Experience with DS Audio Optical Cartridge Systems

Ken Kessler reviewed the DS optical cartridge( Grand Master?) and the Soundsmith Strain Gauge in Hi Fi News magazine, this year. Basically he said they are both on a level and both game changers. 

Ken Kessler reviewed the DS optical cartridge( Grand Master?) and the Soundsmith Strain Gauge in Hi Fi News magazine, this year. Basically he said they are both on a level and both game changers.

Sure they are game changers - 52000EU for the cartridge and equaliser - they are going to destroy the market for sure, sell a million units before the. years out.

No, the only reason they could be called game changers is the definition of conspicuous consumption - I’m waiting for the first $100k cartridge. $50k cartridges have been around for some time now - its a bit meh.

A DS Audio system need not be super expensive. The least expensive system is less than $3000 for both the cartridge and the energizer - everything needed.

@larryrs 

There are no free lunches in audio - the $3k units is not even remotely close to any of the other version from 6-19k up.

If you have a decent phono already you are better off to spend the budget on a decent cartridge in my view.

I think you would have to hear them for yourself. I have 2 DS-003’s, one with the DS-003 energizer, the other with the least expensive energizer (DS-E1). Both sound very good and the system with the less expensive energizer does, indeed, sound better than the other phono systems in that setup (Parasound JC-3, Hana ML, PS Audio Stellar, Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Star).