DS Audio Master3

The new Grand Master 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 increased from 40mV to 70mV. The Grand Master cartridge offers an improved S/N ratio 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 LEDs allow for the positioning of the optical system to be optimized as well as necessitating the use of a newly designed shading plate that has been significantly reduced in size compared to the earlier designs. In addition to this deduction in size, the material used to produce the shading plate has been changed from aluminum to 99.9% pure beryllium to reduce its mass further.

The Grand Master is the first DS Audio cartridge to feature a diamond cantilever with a MicroRidge stylus. The unique cartridge body structure was designed to promote maximum rigidity. In addition, the Grand Master utilizes internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second generation cartridges to reduce impedance.