DS Grand Master

Independent LED and photo-detector arrangement for the left and right channels

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 greatly increased from 40mV to 70mV. The Grand Master cartridge offers a greatly improved S/N ratio when compared to its stable mates, resulting in an even lower noise floor and far greater musical clarity.

Weight of shading plate reduced by more than 50%

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 our earlier designs.

In addition to this reduction in size, the material used to produce the shading plate has changed from aluminium (as used in the second generation cartridges) to 99.9% pure beryllium.

Diamond cantilever

A first for DS Audio, the Grand Master cartridge features the combination of a diamond cantilever with a microridge stylus. The cartridge body structure has been designed in such a way as to promote maximum rigidity. In addition to these features, the Grand Master utilizes internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second generation cartridges in order to reduce impedance.

Technical Specification

Grand Master Optical Cartridge

• Signal output
• Photo-electric Conversion
• Channel separation
• 27db more（1kHz）
• Weight
• 7.7g
• Output signal level
• 70mV more
• Canti-lever
• Diamond
• Body material
• Ultra duralumin
• Cantilever holder material
• Stainless
• Needle pressure
• 2.0g～2.2g(2.1g is recommended)
• Stylus
• Micro Ridge

Grand Master Equalizer for Optical Cartridge

• Output voltage
• 700mV(1kHz)
• Output impedance
• RCA 120Ω XLR 120Ω
• Pre amp input impedance
• More than 10kΩ
• Input terminal
• RCA terminal
• Output terminal
• RCA terminal×3, XLR terminal×3
• Size
• W45.2cm×H15.2cm×D48.6cm(Both)
• Weight
• 25.1kg(Equalizer unit) , 29.8kg(Power unit)