DS Audio DS 003

The new DS Audio DS003 optical cartridge system has been optimized, by implementing an independent LED and photo-detector arrangement for the left and right channels. As a result the cartridge output voltage has greatly increased from 40mV to 70mV. The DS003 cartridge offers a greatly improved S/N ration when compared to its stable mates, resulting in an even lower noise floor and far greater musical clarity.

The implementation of independent left and right channel LED's allows for the positioning of the optical system to be optimized as well as necessitating the use of a new shading plate that has been significantly reduced in size compared to the earlier designs. In addition to this reduction in size, the material used to produce the shading plate has changed from aluminum (as used in the second generation cartridges) to 99.9% pure beryllium.

The DS003 cartridge features the combination of an aluminum cantilever with a line contact stylus. The cartridge body is made by aluminum and the structure has been designed in such a way as to promote maximum rigidity. In addition to these features, the DS003 utilizes internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second generation cartridges in order to reduce impedance.