{"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","url":"https:\/\/audio-concepts.com\/products\/ds-audio-003","provider":"AudioConcepts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}