DS Audio

DS Audio’s DS003 cartridge is the company’s third generation of its unique approach to phono cartridges and borrows on many of the design approaches used in their top of the line Grand Master cartridge. The DS003 features a totally re-designed optical system as well as a line contact stylus at the end of an aluminum cantilever that requires a tracking force of 2.0g～2.2g.

In common with all DS Audio’s proprietary pick-ups, the DS-E1 employs a derivative of the technology it developed along with Microsoft some 20 years ago – the optical computer mouse.

The Grand Master Cartridge is a completley new design. The Third Generation of DS Audio's optical cartridge features a comprehensivley re-designed optical system that provides the following improvements and benefits.

First, to explain the difference of detection principle between the optical cartridge and MM / MC cartridge.

Both the MM / MC cartridge and the optical cartridge read the record groove through the needle, but the usual MM / MC cartridge detects the music signal by vibrating the magnet (or coil) in the magnetic field.

While the latter DS-W1 cleared the maximum 80μm groove pitch and the most severe +18dB modulation (315Hz lateral cut, re. 11.2μm) at < 1% THD, the Master 1, DS-002 and DS-W2 are secure to +15dB but mistrack at the maximum +18dB groove modulation.