DS Audio optical cartridge system review. The best ever, no joke.

Phishphan said:
Has anyone heard one of these? Thinking it might be part of my jump back into analog.


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I have the DS Audio 003 cartridge and 003 equalizer on an Acoustic Signature Typhoon Neo. It's a great combination. I'd also like to try out the Meitner eq. as I've heard it's a nice improvement.
 
I heard the DS 003, if I remember the model correctly, at a client's place after we set up his new Magico M2 speakers. Sounded very good.
 
Dr vinyl had a room at axpona was playing vinyl when I walked into the room
it’s was very good analog to me brain
We talked for a while about his system the table was sakora
I have a bud who has the same setup from the show
I’ve asked him to post his thoughts
 
Dr Vinyl did my DS Audio setup, absolutely top notch service and skills. It's pure magic when done right.
 
TomS said:
I have the DS Audio 003 cartridge and 003 equalizer on an Acoustic Signature Typhoon Neo. It's a great combination. I'd also like to try out the Meitner eq. as I've heard it's a nice improvement.
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I'm a huge fan on EMM gear, and friends with Ed's son. He showed me the ds preamp while it was in development.

If I go this route, I'm certainly getting the EMM pre.


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I have the DSAudio Grandmaster EX (the latest top of the line) and the EMM Labs DSEQ-1 and couldn't be happier with it. I started with the 003, then moved to the Grandmaster and now the Grandmaster EX. Each step of the way I was impressed with the low noise floor and the speed of the entire set up. It is almost CD quiet (influenced by the source material of course) and just does everything so very well. I also think it's a great value for the $$ compared to traditional MM / MC set ups (and it is NOT digital). The EX just blew me away - it is exactly the same as the Grandmaster, but it has a one piece synthetic diamond cantilever/stylus and the change was jaw dropping. Dr. Vinyl (Jose) did my set up and brought the EX for a demo on my system and it took about 3 minutes for me to decide to buy it. I have a very good digital rig (lampi horizon and Taiko extreme) and find myself listening more and more to the vinyl. I would love the two box DSAudio equalizer, but have neither the money nor the room for it. The EMM Labs has worked very very well - I wish others would jump on the bandwagon, but in the interim, there's no suffering with the DSEQ-1 (to my ears, in my system, etc.).
 
I too started with the DS-003 with the equalizer that came with it. This setup was a revelation.and included a Sikora Standard Max and Integrity Tru- Glide tonearm. It was a big investment but I’d heard this system setup by Dr. Vinyl at Axpona several times and I didn’t hear anything better at the shows. Dr. Vinyl did the setup and I couldn’t be happier.

I upgraded to the emmLabs DSEQ-1. This was a huge upgrade in sound quality. Everything I’ve loved about the DS system became even more vivid and mesmerizing. I had a nice analog system before that I played once in a while because I just loved my digital system better. But now I usually start out playing vinyl and finish the night with digital as the evening goes on and tire of playing records.

I will be purchasing less and less digital recordings but still will keep Tidal and Quboz as there is no way I could afford to purchase all the vinyl.

I also have the Lampi Horizon and have no qualms about switching between the two systems. They both sound great.
 
DS or EM Labs energizer may be a matter of preference. At similar price point the DS is more neutral and slam. The EM Labs leans more "musical" or romantic.

I typically like a more neutral sound but I found the EM Labs immediately seductive.
 
Hey Mr. Peabody!
Remember we had the Meitner DSEQ-2 first. It did not have the slam of the DS Equalizer but it definitely was more musical. At that point I preferred the DS. But then Dr. Vinyl sent the emmLabs DSEQ-1. To me it had maybe not quite the slam of the DS OO3 equalizer but darn close plus it had all the benefits of the Meitner DSEQ-2. But with even better tone quality, separation, imaging, etc.
Guys with DS cartridges either the emmLabs or Meitner boxes are worth listening to especially if you want a little bit more musicality.
 
Thanks for the clarification, I thought both were same brand. I personally still liked the first unit better than the DS. The DS defintely had more slam and extended but the musicality of the Meitner was nice. That's the two that would probably be more preference. The EM Labs was more best of both worlds, yet while remaining very musical.

SteVen said:
Hey Mr. Peabody!
Remember we had the Meitner DSEQ-2 first. It did not have the slam of the DS Equalizer but it definitely was more musical. At that point I preferred the DS. But then Dr. Vinyl sent the emmLabs DSEQ-1. To me it had maybe not quite the slam of the DS OO3 equalizer but darn close plus it had all the benefits of the Meitner DSEQ-2. But with even better tone quality, separation, imaging, etc.
Guys with DS cartridges either the emmLabs or Meitner boxes are worth listening to especially if you want a little bit more musicality.
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my close friend had the DS Master and Grandmaster in his system with the top level DS Audio pre at that time and was very taken with both of those. then he got a DaVa Reference field coil cartridge with the tubed power supply and thought it was at least as good and preferred the tonal density of the DaVa. whereas the DS was a bit lower noise. both similar detail and micro dynamics.

he sold off the DS and kept the DaVa. he would have liked to have kept both but felt considering the investment it was better selling the DS.

i have only heard the DS Audio at shows and was impressed as far as that goes. not heard the new Grandmaster EX, but i do have the new Audiotechnica AT-MC2022 which has the same unified stylus/cantilever that the DS Audio Grandmaster EX has. so i understand what it might be doing and i'm sure it's very special.

personally i love my DaVa and do appreciate that it works with any conventional phono pre. but would sure enjoy hearing the DS Grandmaster EX in my system sometime. lots of different ways to look at things.
 
Imagine…………….your record lasting as long as a CD! ………….no wear and tear!
 
I have the DS Audio DS W3 cartridge and use a Soulnote E2 phono amp. One sees a lot of talk about both Meitners, but little discussion re: the Soulnote. I think it is a fabulous phono preamp and it has four inputs (MC balanced, two unbalanced inputs, which are MM or MC! and optical cartridge input). You can connect up to four tonearms. Currently, I have two turntables connected, one with a MC cartridge and one with the optical cartridge. When I first bought this preamp, I was hoping it would sound as good as my BAT phono amp. It sounds better! This preamp offers over 140 different curves, which should cover just about all possible variations. It has very unique and sophisticated phono circuitry designed by ex Marantz designers and engineers, who didn't want to be limited by meeting the cost constraints and direction that Marantz was going in. It has many other features, such as either wood panels on the sides of the case, or just the metal. It has a mono switch, which does make my stereo cartridges sound better on mono records. It has a phase inversion button. This is all I want to type about the many features this preamp has. You may wish to read about them at their website.
 
slowgeezr said:
I have the DS Audio DS W3 cartridge and use a Soulnote E2 phono amp. One sees a lot of talk about both Meitners, but little discussion re: the Soulnote. I think it is a fabulous phono preamp and it has four inputs (MC balanced, two unbalanced inputs, which are MM or MC! and optical cartridge input). You can connect up to four tonearms. Currently, I have two turntables connected, one with a MC cartridge and one with the optical cartridge. When I first bought this preamp, I was hoping it would sound as good as my BAT phono amp. It sounds better! This preamp offers over 140 different curves, which should cover just about all possible variations. It has very unique and sophisticated phono circuitry designed by ex Marantz designers and engineers, who didn't want to be limited by meeting the cost constraints and direction that Marantz was going in. It has many other features, such as either wood panels on the sides of the case, or just the metal. It has a mono switch, which does make my stereo cartridges sound better on mono records. It has a phase inversion button. This is all I want to type about the many features this preamp has. You may wish to read about them at their website.
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Thanks for sharing that. I for one didn't know about it.
 
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