What innovative, unconventional cartridge designs can you recommend?

Dear @richardbrand   The main issue in the Mijostyn room/system is that him controls everything through a Digital Processor because he likes that way but in reality and in specific to phono stage that " move " goes against the analog/LP alternative where almost all of us like because is Analog with no digital inside manipulation.

I'm not against digital tha's a great MUSIC reproduction alternative but I like to listen my LPs in the 100% analog domain

Analog or digital he is always manipulating the recording signal using that digital processor as and " equalizer ", nothing wrong with that because that's what makes and fulfill his targets and MUSIC/sound priorities.

The today Digital whole processors are really great and in the years to comes maybe some of us ( including me ) will be using it but for now and in my case I stay with fully analog alternative when talking  on LP reproduction.

Yes, everything changes almost every day and the future is with out doubt those room/system digital fully processors.

Good that you are enjoying your DS Audio cartridge.

If you made it that kind of inve$tment then could means you own maybe thousands or at least several hundreds of LPs. Rigth?

R.

@rauliruegas 

If you made it that kind of inve$tment then could means you own maybe thousands or at least several hundreds of LPs. Rigth?

No, far from it!  When I first arrived in Australia, my local library had a huge range of classical records that they lent out, free-of-charge, so I did not need to buy classical records. Wollongong, an industrial 'steel city' on the coast south of Sydney, was not noted for culture. As compensation it offers 25 patrolled surf beaches.

It did spawn Richard Tognetti who leads the Australian Chamber Orchestra when he is not surfing.  Notably, the ensemble stands when playing (except the cellists).  World class.

Since I bought my Holbo turntable, I have more than doubled my record collection, some new and many second-hand.  My buying rule now for performances I want is SACD if available, otherwise vinyl, otherwise CD.  Sometimes I buy vinyl and CD versions simultaneously.

The only exception so far is Shostakovich's Piano Concertos on Hyperion, with Marc-Andre Hamelin.  I use the slow movement of the Second Concerto on SACD when assessing components.  It was that track that almost instantaneously indicated that my Reavon universal disk player had a problem with its dacs on SACD (Sadly, the SACD is no longer available). I bought the vinyl to see if @lewm was right that vinyl is better than CD.  With the DS Audio cartridge, I think it is, but I have not had time to compare the 2-channel SACD with vinyl yet.

As far as the use of digital in phono stages, I have no opinion.  But I do note that many vinyl records have gone through a digital stage, whether acknowledged or not!  My whole vinyl quest could have been built on a con ... but I am loving the journey

RB, Somewhere up this thread in recent days, you wrote that I wrote, "vinyl is better than digital".  I do not recall ever having written such a blanket statement.  If I did, it was a lapsus linguae.  I would not say such a thing because I have never experienced high resolution digital streaming in my home system(s), and several other experienced audiophiles who post here and on Audio Asylum have made the claim that such digital sources can at least equal vinyl at its best, if not also surpass vinyl.  I do respect those particular opinions but have never verified that they are true for me. What I probably DID write is that vinyl is superior to CD, meaning Red Book CD. I think SACD done right is superior to RBCD but still does not surpass vinyl, to my ears in my systems.

Dear @richardbrand: " that vinyl is better than CD.  With the DS Audio cartridge, I think it is, but I have not had time to compare the 2-channel SACD with vinyl yet."

Or a good recorded CD ( not only the SACD ) in today entry level Denon CD player with 32/192 DACs.

As in analog the quality recording depends of the recording quality proccess it self and mastering.

Digital technology is in advance almost every day contrary to LP recordings an analog rigs front end that only area little " more of the same " but way more expen$$ive.

The DS Audio or any other today cartridge is not innovative ( as you was looking according your OP ) and far away from the today digital true innovations. 

I think that digital and analog are just 2 today alternarives and way different.

R.

@lewm 

What I probably DID write is that vinyl is superior to CD, meaning Red Book CD. I think SACD done right is superior to RBCD but still does not surpass vinyl, to my ears in my systems

Maybe my linguae had a lapsus!

It was in another thread where I reported that, with the upgrades I had made to my Garrard 301, vinyl sounded almost as good as a CD.  You replied that vinyl could do much better than that, which is what encouraged me to keep improving my vinyl playback.

I am very grateful to you for the encouragement  and if I misquoted you, I am sorry.