What innovative, unconventional cartridge designs can you recommend?

@audphile1 

There are also other notable differences that contribute to lower noise. I’m not sure how DS Audio does it 

That's why I am looking forward to @rajugsw commenting on DS Audio vs LOMC.

When I auditioned the Holbo deck with the Kiseki blue I was struck by the high amount of quiescent noise.  So much so, I later went back to the dealer to investigate where this was coming from.  The only explanation was the high amount of gain needed with LOMC.  This was before I'd heard of DS Audio.

One way DS Audio gets very low quiescent noise is because the output requires far less gain than other cartridge types - for example 70-mV compared with 5-mV for MM and say 0.2-mV for LOMC.

Muted response to surface noise is helped by low effective tip mass, but probably of much more importance is the fact that the system responds to stylus position, not velocity.  A scratch could cause much bigger changes in velocity than position.  That's my guess, anyway

I have an extremely quiet phono stage. My Hana ML has output level of 0.4mv. The Kiseki Blue you heard has a very similar output of 0.44mv. 
I have virtually no noise on new or NM vinyl. Very superficial levels of noise on VG+ vinyl. 
Sounds like the dealer didn’t match the phono stage with the kiseki. That’s a shame. 

@richardbrand I went back and found your post here where you mentioned the phono stage that was used with the Kiseki. Not familiar with Musical Fidelity but I haven’t read anyone describing the performance of any musical fidelity component as jaw dropping. I suspect that was the culprit for the noisy reproduction. 

@audphile1 

I am used to the noise floor on digital (effectively, none) so I was quite surprised during the audition.  I am used to noise when a record starts playing, but not before.

The Musical Fidelity phono stage must get some share of the 'blame' since it has to do a lot of amplification.  It was the same unit used for a big gala evening for B&W loudspeakers, and I am sure it would have been set up well.  It was either an M8x (fully balanced) or an M6x - just can't remember.  I was more interested in the Holbo.

Footnote:  Have just found out that Musical Fidelity is now owned by Pro-ject.  It could have been the Bose - oops McIntosh - amplifier.  It was not the Samsung (B & W) speakers.

@richardbrand hahaha no not McIntosh. They’re quite. 
As a matter of fact my friend who just got the Umami Blue that I heard over the weekend is using McIntosh MP100 phono stage. I had this little phono in my system as well. It’s really nice. Very sweet sounding and musical. Not as quiet as my Whest but you would only know that by a direct A/B. 
Mcintosh integrated and power amps are quiet as well. 
It’s the musical fidelity most likely.