Spinning records is a popular pastime for part of humanity (again) and this new DS Audio DS-E3 cartridge fits right in!
Dutch importer-distributor Mafico drew our attention to the brand new DS Audio DS-E3. This Japanese manufacturer of optical turntable gear introduced their new DS-E3 entry-level system at the recent High End Munich. The DS-E3 system consists of the DS-E3 optical cartridge and the DS-E3 EQ (both are also available separately). The new model is of the third generation and successor to the DS-E1 that had been on the market for quite some time.
Look ma, without magnets!
Optical cartridges do not use coils and magnets to generate sound, but LEDs and light-sensitive cells. A very light and thin “shadow plate”, mounted at the end of the cantilever, creates a shadow play between these two elements and thus generates the music signal. The processing of the resulting signal is not done by a normal phono stage, but in a specific ‘eq’ that also powers the cartridge.
Mafico: ‘Like its third-generation predecessors, the DS-E3 has been given a higher output voltage, greatly improved channel separation and an even lighter shade plate made of beryllium. The cantilever is made of aluminum and has an elliptical needle shape. The EQ has received a symmetrical construction and the power supply is even better stabilized. See also the video about the new DS-E3‘.
Tube equalizer
In addition to the new cartridge, a tube EQ was presented too, which will be on the market later this year. The price of this device lies around US$15,000-20,000. According to the manufacturer, we can expect a product with a ‘lively and grand sound with a special glossy texture on voices’.
According to Mafico, the brand is also developing other analog products ‘with some radical and brilliant ideas and are always working on developing even better optical elements. Unfortunately, we cannot give more information yet…’.