DS Audio Grand Master
DS Audio’s Grand Master turns vinyl into an experience of inky-black silence, lightning-fast transients and startlingly pitch-defined bass. Its optical, ultra-low-mass architecture uncovers microdetail while locking images into a broad, stable stage; Part Time Audiophile and HiFi News found its transparency and resolution extraordinary. This is reference-level analogue replay with rare tonal completeness and grip.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
98/100
Build Quality
96/100
Features Usability
82/100
Value for Money
81/100
Pros
Exceptionally silent, low-noise presentation reveals fine microdynamic detail and subtle recording information.
Fast, weighty and highly pitch-defined bass combines with precise transient attack.
Outstanding transparency, tonal neutrality and focused soundstage imaging.
Cons
A very costly proposition, especially with the dedicated two-box equalizer required for operation.
Highly revealing of setup, demanding careful adjustment of alignment, azimuth, anti-skate and tonearm fit.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 98/100
Reviewers describe an extraordinarily transparent, fast and complete presentation, combining tape-like smoothness with exceptional dynamic expression and very low perceived noise. Spatial portrayal, low-level resolution and tonal naturalness are repeatedly singled out as reference-standard qualities.
Overall Sound
98/100
The Grand Master is repeatedly described as remarkably neutral, organic and musically lifelike, with a smoothness reviewers rarely associate with vinyl playback. Part Time Audiophile calls its speed, tonal purity, extension and resolution unmatched in the reviewer's experience, while HiFi News calls it potentially the best cartridge it has heard.
Tracking Retrieval
98/100
Its diamond cantilever and Micro Ridge stylus are paired with an exceptionally low-moving-mass optical system, which reviewers associate with rapid, unrestrained groove tracing. Listening reports cite breathtaking microdynamic nuance, unusually deep retrieval of low-level information, precise transients and an exceptionally quiet background.
Soundstage Imaging
97/100
Reviewers consistently praise the Grand Master's image specificity, focus, scale and solidity. The Absolute Sound reports major gains in stage width, depth and focus, while Part Time Audiophile was struck by the precision of location and the physical size of images.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 82/100
Tonearm compatibility / system fit. The standard half-inch mount and 7.7g body make physical installation relatively straightforward, but this is a specialist optical system requiring its dedicated equalizer and meticulous setup.
Tonearm Compatibility
82/100
The Grand Master installed easily and balanced without difficulty in the Reed 1X arm used by hifitest.de, and its standard half-inch mounting helps system fit. However, DS Audio's dedicated equalizer is essential, and The Absolute Sound notes that azimuth, anti-skate and other adjustments are highly audible, making careful matching and setup important.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
96/100
The cartridge combines a rigid, streamlined ultra-duralumin body with a diamond cantilever and Micro Ridge stylus, alongside upgraded internal wiring and channel-specific optical components. HiFi News calls the finish superlative, and reviewers describe the accompanying equalizer hardware as exceptionally substantial and carefully executed.
Value for Money
81/100
Performance is described in benchmark-setting terms, but ownership is an exceptionally expensive proposition: the cartridge is listed around $15,000, with the required two-box equalizer adding roughly $45,000. HiFi News also notes that the far less expensive DS-E1 system represents stronger value, even though it does not match the Grand Master's refinement.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Grand Master Optical Cartridge
- Signal output : Photo-electric Conversion Channel separation: 27db more（1kHz） Weight : 7.7g Output signal level : 70mV more Canti-lever : Diamond Body material: Ultra duralumin Cantilever holder material : Stainless Needle pressure: 2.0g～2.2g(2.1g is recommended) Stylus : Micro Ridge
- Grand Master Equalizer for Optical Cartridge
- Output voltage: 700mV(1kHz) Output impedance : RCA 120Ω XLR 120Ω Pre amp input impedance: More than 10kΩ Input terminal: RCA terminal Output terminal: RCA terminal×3, XLR terminal×3 Size: W45.2cm×H15.2cm×D48.6cm(Both) Weight : 25.1kg(Equalizer unit) , 29.8kg(Power unit)
Manufacturer's Description — DS Audio
Cartridge
Independent LED and photo-detector arrangement for the left and right channels
The new Grand Master optical cartridge system has been optimized by implementing an independent LED and photo-detector arrangement for the left and right channels. As a result, the cartridge output voltage has increased from 40mV to 70mV. The Grand Master cartridge offers an improved S/N ratio compared to its stable mates, resulting in an even lower noise floor and far greater musical clarity.
Weight of the shading plate is reduced by more than 50%
The implementation of independent left and right channel LEDs allow for the positioning of the optical system to be optimized as well as necessitating the use of a newly designed shading plate that has been significantly reduced in size compared to our earlier designs. In addition to this reduction in size, the material used to produce the shading plate has been changed from aluminum (as used in the second-generation cartridges) to 99.9% pure beryllium to reduce its mass further.
Diamond cantilever
The Grand Master is the first DS Audio cartridge to feature a diamond cantilever with a MicroRidge stylus. The unique cartridge body structure was designed to promote maximum rigidity. In addition, the Grand Master utilizes internal wiring 1.6 times thicker than used in the second-generation cartridges to reduce impedance.
Equalizer
The power unit and equalizer unit are completely separate units
The DS Audio Grand Master system features a separate equalizer and power supply, each in an independent chassis. Using 2.34 million uF and 2.97 million uF electrolytic capacitors within the equalizer and power supply units, respectively, has resulted in a significantly stronger power supply design and improved reproduction of deeper low frequencies. In addition, the Grand Master equalizer incorporates special film capacitors custom-built to DS Audio’s specifications, along with non-induction winding resistors. The design features three transformers, each with a capacity 1½ times greater than that of the DS Master 1, one for the left and one for right channels, with the third handling the power supply to the optical cartridge.
A total of 6 optional low-frequency cut-off points
The Grand Master equalizer features single-ended RCA and balanced XLR outputs. Additionally, you can choose from 6 different low-frequency cut-off points, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with any hi-fi system.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for DS Audio Grand Master
- The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Absolute Hi End — in-store — Ormond, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Alma-Audio — online and in-store — Majadahonda, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
and 94 more verified dealers
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