Breaking: Dartzeel to release phono cartridges

[bazelio]

Just received (mass) email from Hervé stating that Dartzeel will soon be releasing phono cartridges and "matching" phono stages. Looking forward to hearing more, no pun intended.

 

[mtemur]

It’s an amplifier company releasing a phono stage can be understandable but I wonder what’s the point on jumping into cartridge business? Like many other companies, putting their names over a cartridge made by a well known cartridge manufacturer is unnecessary IMHO.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

It’s an amplifier company releasing a phono stage can be understandable but I wonder what’s the point on jumping into cartridge business? Like many other companies, putting their names over a cartridge made by a well known cartridge manufacturer is unnecessary IMHO.

i don't yet have details on the technology involved, but i suspect it's a proprietary 'current' based gain circuit designed by Herve to match exactly with a LOMC special design. so think DS Audio Optical style matching pieces.....but not optical tech.

that's a guess. but having lived with Herve's gear since 2004 i put nothing past him. if he thinks this is breakthrough then we must keep our minds open.

 

[Kingrex]

I got an email and it seemed to be saying, schedule a tour in Germany or some place to see it?

 

[Audiophile Bill]

It’s an amplifier company releasing a phono stage can be understandable but I wonder what’s the point on jumping into cartridge business? Like many other companies, putting their names over a cartridge made by a well known cartridge manufacturer is unnecessary IMHO.

Hi,

Possibly cos current reference cartridges are so obscenely priced that margins are massive and worth the effort especially at a time where people are buying these things (analog being in favour).

 

[Audiophile Bill]

i don't yet have details on the technology involved, but i suspect it's a proprietary 'current' based gain circuit designed by Herve to match exactly with a LOMC special design. so think DS Audio Optical style matching pieces.....but not optical tech.

that's a guess. but having lived with Herve's gear since 2004 i put nothing past him. if he thinks this is breakthrough then we must keep our minds open.

You mean similar to the BMC MCCI type approach?

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Or the AQVOX phono 2CI

 

[Mike Lavigne]

You mean similar to the BMC MCCI type approach?

yes, or the Avantgarde iTron G3 active current mode amplification, or the CH Precision current mode in their phono.

the unique thing here would be a matching cartridge taking full advantage of that circuit, and....Herve as the circuit designer.

and my 'current-mode' idea here is purely speculation.

 

[Audire]

Dart Carts. Interesting. They have some top of the line amps and pres, so I’m guessing these will be rather good. I don't see Dartzeel doing anything half way.

 

[Ron Resnick]

It will be interesting to see if these cartridges will be manufactured from the ground up by darTZeel, or if darTZeel will commission an existing cartridge manufacturer to take an existing product and customize it to darTZeel’s specifications.

 

[benito]

yes, or the Avantgarde iTron G3 active current mode amplification, or the CH Precision current mode in their phono.

According to this video

active current mode amplification is already available at least for the integrated (Sorry it is in french, they speak about the MC input at 4:50).

I will not be surprised that the DartZeel cartridge has been developped directly or in collaboration with Ana Mighty Sound, since the AnaMightySound team knows quite a lot on cartridges.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

It will be interesting to see if these cartridges will be manufactured from the ground up by darTZeel, or if darTZeel will commission an existing cartridge manufacturer to take an existing product and customize it to darTZeel’s specifications.

My expectation is from the same shop that they all get made - Excel Sound.

 

[AudioAbe]

The cartridge was in use at Munich Highend this year. Francois from AnaMighty, who was presenting at the DarTZeel room, told me they developed the cartridge for DarTZeel.
It is in Fremer’s coverage at 29:00 - link here:

 

[tima]

It’s an amplifier company releasing a phono stage can be understandable but I wonder what’s the point on jumping into cartridge business? Like many other companies, putting their names over a cartridge made by a well known cartridge manufacturer is unnecessary IMHO.

Kuzma does it because they sell tables and arms and with cartridges they have a complete drop-in offering. A little more unusual to see this from the electronics side. Even established cartridge companies buy their styli+cantilevers from specialists.

The cartridge was in use at Munich Highend this year. Francois from AnaMighty, who was presenting at the DarTZeel room, told me they developed the cartridge for DarTZeel.

Did he say 75 millivolt output or point 75?

 

[iaxel]

Did he say 75 millivolt output or point 75?

In the video he says: “zero point zero 75 millivolt ouput” = 0.075mv
Even lower than the Kondo io-m.

 

[tima]

In the video he says: “zero point zero 75 millivolt ouput” = 0.075mv
Even lower than the Kondo io-m.

Thanks for clearing that up. Sound like it is exclusive to the Dart phono.

 

[DasguteOhr]

You mean similar to the BMC MCCI type approach?

The short-circuit operation
was developed by omtec and used for the first time in our phono stage. The TA system is no longer operated with a resistor as a load impedance. In short-circuit operation (Voltage ShortCut VSC), the input resistance of the CP-1i antares is (almost) zero ohms, which practically means that the pick-up system works on a short-circuit. There is hardly any output voltage worth mentioning at the TA coil. Instead, the current generated in the system by the needle movement is at its maximum. This generator current is then amplified in the phono stage.

the "mysterious" mode of operation simply corresponds to the feeding into the inverting input of an operational amplifier without a series resistor. This is treacherous, because now the internal resistance of the cartridge has to take on the role of this series resistor.
but doesn't really work well with every cartridge. in German one says"try makes wise"
Omtec antares

 

[daytona600]

Even established cartridge companies buy their styli+cantilevers from specialists

Only nagaoka make all in house

 

[benito]

some new informations :

Not sure that it will work

 

[benito]

another videos on Dart cartridge: