DS Audio Grand Master + EMM Labs DS-EQ1

[AMR / iFi audio]

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]

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.

 

[TLi]

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.

 

[howiebrou]

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 82940View attachment 82941

Congrats Tli. Grand Master and AF0, amazing combo.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Interesting!

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

That's a good attitude!

 

[spiritofmusic]

Interesting!

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

That's VERY glass half empty.

 

[Zero000]

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]

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.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

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]

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

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Sounds like an audiophile does not fall far from...Star Wars.

 

[Cableman]

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.

 

[microstrip]

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

 

[joeling]

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.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

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.

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View attachment 83892

Both stunning cartridges.got to love the looks of the koetsu.very cool

 

[Addicted to hifi]

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

What’s the blue light on the grand master for? its not just for looks I guess.

 

[TLi]

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.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

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]

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

The Koetsu story – Japanese art Part I

There is something special about Japan, tradition and modern high tech are often separated with only a very small distance from each other. The attention to even the smallest detail in some …

medialux.blog

 

[TLi]

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.