tonearms, phonolinepreamps, cables and the like.

After we build ( for us ) the best system we can afford then we have the all " weapons " to make cartridge evaluations with confidence and according our each one targets and MUSIC/sound  priorities and start really to enjoy the MUSIC as never before.

All those is a true and hard long road to be in " home " and  @dover ​@lewm @neonknight  @dogberry @mulveling   ( only to name some expert audiophiles ) and several others can attest about.

So, you still have a long long road to " home " and NO the DS Audio ( or a top Lyra cartridge ) does not makes that " road " short but only more complicated and the time will shows to you it year after year. Is really easy, we have to learn first to walk before run : we need first the knowledge and skill levels to do it.

Thank’s again for your answer and thank´s too @dogberry .

Now enjoy the thread,

R.

@richardbrand 

I’ve watched The Absolute Sound review of the Umami Blue where Tom Martin compares the Umami Blue to DS003.
https://youtu.be/INbdQ3Qixbc
 

I’m currently eying a Hana Umami Blue or Umami Red as an upgrade path from my current Hana ML. Mostly because 1) I really like the sonic characteristics of Hana and 2) my current phono stage has good synergy with my integrated and is transparent enough to reveal what the upgrade brings to the table. 

But…I’m not upgrading right this moment and I’m keeping my mind open and I am not excluding DS003 even though it means I will need a new phono stage. 
Anxiously awaiting your thoughts on DS003 after you had some miles on it and you’ve fully grasped its sonics. 

@lewm 

Couldn’t they run the two power lines as a separate harness entirely and therefore achieve a balanced signal path?  But I wonder whether the optical transducer per se lends itself to balanced operation

DS Audio has already got to persuade buyers to buy an Equalizer, so I think compatibility with existing wiring was initially very important to getting acceptance in the marketplace.  Can’t see too many being happy about pulling extra wires through their tone arms.

I suspect you are right that optical is not naturally balanced ... duplication may indeed be needed!

On the other hand, you could mount an argument that the lower noise floor does not really call for balanced for further reduction.  But as Raul seems happy to point out, I seem to lack the experience to comment!

I misspoke; the optical sensor might need two diodes per channel, one for each phase of a balanced output per channel, not two diodes per phase as I wrote earlier. And I totally agree, the very high signal voltage output and high SN ratio might render the advantages of balanced operation moot.

@lewm 

My understanding is that doubling up is the way solid state handles balanced right through the audio chain?

As sod’s law would have it, I have a silver Litz tone arm cable with XLR connectors ready to install in my Garrard / SME deck.  It will plug straight into the SoulNote but will only operate in balanced mode if I buy an MC cartridge!  SoulNote presumably would rather ignore peasants like me with MM cartridges at the E1 price point...

Meanwhile I am absolutely delighted with the sonics coming from my Jico / Shure MM through the SoulNote.  Another win for you!