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