{"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","url":"https:\/\/audio-concepts.com\/products\/ds-audio-e3","provider":"AudioConcepts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}