Product Description
The DS Audio DS003 optical cartridge system has been optimised 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.
As a cartridge upgrade it makes a lot of sense given its merits, but if you're needing a phono stage as well, then the DS003 system (cartridge and phono) together may cost less than many higher-end phono stages! So in our eyes this is a complete bargain.
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 aluminium (as used in the second generation cartridges) to 99.9% pure beryllium.
The DS003 cartridge features the combination of an aluminium cantilever with a line contact stylus. The cartridge body is made by aluminium and the structure has been designed in such a way as to promote maximum rigidity. In addition to these features, the DS003 utilises internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second generation cartridges in order to reduce impedance.
The DS003 equaliser (phono stage) 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. 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.
DS-003 Optical Cartridge Specs:
- Signal output: Photo-electric Conversion
- Channel separation: 27db more (1kHz)
- Weight: 7.7g
- Output signal level: 70mV
- Canti-lever: Aluminium
- Cantilever holder material: Stainless steel
- Body material: Aluminium A5052
- Tracking Force (VTF): 2.0g~2.2g(2.1g is recommended)
- Stylus: Line Contact
DS 003 Equaliser Specs:
- Output voltage: 500mV(1kHz)
- Output impedance: 120Ω
- Pre amp input impedance: More than 10kΩ
- Input terminal: RCA
- Output terminal: RCA
- Size: W33cm×H9.2cm×D29.5cm
- Weight: 5kg
