{"title":"DS Audio","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"ds-audio-e3","title":"DS Audio E3 Optical Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe E3 is DS Audio's entry point into optical cartridges, achieving what DS Audio describes as a low price while inheriting the benefits of its third-generation optical mechanism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt uses an aluminum cantilever with a solid elliptical stylus and a beryllium light-shielding plate, with channel separation set slightly lower than the 003 or W3 to improve manufacturing efficiency at this price point. Its equalizer uses a symmetrical amplification circuit and is roughly a third the size of the 003's equalizer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDS Audio cartridges are optical rather than moving coil or moving magnet: LEDs shine through a shading plate on the cantilever, and the stylus's movement in the groove modulates the light reaching a pair of photodiodes, generating the signal directly with no coil and no magnet. The output is not a standard RIAA phono signal, so it requires a matching DS Audio equalizer rather than an ordinary phono preamp — the equalizer also powers the cartridge's LEDs over the same cable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSold as the cartridge alone (for an existing DS Audio owner with a compatible equalizer already in their system) or as a complete set with the E3 equalizer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge (included in every configuration)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStylus: elliptical diamond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCantilever: crimped aluminum alloy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput: optical, approximately 70mV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE3 Equalizer add-on\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnections: RCA in\/out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eControls: 2-position bass toggle, output level selector\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Cartridge Only","offer_id":67605464351037,"sku":"DSA-E3-CART","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cartridge + E3 Equalizer (Set)","offer_id":67605464383805,"sku":"DSA-E3-SET","price":3000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_78722b9d-267e-438c-ab80-051a3d5bd18e.jpg?v=1790796165"},{"product_id":"ds-audio-003","title":"DS Audio 003 Optical Cartridge and Equalizer Set","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 003 sits between DS Audio's entry-level and flagship Grand Master models, carrying trickle-down technology down from the flagship line.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt uses independent LEDs and photodetectors per channel to raise output from 40mV to 70mV, a shading plate cut by more than half in weight and upgraded from aluminum to 99.9 percent pure beryllium, an aluminum cantilever with a line-contact stylus, and an aluminum body for rigidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts matching equalizer uses a thicker circuit board and doubled copper foil weight, with selectable low-frequency cutoffs, and is hand-assembled and tested in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDS Audio cartridges are optical rather than moving coil or moving magnet: LEDs shine through a shading plate on the cantilever, and the stylus's movement in the groove modulates the light reaching a pair of photodiodes, generating the signal directly with no coil and no magnet. The output is not a standard RIAA phono signal, so it requires a matching DS Audio equalizer rather than an ordinary phono preamp — the equalizer also powers the cartridge's LEDs over the same cable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDS Audio sells the 003 only as a matched cartridge and equalizer set, not as separate components. A dedicated mono version is sold at the same price as the stereo set; see the DS Audio 003 Mono listing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStylus: line-contact diamond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCantilever: aluminum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTracking force: 2.0–2.2g, 2.1g recommended\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 7.7g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput: optical, approximately 70mV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMatching Equalizer \/ Phono Stage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eConnections: RCA in\/out\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Cartridge + Equalizer (Set)","offer_id":67605464449341,"sku":"DSA-003-SET","price":7000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_e1847d58-be82-49b2-ae73-9a41ae1d6d1e.jpg?v=1790796323"},{"product_id":"ds-audio-w3","title":"DS Audio W3 Optical Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe W3 is DS Audio's current reference-tier cartridge, the third generation of the W-series, replacing the discontinued W2.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt shares the 003's 70mV output boost and beryllium shading plate but steps up to a boron cantilever with a line-contact stylus in an aluminum body built for maximum rigidity. Its equalizer carries over the 003's circuit board and copper-foil upgrades and adds four selectable low-frequency outputs along with both RCA and balanced XLR outputs, hand-made in Japan with twist-connected wiring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDS Audio cartridges are optical rather than moving coil or moving magnet: LEDs shine through a shading plate on the cantilever, and the stylus's movement in the groove modulates the light reaching a pair of photodiodes, generating the signal directly with no coil and no magnet. The output is not a standard RIAA phono signal, so it requires a matching DS Audio equalizer rather than an ordinary phono preamp — the equalizer also powers the cartridge's LEDs over the same cable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSold as the cartridge alone, the equalizer alone (for an existing owner upgrading just one half), or the complete system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStylus: line contact\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCantilever: boron\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 7.9g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput: optical, approximately 70mV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eW3 Equalizer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnections: RCA and XLR outputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput level: 500mV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 13.5kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Cartridge Only","offer_id":67605464514877,"sku":"DSA-W3-CART","price":5500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Equalizer Only","offer_id":67605464547645,"sku":"DSA-W3-EQ","price":11000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cartridge + Equalizer (System)","offer_id":67605464580413,"sku":"DSA-W3-SYS","price":16500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_54e6bf55-016a-4cd6-9bff-5c0c1423ea74.jpg?v=1790796401"},{"product_id":"ds-audio-master-3","title":"DS Audio Master 3 Optical Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eDS Audio calls the Master 3 a semi-flagship model, the successor to the original DS Master.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt shares the 70mV output and beryllium shading plate of the tiers below it but steps up to a square-pillar diamond cantilever with a Micro Ridge stylus and an Ultra Duralumin body with a stainless cantilever holder. Its equalizer uses a dual-monaural design with three transformers and fully independent left and right circuits, a strengthened power supply for deeper bass, balanced and unbalanced outputs, and six selectable low-frequency cutoffs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDS Audio cartridges are optical rather than moving coil or moving magnet: LEDs shine through a shading plate on the cantilever, and the stylus's movement in the groove modulates the light reaching a pair of photodiodes, generating the signal directly with no coil and no magnet. The output is not a standard RIAA phono signal, so it requires a matching DS Audio equalizer rather than an ordinary phono preamp — the equalizer also powers the cartridge's LEDs over the same cable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe cartridge and equalizer are sold separately rather than as a discounted set (a complete system is still available at the sum of both prices).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStylus: Micro Ridge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCantilever: square-pillar diamond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTracking force: 2.0–2.2g, 2.1g recommended\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 7.9g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput: optical, approximately 70mV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaster 3 Equalizer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSold separately from the cartridge\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Cartridge Only","offer_id":67605465989437,"sku":"DSA-MASTER3-CART","price":10500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Equalizer Only","offer_id":67605466022205,"sku":"DSA-MASTER3-EQ","price":19500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cartridge + Equalizer (System)","offer_id":67605466054973,"sku":"DSA-MASTER3-SYS","price":30000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_225432e8-412d-42b4-855c-7122a47ab825.jpg?v=1790796475"},{"product_id":"ds-audio-grand-master","title":"DS Audio Grand Master Optical Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Grand Master is DS Audio's flagship below the Grand Master EX, the successor to the Master line, and the first DS Audio cartridge to pair a diamond cantilever with a Micro Ridge stylus.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt shares the beryllium shading plate and Ultra Duralumin body of the Master 3, but its equalizer and power supply are fully separate units built with custom film capacitors, non-induction winding resistors, and large capacitor banks, with three transformers each rated 1.5 times more powerful than the original Master's.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDS Audio cartridges are optical rather than moving coil or moving magnet: LEDs shine through a shading plate on the cantilever, and the stylus's movement in the groove modulates the light reaching a pair of photodiodes, generating the signal directly with no coil and no magnet. The output is not a standard RIAA phono signal, so it requires a matching DS Audio equalizer rather than an ordinary phono preamp — the equalizer also powers the cartridge's LEDs over the same cable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEqualizer-alone pricing is not published; call to confirm before ordering an equalizer on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrand Master Equalizer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003ePricing not published separately — call to confirm\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Cartridge Only","offer_id":67605466087741,"sku":"DSA-GM-CART","price":16500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Equalizer Only","offer_id":67605466120509,"sku":"DSA-GM-EQ","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cartridge + Equalizer (System)","offer_id":67605466153277,"sku":"DSA-GM-SYS","price":60000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_8dec738b-8977-4f29-a464-07e9bb39a1c2.jpg?v=1790796557"},{"product_id":"ds-audio-grand-master-ex","title":"DS Audio Grand Master EX Optical Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Grand Master EX is DS Audio's current flagship cartridge, named 2025 Phono Cartridge of the Year by The Absolute Sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is built around what DS Audio calls a one-piece diamond cantilever, where the diamond cantilever and stylus tip are a single integrated unit rather than bonded separately, for more direct signal transmission. It uses an Ultra Duralumin body with a stainless cantilever holder and a Micro Ridge-type stylus geometry, with channel separation improved over the standard Grand Master.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDS Audio cartridges are optical rather than moving coil or moving magnet: LEDs shine through a shading plate on the cantilever, and the stylus's movement in the groove modulates the light reaching a pair of photodiodes, generating the signal directly with no coil and no magnet. The output is not a standard RIAA phono signal, so it requires a matching DS Audio equalizer rather than an ordinary phono preamp — the equalizer also powers the cartridge's LEDs over the same cable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUS dealers disagree on cartridge-alone pricing by about 10% ($22,500 to $25,000); the figure below is the lower of the two, so confirm the current number with Musical Surroundings before quoting a customer. System pricing with its equalizer is not publicly listed; call for a complete-system quote.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStylus: Micro Ridge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCantilever: one-piece diamond, 0.22mm square\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBody: ultra-duralumin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTracking force: 2.0–2.2g, 2.1g recommended\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 7.7g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChannel separation: 27dB or better\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput: optical, approximately 70mV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Cartridge Only","offer_id":67605466186045,"sku":"DSA-GMEX-CART","price":22500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cartridge + Equalizer (System)","offer_id":67605466218813,"sku":"DSA-GMEX-SYS","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_de6ba328-a07f-4b83-98c4-0f1176b91944.jpg?v=1790796628"},{"product_id":"ds-audio-tb-50-equalizer","title":"DS Audio TB-50 Equalizer","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe TB-50 is a hybrid equalizer: its RIAA and amplification stage is solid state, while the final output stage passes through a vacuum tube buffer using the same ECC82\/12AU7 tube type as DS Audio's flagship TB-100, bringing tube character to a lower price point.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt uses a current-drive, current-transmission approach that DS Audio says is less sensitive to variation in phono cable and contacts, with a dedicated duct that draws outside air to cool the tubes during long listening sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSold on its own rather than tied to one cartridge tier. Confirm the exact list of compatible DS Audio cartridges with Musical Surroundings before publishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTopology: hybrid, solid state input stage with ECC82\/12AU7 tube output buffer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnections: RCA in\/out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput level: 500mV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 10.8kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67605466251581,"sku":"DSA-TB50","price":7500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_2c6acae3-d58a-4b52-9ec6-c66f46272089.jpg?v=1790796658"},{"product_id":"ds-audio-tb-100-equalizer","title":"DS Audio TB-100 Equalizer","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe TB-100 is DS Audio's full tube flagship equalizer, using quad-matched ECC82\/12AU7 tubes selected to within 1 percent and 0.1dB of each other, with one tube per channel for voltage amplification and a second for output buffering through a low-impedance cathode-follower stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts wideband input transformer converts the optical cartridge's current signal with precise phase alignment for a frequency response flat to within 1dB from 10Hz to 70kHz, and its symmetric twin-mono layout uses fully independent grounds and power transformers per channel to eliminate crosstalk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSold on its own rather than tied to one cartridge tier. Confirm the exact list of compatible DS Audio cartridges with Musical Surroundings before publishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTopology: full tube, quad-matched ECC82\/12AU7, twin-mono construction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInput: wideband transformer, flat plus or minus 1dB from 10Hz to 70kHz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnections: RCA in\/out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput: 500mV at 700 ohms output impedance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 18.7kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67605466317117,"sku":"DSA-TB100","price":22000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_9dc0f8e3-6002-48c0-9f2b-124811d3d864.jpg?v=1790796706"},{"product_id":"ds-audio-sc-001-cleaning-brush","title":"DS Audio SC-001 Cleaning Brush","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe SC-001 cleans a record using vibration rather than static bristles alone: its bristles vibrate 11,000 times per minute to physically loosen and lift fine dust lodged in the groove.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDS Audio selected its bristle material through testing with high-sensitivity cameras measuring dust removal, and the brush combines a low-charging bristle material with conductive fibers at the rear of the vibration drive to avoid generating new static while discharging what's already on the record.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUS pricing not confirmed. Call for pricing until we get a dealer quote.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67605466513725,"sku":"DSA-SC001","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/image_b65c99a4-756b-48b7-95c7-5cad79898a41.jpg?v=1790796862"},{"product_id":"preowned-ds-audio-003-system","title":"DS Audio 003 System, Optical Cartridge and Phono Equalizer - Preowned","description":"\u003cp\u003eA lightly used DS Audio 003 optical cartridge and equalizer set with low hours on the cartridge. Both pieces are in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal box and packing included.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67605483094333,"sku":"PRE-DSA-003-SET","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1021\/5741\/8813\/files\/6210407792.jpg?v=1790743459"}],"url":"https:\/\/audio-concepts.com\/collections\/ds-audio.oembed","provider":"AudioConcepts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}