Description
DS Audio DS 003 System: Optical Phono Cartridge and Phono Stage/Equalizer
Independent LED and photo-detector arrangement for the left and right channels
The new DS003 optical cartridge system has been optimized, by implementing an independent LED and photo-detector arrangement for the left and right channels. As a result, the cartridge output voltage has greatly increased from 40mV to 70mV. The DS003 cartridge offers a greatly improved S/N ratio when compared to its stable mates, resulting in an even lower noise floor and far greater musical clarity.
Weight of shading plate reduced by more than 50%
The implementation of independent left and right channel LED’ s allows for the positioning of the optical system to be optimized as well as necessitating the use of a new shading plate that has been significantly reduced in size compared to our earlier designs. In addition to this reduction in size, the material used to produce the shading plate has changed from aluminum (as used in the second-generation cartridges) to 99.9% pure beryllium.
Aluminum cantilever & Aluminum body
The DS003 cartridge features the combination of an aluminum cantilever with a line contact stylus. The cartridge body is made by aluminum and the structure has been designed in such a way as to promote maximum rigidity. In addition to these features, the DS003 utilizes internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second-generation cartridges in order to
DS 003 Optical Cartridge
Signal output Photo-electric Conversion
Channel separation 27dB more（1KHz）
Weight 7.7g
Output signal level 70mV (1kHz cartridge output)
Canti-lever Aluminum
Body material Aluminum(A5052)
Cantilever holder material Stainless
Needle pressure 2.0g～2.2g(2.1g is recommended)
Stylus
Line contact
Changed the thickness of the circuit board and the thickness of the copper foil.
Compared to the DS002 equalizer, the thickness of the circuit board has been changed from 1.6 mm to 2.0 mm, and the thickness of the copper foil has been changed from 35 µ to 70 µ. In addition, the DS003 equalizer allows you to select the cutoff frequency for the low frequency range from four types, allowing you to select an output that better matches your system.
Hand-made in Japan circuit board
Every component part used in our products is tested and evaluated by our expert Japanese technicians. In addition to using a specially printed circuit board, twist-connection of the component legs is further evidence of DS Audio’ s excellent attention to detail. Each and every product is hand-made and quality assured by our skilled engineers.
DS 003 Equalizer for Optical Cartridge
Output voltage 500mV(1kHz Equalizer output)
Output impedance RCA 120Ω
Pre amp input impedance More than 10kΩ
Input terminal RCA terminal
Output terminal RCA terminal×2
Size W33cm×H9.2cm×D29.5cm
Weight
5kg
Robert M –
We all know that our transducers, signal source and speakers, are the most important parts of your stereo. The old rule was spend half your budget on them alone. That’s because they are the source of the bulk of your distortion. Especially at signal source, every component that follows simply amplifies whatever problems you have at the start. So I’ve followed the maxim in my system and have worked, and spent, to make sure the signal is good, beginning and ending. I am not rich, so I’ve always bought moving coil cartridges made in Japan, either NOS or reworked with new styli. My most recent favorite has been any of the Coral 777 series, ending most recently with their high end model, the EX, with a new Shibata stylus. The phono stage for this medium output cartridge was a Liberty Audio full FET class A unit that John Atkinson of Stereophile remarked as “Nice, very nice.” Amplification was all Frank Van Alstine, with their tube preamp and hybrid 300W/channel amp. Speakers were Klipschorns, with drivers sourced by Volti Audio’s Greg Roberts. This includes a Spanish tweeter, a German midrange, and a Bob Crites woofer. The mid-horn was designed and built by Greg, who also furnished the crossover. Great system, very efficient, and all I could ask for, until I tried the DS Audio optical front end, the 003 model, second from the bottom. Unbelievable difference. Even my son-in-law, walking in, exclaimed, “The distinction of the notes from the background is unbelievable.” Blacker backgrounds, effortless response at all frequencies, super channel separation, and astonishing detail, all without brightness or fatigue. Even the rumble from the turntable and random record imperfections are greatly reduced by the optical system. I paid more for the elliptical stylus and the trickle down features from their flagship model. I can’t imagine things getting better. I’m not sure why it’s so good, except the physics makes sense. The stylus is moving 1/10th the mass of even moving coils, there is no hysteresis to fight, as the stylus is not involved with a magnetic field, and the flux of the fields doesn’t have to collapse over time. Light is faster than a magnetic field, as data transmission developments have taught us. Why it has taken so long for somebody to do this, and to do it well, I don’t know. I’m just glad they did. I can’t praise this addition enough. Makes all the other things worth it. Robert M