DS Audio Master 3 Optical Cartridge – First Look
All Image Credit: DS Audio
DS Audio have released a third generation upgrade to its Master 1 optical cartridge, the Master 3. The original Master 1 optical cartridge was launched as the brand’s flagship model in 2016. Since then the Grand Master and Grand Master EX models, that feature DS Audio’s third generation of optical cartridge technology have taken over the flagship status.
Optical cartridges dispense with the usual moving magnet or moving coil hardware by using an optical system that converts stylus/cantilever movement into audio signals using light. Thus eliminating the electromagnetic forces that are found in traditional MM and MC designs. Improvements in this third generation model include:
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Independent LED and photo-detector arrangement for the left and right channels that dramatically increased the cartridge output from 40mV to 70mV. The Master 3 cartridge offers a greatly improved S/N ratio compared to its stablemates, resulting in an even lower noise floor and far greater musical clarity.
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The weight of the shading plate is reduced by more than 50% and changed from aluminum to 99.9% pure beryllium, significantly reducing the moving mass.
- The cantilever is made from the combination of a square pillar diamond cantilever with a Micro Ridge stylus, the cartridge body rigidity has been improved and the Master 3 utilizes internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second-generation cartridges in order to reduce impedance.
Like all other DS Audio optical cartridges the Master 3 requires its own equalizer phono stage. This too has undergone a redesign and now includes; a dual monaural circuit design with three transformers and completely independent left and right channel circuits. It offers both unbalanced and balanced outputs with a choice of six different low-frequency roll-off points. The power supply has also been significantly upgraded.
DS Master 3 – Phono Stage and Equalizer
Specifications:
- DS Master 3 optical cartridge:
- Body material: Ultra duralumin
- Cantilever Square pillar: diamond
- Cantilever holder material: Stainless
- Stylus: Micro Ridge
- Signal output: Photo-electric conversion
- Output signal level: > 70mV
- Channel separation: > 27dB (@ 1kHz)
- Needle pressure: 2.0g～2.2g(2.1g is recommended)
- Weight 7.9g
- DS Master 3 phono stage/equalizer:
- Inputs: RCA
- Outputs: RCA x 3, XLR x 3
- Rated output voltage: 700mV (@ 1kHz)
- Output impedance: RCA 120Ω, XLR 120Ω
- Pre-amp input impedance: > 10Ω
- Dimensions: 452 (w) x 153 (h) x 484 (d) mm
- Weight: 23kg
MSRP (both/cartridge/equalizer):
- US: $27,000/$9,500/$17,500
- UK: £22,995/£8,330/£18,885
For more information visit the DS Audio web site.
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