DS Audio Grand Master + EMM Labs DS-EQ1

[spiritofmusic]

Afraid not, and I know this is a DS thread, so I don't want to take it off topic.

 

[simonthepieman]

Where in the UK if you don't mind me asking ?

west yorkshire my dealer just has taken on ds audio. peak hifi barnsley/sheffield you would be welcome to listen at his place or mine, last of the summer wine county, best wishes simon

 

[Ron Resnick]

DS Audio DS 003 Optical Phono Cartridge - The Absolute Sound

DS Audio DS 003 Optical Phono Cartridge - The new DS 003 trickles down third-gen optical-transducer technology to an accessible price point. Jonathan Valin loves the results.

www.theabsolutesound.com

This is a very positive review of a relatively modestly priced cartridge. But, Jonathan, no sonic comparison to a conventional cartridge for us?

 

[gajgmusic]

Of interest here is a review of the Emm labs DS-EQ1. I would concur completely

SoundStage! Hi-Fi | SoundStageHiFi.com - EMM Labs DS-EQ1 Optical Phono Preamplifier

www.soundstagehifi.com

I have also heard the DS-EQ2 and it is phenomenal at its price.

Well done.

 

[BR549]

I’ve had mine for about a month and it is, indeed, a game changer. I have the Grand Master cartridge and the EMM SQE2 (version released late summer 2022) and it is awesome. I can’t find a downside. I previously ran a Top Wing Blue Dragon into a LampiZator MC2 Silver and the DSAudio is, to my ear and in my system, far the superior set up. Someone said something about making “vinyl sound like digital” and that is accurate - as far as noise (while the system still retains that “vinyl sound” that I love). I may be moving up to the top of the line EMM DSEQ-1 (I forget the nomenclature). Give it a try - I suspect there will be multiple more entrants into the equalizer mix.

 

[thekong]

I agree, the Grand Master is one of the best, if not the best cartridge, to my ears!

I was fortunate enough to have the chance to audition TLi’s Grand Master / SAT / Airforce Zero combo, and considered it one of the top two turntable systems that I have ever auditioned! The other being the Rockport Sirius III.

I can’t afford the Grand Master, but I am seriously considering the new W3.

 

[gajgmusic]

I’ve had mine for about a month and it is, indeed, a game changer. I have the Grand Master cartridge and the EMM SQE2 (version released late summer 2022) and it is awesome. I can’t find a downside. I previously ran a Top Wing Blue Dragon into a LampiZator MC2 Silver and the DSAudio is, to my ear and in my system, far the superior set up. Someone said something about making “vinyl sound like digital” and that is accurate - as far as noise (while the system still retains that “vinyl sound” that I love). I may be moving up to the top of the line EMM DSEQ-1 (I forget the nomenclature). Give it a try - I suspect there will be multiple more entrants into the equalizer mix.

BR549
I found the EMM DS-EQ2 startlingly good. It is worth listening to the EQ1 and see for yourself. You will not be hard done either way

 

[Jackl3y]

Nice write up. Seems like An amazing advancement. I’m curious as to what the drawbacks are. Seems like many wouldn’t want to be tired to a preamp. What else?
Those who’ve heard it and went another direction, why did you decide this? I’m leaning going optical maybe next year.

 

[mtemur]

I haven’t heard DS 003 yet but a couple of my audio buddies did. They all agreed upon it’s sound characteristics are rather mechanical and plastic. It’s not harsh but not organic either. I don’t know whether that judgement is true or not. I’m looking forward to get a chance to audition a DS cartridge.

 

[bonzo75]

I haven’t heard DS 003 yet but a couple of my audio buddies did. They all agreed upon it’s sound characteristics are rather mechanical and plastic. It’s not harsh but not organic either. I don’t know whether that judgement is true or not. I’m looking forward to get a chance to audition a DS cartridge.

perfect assessment. Tubes help it to some extent but generally the 003 and Master are artificial, lack of phono is a disadvantage. It is fine for many who are not into acoustic and listen through Magico type transducers as the lack of organic tone Is then less noticeable

 

[Ron Resnick]

They all agreed upon it’s sound characteristics are rather mechanical and plastic. It’s not harsh but not organic either. I don’t know whether that judgement is true or not. I’m looking forward to get a chance to audition a DS cartridge.

I disagree with this assessment, and four friends of mine (two of whom use Tannoy Westminster loudspeakers — not Magicos, and one of whom is a top turntable designer) who have switched over to DS Audio optical cartridges certainly would disagree with this assessment.

 

[bonzo75]

I disagree with this assessment, and four friends of mine (two of whom use Tannoy Westminster loudspeakers — not Magicos, and one of whom is a top turntable designer) who have switched over to DS Audio optical cartridges certainly would disagree with this assessment.

with tannoy and tubes the impact will be lessened. But if you heard more acoustic on it and compared to other carts with tube phono it will still be there. The DS audio will have more details then most except DaVa which might initially attract from other carts but the tone is fairly digital. In the tannoy system you mention the difference with Lampi Baltic is minimal despite digital playing lesser quality recordings from Tidal

 

[Ron Resnick]

with tannoy and tubes the impact will be lessened. But if you heard more acoustic on it and compared to other carts with tube phono it will still be there. The DS audio will have more details then most except DaVa which might initially attract from other carts but the tone is fairly digital. In the tannoy system you mention the difference with Lampi Baltic is minimal despite digital playing lesser quality recordings from Tidal

I am disagreeing that the DS Audio Sounds “mechanical” and “plastic” and “artificial.”

Having heard them now in numerous systems I stand by my views that:

1) I find them more natural and musical than the Lyra Atlas and Ortofon Anna and similar-sounding cartridges,

2) I prefer them to most MC cartridges except, generally, Air Tight Opus 1 and PC-1 Supreme and ZYXes and Koetsus, and

3) My only hesitation about them, consistently, is that they are not the last word in naturalness and musicality compared to, for example, Air Tight Opus 1 and PC-1 Supreme and ZYXes and Koetsus.

The bottom line, is while it is not the cartridge for me, I believe I simply like them more than you do. Perhaps a tube-based decoder will take them over the line for me personally.

 

[bonzo75]

I am disagreeing that the DS Audio Sounds “mechanical” and “plastic” and “artificial.”

Having heard them now in numerous systems I stand by my views that:

1) I find them more natural and musical than the Lyra Atlas and Ortofon Anna and similar-sounding cartridges,

2) I prefer them to most MC cartridges except, generally, Air Tight Opus 1 and PC-1 Supreme and ZYXes and Koetsus, and

3) My only hesitation about them, consistently, is that they are not the last word in naturalness and musicality compared to, for example, Air Tight Opus 1 and PC-1 Supreme and ZYXes and Koetsus.

The bottom line, is while it is not the cartridge for me, I believe I simply like them more than you do. Perhaps a tube-based decoder will take them over the line for me personally.

so why do you like them if they are not the last word in natural ness? Not that koetsu are but anyway.

i don’t like Lyra atlas either. The lambda is the first Lyra I liked. And it needs a tube based phono. Maybe the no more available Lyra phono could work

 

[Ron Resnick]

so why do you like them if they are not the last word in natural ness?

Respectfully, because I am not nearly as “black and white” as you. I am describing where DS Audio sits in my personal preference ordering.

I don’t like them as much as my very favorite cartridges, but I like them more than many MC cartridges.

 

[bonzo75]

Respectfully, because I am not nearly as “black and white” as you. I am describing where DS Audio sits in my personal preference ordering.

I don’t like them as much as my very favorite cartridges, but I like them more than many MC cartridges.

ok, I agree there are many MC cartridges that are worse

 

[mtemur]

i don’t like Lyra atlas either. The lambda is the first Lyra I liked. And it needs a tube based phono. Maybe the no more available Lyra phono could work

I’m not a fan of Lyra cartridges either. I didn’t hear Atlas and others long enough to make a direct comparison with Lambda but Lambda sounds very good to my ears with SUT and tube phono.

I heard Lyra connoisseur phono many many times and you are right it has an incredibly sweet tone which would work well with Lyra cartridges.

 

[gajgmusic]

I won't suggest that anyone can be wrong, its merely opinion. I have always looked for 'natural' presentation that conveys emotion. The Grand Master has done that better than any source I have had in my system or heard in others. But just my two cents. I think if you are considering optical the best thing if possible, is to hear in your system with your musical tastes. I was startled the first time I heard it and have had no regrets in the past 18 months (I think thats how long I have had it ). To each their own.

 

[bonzo75]

@MJG did you not have both DS master and atlas lambda?

 

[MJG]

No, I had DS Audio W2 for about a year. After a direct comparison with the then newly introduced Lampizator Vinyl Phono MC I and Lyra Kleos I decided to leave the optical path for lack of natural and organic tone. Next steps were upgrades to Lyra Atlas Lambda SL and Aries Cerat Talos Reference II (phono). I could not be happier. No looking back.