What innovative, unconventional cartridge designs can you recommend?

@dogberry 

And yet the SS strain gauge does not require extra wires, I believe. Presumably the light in that cartridge receives its power through the two ground cables? Why didn't DS choose to do that

That is exactly what DS Audio does in all its contemporary cartridges - it uses the two ground wires to deliver DC power to the active LEDs and optical sensors.

A consequence is that there is only one wire left to carry the signal for each channel, whereas balanced operation requires two.  So their contemporary 2-channel cartridges do not support balanced operation.

Hypothetically, if DS Audio felt balanced operation was desirable in the future, some other wiring scheme would be needed for 2-channel operation.

They have just released mono versions of their entire contemporary range of cartridges, and these could in theory use 2 wires for the signal and be balanced.

To be clear, all contemporary DS Audio cartridges use the standard 4-wire scheme used in tone arms.  There is absolutely no need to rewire.

I plan to rewire my 55-year-old SME arm for entirely different reasons. The primary one is because there is some corrosion around the connectors, and I had to solder one back on. At the same time I can eliminate two sets of connections in the phono path.  On the other hand, when something is working, don't fix it!

@cleeds 

There's true balanced operation, and also pseudo-balanced operation where the anti-phase signal is generated at the output point from the in-phase signal.

ChatGPT says it better that I can

Solid-state amplifiers manage true balanced operation by implementing a fully differential signal path from input to output, which involves using dual, mirrored, and identical circuits for both the positive (hot) and negative (cold) signal phases [4.2, 4.5]. This approach requires twice the components—transistors, resistors, and capacitors—to ensure the signals remain 180 degrees out of phase, allowing the amplifier to cancel common-mode noise and minimize distortion

That's what I meant by doubling up!

@audphile1 

I’ve watched The Absolute Sound review of the Umami Blue where Tom Martin compares the Umami Blue to DS003

Thanks for sharing that!  If I ever get the urge to go MC, Umami Blue should be on my list.  I looked up the price in Australia and discovered Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive (sic) Umami Limited Edition - I could buy two bottles with the change left over from my bargain DS003, compared with list price for the Hana!

The Absolute Sound is very keen on DS Audio for its clarity and cleanness (things I am interested in) but recognises that it does not sound particularly analogue.  We all look for different things and there's nothing wrong with that.

One of my takeaways from the video is Tom's comment that when the importer recommends something like a phono stage, they (TAS) usually follow that advice.  That's exactly what happened to me with the SoulMate recommendation!  My importer could have simply sold me the DS003 Equalizer.  Right now, I think going SoulNote was the best sonic decision I have made so far on my vinyl journey.

A while back, we were discussing Bruna Walter's Columbia performance of Mahler's 9th Symphony.  Having owned the records for about 60 years, I ordered the CD which I am playing now.  No clicks, pops or scratches.  Still waiting for his earlier mono recording to arrive (on CD).

richardbrand 

ChatGPT says it better that I can

Solid-state amplifiers manage true balanced operation by implementing a fully differential signal path from input to output, which involves using dual, mirrored, and identical circuits for both the positive (hot) and negative (cold) signal phases [4.2, 4.5]. This approach requires twice the components—transistors, resistors, and capacitors—to ensure the signals remain 180 degrees out of phase, allowing the amplifier to cancel common-mode noise and minimize distortion

CatGPT is completely wrong. You might ask it for its source, if you're interested in accuracy.

A differentially balanced amplifier does not require "using dual, mirrored, and identical circuits for both the positive (hot) and negative (cold) signal phases ..."

I am not interested in debating with AI, so I'm done with this discussion.

@richardbrand ha! Never saw that Johnnie Walker Blue Elusive Umami anywhere! 
I’m more of a bourbon guy myself. In scotch I prefer single malt from Islay - Lagavulin, Lafroaig, Ardbeg. I don’t find Johnnie Blue to be all that great especially for $250-$350 (for this umami edition) range. 

Here in the US the Hana Umami Blue is $2,500. And DS003 is $2,750. That’s two bottles of excellent bourbon AND a bottle of Lagavulin! Hehehe 

Hana Blue will most likely have a slightly different sonic perspective than DS003. By no means I dislike a clean delivery. As a matter of fact my Hana ML paired with the Whest phono stage is by no means warm sounding. I’m expecting the Blue to walk that fine line but slightly more careful than the DS003, as the review pointed out.