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?
The colleague I mentioned on another thread actually was at the first Oxford Union debate with Hoffnung. His original telling of the bricklayer applying for sick leave is possibly the funniest thing on disk, ever. It is on YouTube Gerard Hoffnung addressing the Oxford Union in 1958
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I remember myjostyn? and @lewm debating the advantages and disadvantages of phono stages. Myjostyn was all in favour of a stage that converted analogue to digital, did the emphasis digitally, and then converted back to analogue. Having looked back at the Musical Fidelity stage, it is discrete, not digital. I will claim a mistake by the salesman! (Or a memory lapse on my part) |
Over the Past Months across 2025/2026. I have been a contributor to and regular Post reader within Headered Topics within this forum. In that same time I have observed a selection of contributors to the Headered Topics within this Forum as having become noticeably dormant in their interactions. Regular Posters of which some are very respected, some quite unique and not always understood and a few others that are a little complex at times, have seemingly vanished as Posters or contribute in a volume that is substantially decreased. I have pondered some of the answers to inquiries made about the low activity / no activity and have come to similar conclusion for myself, having grasped the meaning of the replies. Within the Gon, I have done much with my time as a contributor, many a decent guidance is found offered in my past interactions. For some members dependent on stimulus being read, my follow up Heckles have been the greatest of commentaries for raising the contributors Hackles, which is a great indicator to show where the contributor shares a Fantastical and Fictional misinterpretation driven by bias for being Real. Not pleasant to experience but real is real and unreal is unreal. Satisfaction is occasionally met, especially when complete strangers have personally contacted me for their being grateful for guidance offered, raising the content in the Thread, or when requests are made for my assistance in furthering their understanding of a subject being broached upon within a Topic. Like those seen to have a noticeable absence. Their comments supplied following inquiry from others being aware there is an absence, strongly suggest their thoughts that their input is spent. I also am not seeing where the content supplied from Pindac assists this forum at the current time. Either the revisiting of experiences had will once more be shared, but Copy/Paste is not the most fun practice for a communication. Bringing new ways to view a Subject are not well received by a select few, which is totally fine. The same goes for those not being stimulated enough by new ways to view a Subject. Where those really in the know choose to hold off adding content, which is totally fine. .It is time for myself to return to experiencing audio only and not one who is writing about it for a period. The new acquisitions from recent bought Speakers, SS Phonostage and multi option Pre Amp' will keep me occupied for quite some time. Then there is the SS System to Trial and the 300b Power Amp to insert to create new permutations. Adios - Till the next time. |
@richardbrand Sweet Vinyl Sugar Cube is a digital phono stage. It removes pops and clicks. For a second I thought Musical Fidelity ventured into this territory. |
Godspeed @pindac Wish you much enjoyment with the custom components you commissioned. It is a great way to approach high end audio, in my opinion. I look forward to enjoying your posts again when you return.
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