A patented new product from a small Japanese company. $5000. It uses 1mm condenser mics for smartphones. I'm a bit skeptical about this, but it may work very well. RIAA EQ / phono amp is not required.
The Miyaji-type MEMS cartridge has an amplitude-proportional characteristic that uses a very small high-sensitivity condenser microphone for the pickup.
It is a structure that guides the vibration of the cantilever to the left and right sound conduits and captures the sound pressure with a microphone.
The sound pressure transmitted to the microphone is equalized in the shape of the sound conduit, and the frequency characteristics of 20Hz to 20KHz are adjusted to be almost flat in the test record and aged. Since the frequency characteristics are attached to the characteristic table actually measured for each product, high-quality audio signals can be obtained. Since the MEMS microphone is a condenser type microphone, it requires a power supply and uses a dedicated head amplifier.
(Google translate)
https://arsound-jp.translate.goog/m...l=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
The Miyaji-type MEMS cartridge has an amplitude-proportional characteristic that uses a very small high-sensitivity condenser microphone for the pickup.
It is a structure that guides the vibration of the cantilever to the left and right sound conduits and captures the sound pressure with a microphone.
The sound pressure transmitted to the microphone is equalized in the shape of the sound conduit, and the frequency characteristics of 20Hz to 20KHz are adjusted to be almost flat in the test record and aged. Since the frequency characteristics are attached to the characteristic table actually measured for each product, high-quality audio signals can be obtained. Since the MEMS microphone is a condenser type microphone, it requires a power supply and uses a dedicated head amplifier.
(Google translate)
https://arsound-jp.translate.goog/m...l=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Acoustic guides inside the pickup. Hmmm.
I am reminded, in the dawn of Stereo, concerned about the high cost of duplicate electronics, there were several other technologies. One was a stereo crystal needle to two crystal earbuds. But more radical was a needle to two "soundboxes" such as used in the dawn of 'gramophone' phonographs to drive passive acoustic horns, but instead through dual tubing to two ears much like a doctor's stethoscope.
I'm so glad that my $5,000 saves me the expense of a $50-$500 preamp. (But what will I build for fun??)
Wonderful translation for once.
I am reminded, in the dawn of Stereo, concerned about the high cost of duplicate electronics, there were several other technologies. One was a stereo crystal needle to two crystal earbuds. But more radical was a needle to two "soundboxes" such as used in the dawn of 'gramophone' phonographs to drive passive acoustic horns, but instead through dual tubing to two ears much like a doctor's stethoscope.
I'm so glad that my $5,000 saves me the expense of a $50-$500 preamp. (But what will I build for fun??)
Wonderful translation for once.
The membranes in the mic capsules are not moving freely as they are coupled to the cantilever. Feedback can happen with any cartridge but only beetween cartridge and subwoofer, when no rumble filter is used. In that case a high pass filter on the sub.
If I read it correctly, the membrane is not coupled with the cantilever, it is decoupled.
Said something like 130dB SPL in the acoustic side. Your listening room level is usually far less. So you won't have over-unity gain and won't oscillate.
Anyway-- they would have noticed, right?
I have been searching for any mention of such a system: you can hear the music from a stylus without any amplification at all. Could it be possible to have a microphone pick up these sounds, and with proper materials and design, come up with a simpler, cheaper to manufacture system with sound that can be tailored, without the intricate wiring that is needed to hand - manufacture cartridges?
Apparently it is possible.
There is a diagram in this article here:
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2022/03/new-arsound-miyaji-mems-cartridge.html
I performed an experiment of my own by recording the stylus music with my mobile phone, holding it close to the stylus on the side and front. The music came through, however, due to the low budget USB turntable I am using so did an heavy rumbling sound, along with distortion towards the high end. With a suitable mounting arrangement, it could work well. A better microphone and design might give better results, but good microphones do not cost all that much these days.
Intriguingly, listening to sounds emanating from the turntable plinth resulted in 'clear music' according to this post. A mono pickup could be constructed for much less, I think.
A second microphone could be used to cancel any sounds from the turntable, like noise cancelling headphones do, maybe cut out record noise as well.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/diy-linear-tonearm.238027/post-7156673