DS Audio Grand Master + EMM Labs DS-EQ1

AMR / iFi audio

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Being a glass half-empty sceptic is not necessarily a bad thing. You simply perceive the world around you in a rational way. In my opinion it is a common misconception and a striking oversimplification that a glass half-empty type of personality is associated with pessimism.
 

Ron Resnick

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Being a glass half-empty sceptic is not necessarily a bad thing. You simply perceive the world around you in a rational way. In my opinion it is a common misconception and a striking oversimplification that a glass half-empty type of personality is associated with pessimism.

Interesting!

I do not have an educated opinion on this subject. It is not my field.
 
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TLi

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May 27, 2016
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DS Audio Grand Master was installed on Monday. It is not even broken in, but the result is simply amazing. Grand Master is certainly one of the best cartridges currently in the market.

I have used mainly Etsuro Gold for the past six months, and it was compared to other cartridges that I have, namely Koetsu Tigereye Diamond and Otofon MC Century, from time to time using different tonearms. Etsuro Gold was clearly better and all rounded. Grand Master is another level higher than Etsuro Gold. Grand Master has all the advantages of Etsuro Gold and some more.

Grand Master is more natural and smooth. The high resolution does not carry any harshness which is often the case with other MC cartridges. The bass note is the most outstanding. It projects quite a different sonic picture than Etsuro Gold. Gold is more HiFi and Grand Master is more natural, both are equally pleasing.

It will continue to improve in the next few weeks but I am already very happy with its performance. XXLW6411.JPG IMG_1023.JPG
 

howiebrou

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Jun 29, 2012
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DS Audio Grand Master was installed on Monday. It is not even broken in, but the result is simply amazing. Grand Master is certainly one of the best cartridges currently in the market.

I have used mainly Etsuro Gold for the past six months, and it was compared to other cartridges that I have, namely Koetsu Tigereye Diamond and Otofon MC Century, from time to time using different tonearms. Etsuro Gold was clearly better and all rounded. Grand Master is another level higher than Etsuro Gold. Grand Master has all the advantages of Etsuro Gold and some more.

Grand Master is more natural and smooth. The high resolution does not carry any harshness which is often the case with other MC cartridges. The bass note is the most outstanding. It projects quite a different sonic picture than Etsuro Gold. Gold is more HiFi and Grand Master is more natural, both are equally pleasing.

It will continue to improve in the next few weeks but I am already very happy with its performance. View attachment 82940 View attachment 82941
Congrats Tli. Grand Master and AF0, amazing combo.
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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Zero000

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Being a glass half-empty sceptic is not necessarily a bad thing. You simply perceive the world around you in a rational way. In my opinion it is a common misconception and a striking oversimplification that a glass half-empty type of personality is associated with pessimism.
Once heard a doctor say that happy people are to some extent delusional, because given all the troubles in the world and the fundamental condition of being a human being living within it, you can only strike some sort of 50/50 balance between happiness and sadness if you are rational.

So glass half empty or full, if you're not 50/50, then you should worry about your irrationality.

Maybe:)
 

theophile

Well-Known Member
Once heard a doctor say that happy people are to some extent delusional, because given all the troubles in the world and the fundamental condition of being a human being living within it, you can only strike some sort of 50/50 balance between happiness and sadness if you are rational.

So glass half empty or full, if you're not 50/50, then you should worry about your irrationality.

Maybe:)
You can do my worrying for me, in that case.
 
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AMR / iFi audio

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The optimist says the glass is half full.

The pessimist says the glass is half empty.

The school teacher says it's not about whether the glass is half empty or half full, it's whether there is something in the glass at all.

The entrepreneur sees the glass as undervalued by half its potential.

The opportunist says, "Thanks, folks! While you were debating it, I drank it."
 

spiritofmusic

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The audiophile debates whether he goes to the glass, or the glass comes to him.
 
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Cableman

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Dec 27, 2013
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Sadly I only have the DSAudio W2 + equaliser and the DSAudio entry level E1+ equaliser. Mad as it may seem in my set up I prefer the E1 but with the equaliser of the W2. As I say, mad!

Oh and a shout out for DSAudio mainman Tetsuaki Aoyagi. What a lovely guy. A joy to work with. Always generous with his time.
 

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microstrip

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Am I alone thinking that in an audiophile dream the DS Audio Grand Master should join the Derenville linear tonearm?
 
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joeling

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Jan 8, 2014
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I ,too, am very enamored with the Grandmaster. Right now Thales Statement + GM is neck and neck with the FR64S + Blue Azule. Early next year, they will migrate to the incoming AF3P but tone arm will be the FR66S for the Koetsu.

IMG_0261.jpg
IMG_0807.jpg
 

TLi

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May 27, 2016
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I ,too, am very enamored with the Grandmaster. Right now Thales Statement + GM is neck and neck with the FR64S + Blue Azule. Early next year, they will migrate to the incoming AF3P but tone arm will be the FR66S for the Koetsu.

View attachment 83891
View attachment 83892
Koetsu matches well with FR64S which is a heavy arm. Grand Master is only 7 grams, it should match with a light arm. Thales is not light enough. You are not revealing the full potential of Grand Master.
 
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Addicted to hifi

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Koetsu matches well with FR64S which is a heavy arm. Grand Master is only 7 grams, it should match with a light arm. Thales is not light enough. You are not revealing the full potential of Grand Master.
I’m very curious what’s the light for on the grand master. does it have anything to do with sound quality? Thanks
 

DasguteOhr

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Sep 26, 2013
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I ,too, am very enamored with the Grandmaster. Right now Thales Statement + GM is neck and neck with the FR64S + Blue Azule. Early next year, they will migrate to the incoming AF3P but tone arm will be the FR66S for the Koetsu.

View attachment 83891
View attachment 83892
The Stone Body Koetsu and Kiseki are amazing carts, never seen a blue azule thank you.
A nice Blog about them
 
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TLi

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May 27, 2016
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I’m very curious what’s the light for on the grand master. does it have anything to do with sound quality? Thanks
There is a LED at the front of Grand Master. I was told that this LED is purely decorative.

The main LEDs are located at the back of the cartridge. The light you see is reflection from vinyl surface. C5AA60E8-7A18-4B9F-9C00-40620972B461.jpeg
 
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