DCAudioDIY.com

Audio Technica has just come out with an interesting new phono cartridge. I'm not sure how the stylus will deal with the mass of the coil directly over it where in a standard cartridge you have a considerable mechanical advantage from the lever action of the cantilever.

Tom

http://www.audioxpress.com/article/audi ... -cartridge

Look at the Decca cartridge from the '60s.... it used a similar approach, I think.

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue48/london_reference.htm


It's good to see people willing to not just "think" outside the box, but actually GO there.
If you understand my UserID, you will know that the above sentiment is a consistent theme for me.

THX, Bruce.

The new Audio-Technica direct-scan cartridge that Stereophile swooned over is a direct descendant of the Victor (JVC) cartridge that was introduced in the '70s. The Blumlein and Neumann cartridges being the first of this design.

[color=#BF0000]The difference being that Victor has tiny printed-circuit micro-coils bonded to the top (close to the stylus) of a solid tapered Beryllium cantilever.

The Audio-Technica took the path of a more labor intensive hand-wound micro-coil bonded to a solid Boron cantilever.

Common to them both are very powerful magnets.

Sound? Ask the man who owns one. I have the second-generation Victor (JVC) model MC-5E and it surpasses any other cartridge that I have had in my system -- moving coil or moving iron. The list of "defeated" cartridges includes Allnic, Clearaudio, Koetsu, Ortofon, and Denon to name but a few. All of my cartridges have been "hot-rodded" by yours truly -- all performed to expectations until this damn direct-scan cartridge came along. It has spoiled me for anything else. The Allnic is the closest to the Victor (JVC) and is constructed in a way similar to a cutter head to read the grooves.

The Victor (JVC) is natural with the breathe of life -- fast -- will track anything I put under it -- and when the music goes loud and dynamic this gem just goes along for the ride like it is no big thing. No strain.

The Decca cartridge was mentioned. It is not the same thing. The Decca is a moving-iron cartridge that plays the sum-and-difference game to decode stereo. The Audio-Technica and grandpa Victor (JVC) are true 45/45 cartridges.[/color]

_________________
Walt

I would love to hear one but at $5k, I am unlikely to purchase one.

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Walt