DS Audio DS 003 review

Optical technology shows there might be a better way for cartridges to work Tested at £5995 / $5995 / AU$9995

Turntable cartridge: DS Audio DS 003
(Image: © What Hi-Fi?)

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The DS 003 is an excellent advert for optical cartridges and delivers a quality of sound that is hard to better with conventional alternatives

Pros

  • +

    Exceptional resolution and clarity

  • +

    Impressive bass power

  • +

    Strong dynamics

Cons

  • -

    Cartridge can’t work with a conventional phono stage

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1948 was a big year for fans of Analogue. The long-playing (LP) record that we know and love was launched this year, as were the first moving magnet and moving coil cartridge designs required to play it. To this day, the two cartridge types still dominate to the extent that it would be easy to think that there was no other way of doing that specific job other than by having a small magnet move relative to a coil or vice-versa.

DS Audio would beg to differ. The company isn’t the first to design an optical-type cartridge. There were examples from the likes of Toshiba, Kenwood, Trio and Sharp decades ago, but these failed to catch on for technical reasons (excess heat from the internal bulbs) and commercial (by the late Seventies, the big manufacturers had started to divert resources towards new technology such as CD). But, the idea of an optical cartridge retained much promise.

Build & design

Turntable cartridge: DS Audio DS 003

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

The advent of LEDs is fundamental for DS Audio’s cartridges to work. In the DS 003 optical cartridge, there are two small infrared LED lamps, one for each channel, and a matching pair of light detection photocells. While the DS 003 has a pretty conventional aluminium cantilever (and line contact stylus tip), rather than the cantilever being attached to a magnet (or coil) as it would in a conventional cartridge, here it has a ‘shading plate’ instead. This plate is positioned between the LEDs and the photocells. 

As the stylus traces the bumps in the record groove, this shading plate moves in sympathy and the photocells detect any change in brightness from the light received from the partnering LED. That change in light brightness represents the music signal.

DS Audio DS 003 tech specs

Turntable cartridge: DS Audio DS 003

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Cartridge type optical

Cartridge nominal tracking weight 2.1g

Cartridge weight 7.7g

Equaliser dimensions (hwd) 9.2 x 33 x 29.5cm

Equaliser weight 5kg

The advantages of such a design are obvious. The mass of the ‘shading plate’, now made of Beryllium rather than the aluminium of the previous generation model, is much lower than a typical coil or magnet, so the stylus tip can track the bumps in the record groove with more agility and accuracy. Also, there are no unwanted internal magnetic effects generated, as there would be in conventional set-ups. The result should be better sound.

There are complications though. Heat is no longer a hurdle, as LEDs produce so much less than the bulbs used in those early designs. But, the cartridge still needs power for those LEDs, and of course, the electrical output from those photocells is very different from that delivered by a conventional cartridge in terms of the relationship between stylus tip movement and electrical output generated. 

All this means that the DS 003 can’t be plugged into a conventional phono stage. Think of the DS 003 and the partnering equaliser box as a package, where the box works as a phono stage and power source for the cartridge. That power is fed through the tonearm cable.

Turntable cartridge: DS Audio DS 003

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Despite its technological differences, the DS 003 package doesn’t feel any different to use than a conventional set-up. The cartridge is a little bulky but balances out well on our reference Technics SL-1000R’s tonearm and tracks nicely at the recommended 2.1g downforce. Once everything is in place, we also notice that background noise levels are very low. Typical set-ups, even the really quiet ones, usually generate more in the way of hiss and general background hash than this. 

The rest of the system is our usual Burmester 088/911 MkIII amplifier and ATC SCM 50 speakers. We also have Wilson Benesch’s A.C.T. 3Zero floorstanders and Kerr Acoustic K300 Mk 3 standmounts on hand as alternatives to the ATCs. Our usual reference cartridge/phono stage combination is Kiseki’s Purpleheart moving coil feeding Cyrus’s Phono Signature/PSX-R2 phono stage, which weighs in around the same ballpark as the DS 003 package price-wise.

Turntable cartridge: DS Audio DS 003

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Sound

Turntable cartridge: DS Audio DS 003

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

The two combinations sound surprisingly different. By conventional standards, our Kiseki/Cyrus pairing is crisp, clean and ever so detailed, but it is made to sound a little hazy and congested by the DS Audio combo. There are no two ways about it, when it comes to clarity and precision we haven’t heard anything better anywhere near this price level. The DS Audio DS 003 package defines the leading edges of notes superbly. There isn’t any hardness or undue emphasis, it just sounds bold and natural. 

The DS Audio combo is such a great all-rounder. As we listen to Bob Marley’s Concrete Jungle it is hard not to be impressed by the bouncing articulate bassline and the sheer amount of grunt produced in this region. Low notes dig deep and true but pleasingly remain richly textured and wonderfully agile. Punch and attack? There isn’t a problem here either, as we are treated to a performance that sounds bold and muscular without going over the top. There is a strong sense of rhythmic momentum and plenty of cohesion from the lowest frequencies upwards.

Marley’s voice comes through with passion and natural warmth, remaining easy to follow even when the music becomes busy. There isn’t a shortage of refinement either, with the highs coming through with enthusiasm and bite without getting aggressive.

Turntable cartridge: DS Audio DS 003

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Moving to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony shows the DS Audio’s balanced tonality, and ability to track a multitude of instrumental strands without confusion. Large-scale dynamics are rendered with enthusiasm and an impressive degree of authority, yet there is enough in the way of finesse to prevent things from feeling ham-fisted. Some listeners may prefer the more comfortable and sweeter presentation of the Kiseki/Cyrus duo, but as we go through record after record in our collection we form a clear preference for DS Audio’s way of doing things. It is more insightful, more expressive and in the end, more fun.

Verdict

Turntable cartridge: DS Audio DS 003

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Clearly, this is a huge amount of money to spend on a cartridge/phono stage combination, but in performance terms it is outstanding. The scary thing is that the DS 003 combo sits fairly low in the company’s hierarchy, which makes us wonder just how much better the performance can get. Still, even as it stands, if you have a record-playing system that justifies this kind of expense you owe it to yourself to have a listen to this DS Audio package. It really is hard to beat for the money.

SCORES

  • Sound 5
  • Build 5
  • Compatibility 4

MORE:

Also consider the Kiseki Purpleheart / Cyrus Phono Signature/PSX-R2

Best cartridges: budget and premium options for your turntable

Best phono preamps: budget to high-end phono stages

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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  • Jasonovich
    What's this?
    The love child from CD and Vinyl! :giggle:
    Reply
  • guycalledfrank
    Jasonovich said:
    What's this?
    The love child from CD and Vinyl! :giggle:
    It’s still all analogue, even though it’s optical!
    Reply
  • guycalledfrank
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    This optical cartridge/phono stage package shows there might be a better way for cartridges to work.

    DS Audio DS 003 : Read more
    It’s worth mentioning that DS Audio “opened” the design specifications for the emitter/phono stage and on their website are already quite some manufacturers providing phono stages that are compatible. Some of them just have a switch between MM/MC/Optical.

    So you can buy any DS Audio cartridge without the Emitter from DS Audio and chose the phono stage from another manufacturer. I bought mine from a German manufacturer for less than $1000. And the DS003 cartridge is at $2500…
    Reply