Consumer Electronics

CERAMIC CARTRIDGES

The ceramic cartridge, shown in Fig. 8.20, utilises the so-called piezoelectric effect. Movement of the cantilever, which is fixed to the stylus, applies varying forces—twists and pressures—to a special crystalline material which in turn generates the electric voltage and subsequent current. The rigid armatures required to exert this twisting force naturally increase the moving mass, and the ceramic elements are sometimes affected by heat and moisture. Although commonly used in inexpensive record players, they do not fulfill the discriminating demands of real hi-fi.

As a circuit component, a crystal cartridge acts in the same way as does a capacitor and can be considered as such. Extremes of temperature drastically affect the ...