DS Audio E3 Optical Cartridge

The 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.

It 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.

DS 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.

Sold 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.

Cartridge (included in every configuration)

• Stylus: elliptical diamond
• Cantilever: crimped aluminum alloy
• Output: optical, approximately 70mV

E3 Equalizer add-on

• Connections: RCA in/out
• Controls: 2-position bass toggle, output level selector