DS Audio DS E3 Optical Phono System

DS Audio E3 Optical Phono System

The DS Audio E3 is an optical cartridge system consisting of the DS-E3 optical cartridge and the DS-E3 dedicated equalizer. It represents DS Audio's most accessible entry point into third-generation optical cartridge technology, sharing the same core optical mechanism as the DS003 and the flagship Grand Master while using an elliptical stylus and a compact op-amp-based equalizer to bring the cost of the system within reach of a wider range of vinyl enthusiasts. It is available as the cartridge alone, the equalizer alone, or as a complete matched system.

DS Audio and the Optical Cartridge

DS Audio, founded in Japan by Tetsuaki Aoyagi, is the company most responsible for perfecting the optical phono cartridge for modern high-end audio. Unlike conventional moving magnet (MM) or moving coil (MC) cartridges, which use electromagnetic induction to convert stylus movement into an audio signal, DS Audio optical cartridges use a beam of light. As the stylus and cantilever vibrate, a lightweight beryllium shading plate modulates the intensity of miniaturized LEDs. Photodetectors read these changes in light intensity and convert them into an electrical signal, yielding output levels in the range of 70mV, far higher than the sub-5mV typical of most MC cartridges, and eliminating the electromagnetic distortion mechanisms inherent in magnet-and-coil designs.

Because optical cartridges detect stylus displacement rather than velocity, their equalization requirements differ from the RIAA curve applied to MM and MC cartridges. Every DS Audio optical cartridge must therefore be paired with a dedicated equalizer, either a DS Audio unit or a compatible third-party model, which applies the correct correction curve and raises the signal to standard line level for connection to a preamplifier or integrated amplifier. No separate phono stage is required.

The DS Audio Product Lineup

The DS Audio range currently spans the E1, E3, DS003, Master 1, Master 2, and Grand Master. Each successive model brings refinements to the cantilever, stylus geometry, body construction, and equalizer circuit complexity. The E3 sits at the entry level of the third-generation range, sharing the same fundamental dual-mono optical mechanism as the DS003 and Grand Master, including independent LEDs and photodiodes per channel and a beryllium shading plate, while using an elliptical stylus and a simplified op-amp equalizer to optimize cost. Third-party equalizer compatibility from manufacturers including Soulnote, EMM Labs, Meitner Audio, Soulution, Uesugi Labs, and Westminsterlab further extends the system's flexibility for users who may already own or prefer an alternative electronics pairing.

DS Audio E3 Cartridge

Third-Generation Dual-Mono Optical Mechanism

The E3 cartridge uses DS Audio's third-generation optical mechanism, the same fundamental design found in the DS003 and the Grand Master. This means independent LEDs and photodetectors for the left and right channels, a dual-mono arrangement that substantially improves channel separation over first- and second-generation DS Audio cartridges. Channel separation is specified at 26dB or greater at 1kHz, set marginally lower than the DS003's 27dB specification as a concession to mass production efficiency. The result remains a level of channel isolation well beyond what is typical of conventional MC cartridges, with direct benefits to soundstage precision and background noise levels.

Beryllium Shading Plate and Moving Mass

The shading plate, the element attached to the cantilever that physically modulates the light beam, is fabricated from 99.9% pure beryllium, the same material used in the DS003 and Grand Master. Compared to the aluminum shading plates of DS Audio's second-generation cartridges, the beryllium version reduces plate mass by more than 50%. The effective moving mass is less than one-tenth of a typical MC cartridge's moving coil assembly. This reduction in mass directly improves transient speed, tracking ability, and dynamic headroom, and is a primary factor behind the E3's performance relative to conventional cartridge designs.

Cantilever, Stylus, and Body

The E3 cartridge uses a tapered aluminum cantilever with a solid elliptical stylus. The cartridge body is machined from aluminum and designed for rigidity. A green LED on the cartridge body illuminates during operation, providing a visual confirmation that the cartridge is receiving the supply voltage from the equalizer, a practical indicator of correct connection. The cartridge weighs 7.7g, with a recommended tracking force of 2.1g.

DS Audio E3 Equalizer

The DS-E3 equalizer is a compact, purpose-built unit that applies DS Audio's optical equalization curve and delivers a 500mV line-level output for connection to a preamplifier or integrated amplifier. It is fully cross-compatible with all other DS Audio optical cartridges, and all DS Audio equalizers are compatible with the E3 cartridge.

Symmetrical Op-Amp Circuit

Unlike the DS003 equalizer, which uses discrete components, the E3 equalizer employs an operational amplifier as the gain element. This choice minimizes the signal path length and reduces the total component count, enabling DS Audio to achieve a substantially smaller chassis, approximately one-third the size of the DS003 equalizer, without compromising the core equalization performance. The amplification circuit is symmetrical, and the voltage supply to the cartridge is actively stabilized, resulting in a cleaner, more consistent signal from the cartridge under varying load conditions.

Low-Frequency Filter Options

The E3 equalizer provides two selectable filter settings via a rear-panel switch. Position 1 applies a single cutoff rolling off output below 30Hz at 6dB per octave, and is the recommended default for most systems. Position 2 applies a double cutoff, reducing output below 50Hz at 6dB per octave and below 30Hz by a further 6dB per octave, and is recommended for systems with large ported loudspeakers where the E3's extended low-frequency response may interact with port tuning. Each filter position corresponds to one of the two available RCA output pairs on the rear panel.

Connections and Build

The E3 equalizer accepts a single RCA input pair and provides one RCA output pair, with the filter selection switch on the rear panel determining the active cutoff curve. Output impedance is 120 ohms, designed for preamplifier inputs rated at 10kΩ or greater. The chassis measures 260 x 69 x 195mm and weighs 1.86kg. All DS Audio equalizers, including the E3, are hand-assembled in Japan.

System Compatibility and Setup

The E3 optical cartridge is compatible with standard tonearms, with one key requirement: the tonearm wiring must provide fully separate conductors for the positive and negative leads of each channel, along with an independent ground conductor. Tonearms that tie the ground to one channel's signal return are not compatible without rewiring, as DS Audio optical cartridges carry a low DC supply voltage through the tonearm leads. This requirement applies to all DS Audio cartridges and should be verified before installation.

Once correctly installed, setup and alignment follow standard cartridge procedures, including overhang, offset, azimuth, tracking force, anti-skate, and VTA, without special requirements beyond those that apply to any fine cartridge. DS Audio's own HS-001 headshell, machined from duralumin with hand-soldered Litz leads, is a compatible and well-regarded pairing for users who want to optimize the installation.

Critical Reception

The DS Audio E3 system has received significant critical attention since its introduction. Reviewing it for Tracking Angle, Paul Seydor stated that in several key areas of vinyl playback the E3 "is superior to every other pickup with which I've had any sort of long experience regardless of type, technology, or price," citing its transparency, transient response, dynamic range, and soundstaging. Japanese audio critic Ikuo Tsunoda described it as "truly beyond price" and "a revolutionary technology in historic record reproduction." The broader critical consensus points to the E3's ability to deliver the fundamental performance advantages of DS Audio's third-generation optical technology at a price point that makes the system genuinely accessible.