DS Audio DS-W3 Optical Cartridge & Equalizer System

The new DS Audio DS-W3 Optical Cartridge & Equalizer System has been optimised by implementing an independent LED and photo-detector arrangement for the left and right channels. As a result the DS Audio optical cartridge output voltage has greatly increased from 40mV to 70mV. a greatly improved signal-to-noise ratio when compared to its stable mates. This has resulted in a lower noise floor and far greater musical clarity.

The implementation of independent left and right channel LED’ s within the body of the DS-W3 optical cartridge has enabled the positioning of the optical system to be optimised, as well as necessitating the use of a new shading plate that has been significantly reduced in size compared to our earlier designs. This size reduction has helped reduce the weight of the shading plate by more than 50%. The material used to produce the shading plate has also been changed to 99.9% pure beryllium from aluminium, as used in the second generation DS Audio optical cartridges.

The DS-W3 optical cartridge features the combination of an boron cantilever with a line contact stylus. The cartridge body is made by aluminium and the structure has been designed in such a way as to promote maximum rigidity. The DS-W3 utilises internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second generation cartridges.

Compared to the DS-W2 equalizer, the thickness of the circuit board has been changed from 1.6 mm to 2.0 mm, and the thickness of the copper foil has been changed from 35µ to 70µ. The components have been optimised for third-generation optical cartridges. In addition, the DS-W3 equalizer has four different low-frequency outputs to choose from.

In addition to using a specially printed circuit board, twist-connection of the component legs is further evidence of DS Audio’s attention to detail. Each product is hand-made and quality assured by DS Audio’s team of skilled engineers. Every component used is tested and evaluated by expert Japanese technicians.

DS-W3 Optical Cartridge Specifcations:

Signal output: Photo-electric Conversion
Channel separation: 27db more (1KHz）
Weight: 7.9g
Output signal level: 70mV more
Cantilever: Boron
Body material: Aluminium
Stylus: Line Contact

DS-W3 Equalizer Specifcations:

Output voltage: 500mV(1kHz)
Output impedance: RCA 120Ω / XLR 600Ω
Pre amp input impedance: More than 10kΩ
Input terminal: RCA terminals
Output terminal: RCA terminals×2, XLR terminals×2
Size: W45cm × H12cm × D43.5cm
Weight: 13.5kg

DS Audio DS-W3 Brochure

DS Audio DS-W3 Instruction Manual