DS Audio Grand Master Optical Cartridge
(All Images Credit: DS Audio)
Introduction
When I decided to replace my Lentek Entre 1 I seriously considered DS Audio’s DS-E1 model, and auditioned it and the Hana SL and ML. The Hana SL, for me, was the better option but I still thought that the DS-E1 was an excellent sounding cartridge. So when I heard about this new ‘top of the line’ model I thought a quick introduction was worthwhile DESPITE its staggering cost!!
DS Audio Grand Master Cartridge
DS Audio’s Grand Master cartridge is the company’s third generation of its unique approach to phono cartridges. The Grand Master features a totally re-designed optical system as well as a microridge stylus at the end of a diamond cantilever that requires a tracking force of 2.0g～2.2g.
The DS Audio Grand Master cartridge uses two independent light emitting diodes (LED’ s) and photo-detectors (PD’s) for the left and right channels, has optimized the position of the optical system, increasing the cartridge output voltage by 75%. The new design also significantly reduced the mass of the cantilever assembly by 50%.
The 7.7g cartridge’s rigid construction, including its Ultra Duralumin body, has been designed to provide maximum rigidity and uses larger gauge internal wiring that provides a reduced impedance compared to the previous generation.
Diamond Cantilever
The Grand Master cartridge features a diamond cantilever with a microridge stylus. The cartridge body structure has been designed to promote maximum rigidity and utilizes internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second generation cartridges thereby reducing impedance.
Beryllium Shading Plate
The use of independent left and right channel LED’s allowed the optical system to be optimized requiring the design of a new shading plate that has been significantly reduced in size compared to earlier designs. The use of 99.9% pure Beryllium reduced the weight of the shading plate by more than 50%, from 1.56mg to 0.74 mg. This is less than 1/10th of the mass of the typical core and coil system found in a typical moving coil cartridge and further improves one of the key advantages of DS Audio’ s optical cartridge technology, which is its low effective mass.
Independent Channels
This new independent LED and photo-detector (PD) design of the Grand Master cartridge has made it possible to significantly reduce crosstalk, greatly improving left and right channel separation and improving high-frequency separation by up to 10dB in comparison to earlier models.
Output Voltage
The Grand Master’s independent LED and photo-detector (PD) arrangement for the left and right channels has resulted in the cartridge output voltage being greatly increased from 40mV to 70mV. Despite this significant increase in output, the signal to noise ratio that DS Audio optical cartridges are renowned for has not been compromised. The Grand Master cartridge now offers a greatly improved S/N ratio when compared to the earlier models, resulting in an even lower noise floor and greater musical clarity.
DS Audio Grand Master Power Supply and Equaliser
Like all DS Audio designs, the Grand Master requires its own power supply and equaliser. The Grand Master takes their design to a new level with each contained within their own independent housings. In addition to this, the Grand Master equaliser incorporates special film capacitors custom built to DS Audio’ s specifications and non-induction resistors.
DS Audio uses custom built film capacitors of 2.34 million μF and 2.97 million μF electrolytic capacitors within the equaliser and power supply respectively, resulting in a significantly more robust power supply design which has improved the low-frequency reproduction.
Additionally, the design incorporates three power transformers (left channel, right channel, optical cartridge supply), each with 1.5 times greater capacity than DS Audio’s Master One.
Finally, the Grand Master equaliser offers both single-ended RCA and balanced XLR outputs together with six optional low-frequency cut off points, ensuring that the Grand Master will seamlessly match any hi-fi system.
Specifications:
Grand Master Cartridge
- Signal output Photo-electric Conversion
- Channel separation 27db @ 1KHz）
- Weight 7.7g
- Output signal level 70mV
- Cantilever Diamond
- Body material Ultra duralumin
- Cantilever holder material Stainless
- Needle pressure 2.0g～2.2g (2.1g is recommended)
- Stylus Micro Ridge
Grand Master Equaliser
- Output voltage 700mV(1kHz)
- Output impedance RCA 120Ω XLR 120Ω
- Pre amp input impedance More than 10kΩ
- Input terminal RCA terminal
- Output terminal RCA terminal×3
- XLR terminal×3
- Size W45.2cm×H15.2cm×D48.6cm(Both)
- Weight 25.1kg(Equalizer unit), 29.8kg(Power unit)
Pricing has not yet been confirmed, but US pricing is reported to be in the region of $12,000 for the cartridge and $40,000 for the equaliser.
For more details go to DS Audio.
See my comments on their DS-E1 optical cartridge here.
Is it ok for me to share a link to this post on the FB Rega forum please?
Reggards
Terry
Terry,
You may share links to any of my my posts. You may even quote parts of a post provided they are credited to my site and the originating post.
Thank you for the courtesy of asking.
Paul