DS Audio DS W3 Optical Phono System

DS Audio W3 Optical Phono System

The DS Audio W3 is a third-generation optical cartridge system consisting of the DS-W3 optical cartridge and the DS-W3 dedicated equalizer. Positioned above the DS003 in DS Audio's lineup, the W3 advances the third-generation optical platform with a boron cantilever, a more substantial equalizer chassis with both balanced and unbalanced outputs, and the full suite of trickle-down technology from the flagship Grand Master. 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 bringing the optical phono cartridge into the modern high-end audio landscape. Rather than using electromagnetic induction like conventional moving magnet (MM) or moving coil (MC) cartridges, DS Audio optical cartridges convert stylus movement into an electrical signal using a beam of light. As the stylus and cantilever vibrate in the groove, a lightweight shading plate modulates the intensity of miniaturized LEDs. Photodetectors sense these changes in light intensity and convert them into a voltage signal, delivering approximately 70mV at the cartridge output, well over 100 times the typical output of a low-output MC cartridge, and entirely free from the electromagnetic distortion mechanisms inherent in magnet-and-coil designs.

Because optical cartridges sense stylus displacement rather than velocity, they cannot be used with standard RIAA phono stages. Every DS Audio optical cartridge requires a dedicated equalizer, either from DS Audio's own range or from a select group of compatible third-party manufacturers, which applies the correct equalization curve and raises the signal to standard line level. No separate phono preamplifier is required.

The DS Audio Product Lineup

The DS Audio range spans the E3, DS003, W3, Master 1, Master 3, Grand Master, and Grand Master Extreme. The W3 occupies a meaningful step above the DS003, sharing the same core third-generation dual-mono optical mechanism while distinguishing itself with a boron cantilever and a substantially more powerful equalizer chassis with balanced outputs. It sits between the DS003 and the Master series, offering a significant performance advance for listeners ready to move beyond the DS003 without entering the Master tier.

DS Audio W3 Cartridge

Third-Generation Dual-Mono Optical Mechanism

The W3 cartridge uses DS Audio's third-generation optical mechanism, with independent LEDs and photodetectors for the left and right channels, the dual-mono arrangement first developed for the Grand Master and now present across the entire third-generation lineup. This configuration greatly increases channel separation over earlier DS Audio designs, reaching 27dB or better at 1kHz, with the independent optical elements also contributing to a substantially lower noise floor and improved musical clarity compared to the single shared optical system used in first and second generation models.

Beryllium Shading Plate

The shading plate attached to the W3's cantilever is fabricated from 99.9% pure beryllium, reducing its mass from 1.56mg to 0.74mg, a reduction of more than 50% compared to the aluminum shading plates used in DS Audio's second-generation designs. At 0.74mg, the moving mass of the shading plate is less than one-tenth that of a typical MC cartridge's coil-and-core assembly. This exceptional reduction in moving mass is a key contributor to the W3's tracking ability, transient speed, and dynamic range.

Boron Cantilever and Line Contact Stylus

The primary material step-up from the DS003 is the W3's boron cantilever. Boron is stiffer and lighter than aluminum, providing a more rigid signal path between stylus and the optical assembly with lower self-resonance. Paired with a line contact diamond stylus, the W3 retrieves fine groove detail and maintains accurate contact across a wide range of program material. The cartridge body is machined from A5052 aluminum for rigidity, with stainless steel used for the cantilever holder. Internal wiring is 1.6 times thicker than in second-generation DS Audio cartridges, reducing impedance and improving signal continuity. The cartridge weighs 7.9g and is recommended to be tracked at 1.95g. A red LED on the cartridge body illuminates during operation, confirming that the optical system is receiving the supply voltage from the equalizer.

DS Audio W3 Equalizer

The DS-W3 equalizer is a substantial, purpose-built unit that applies DS Audio's optical equalization curve and delivers a 500mV line-level output for connection to a preamplifier. It is the most capable equalizer in DS Audio's third-generation lineup below the Master series units, and is fully cross-compatible with all DS Audio optical cartridges. All DS Audio equalizers are compatible with the W3 cartridge, and third-party optical equalizers from Soulnote, EMM Labs, Meitner Audio, Soulution, Uesugi Labs, and Westminsterlab are also compatible options.

Balanced and Unbalanced Outputs

The most significant distinction of the W3 equalizer relative to the DS003 equalizer is the inclusion of both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs, providing four output connections in total: two RCA pairs and two XLR pairs. This allows the W3 system to connect directly into balanced preamplifier inputs with a fully balanced signal path, a meaningful advantage for listeners whose systems are built around balanced topology. The equalizer accepts a single RCA input pair from the cartridge.

Enhanced Circuit Construction and Filter Options

The W3 equalizer uses 2.0mm-thick circuit boards with 70µ copper traces, the same enhancements applied throughout the third-generation DS Audio equalizer range relative to the second generation. All components are hand-selected, tested, and assembled by DS Audio technicians in Japan, with the legs of each component twisted before soldering for additional mechanical stability and signal integrity. Four selectable low-frequency rolloff settings allow the user to tailor bass response to their turntable, tonearm, and speaker system. The equalizer chassis measures 450 x 120 x 435mm and weighs 13.5kg, reflecting a substantially more robust power supply and greater component count than the DS003 equalizer. DS Audio recommends leaving the unit powered on continuously for the first few months to allow the power supply capacitors to reach their full charge.

System Compatibility and Setup

The W3 optical cartridge requires tonearm wiring with fully independent conductors for each channel's positive and negative leads, plus a separate dedicated ground conductor. Tonearms that share the ground with one channel's return are not compatible without rewiring, as DS Audio optical cartridges supply DC voltage through the tonearm leads. Verification of tonearm wiring is essential before installation. Beyond this requirement, setup follows standard cartridge procedure. The W3 is specified at a tracking force of 1.85–2.05g, with 1.95g as the recommended value.

Critical Reception

The DS Audio W3 system has been widely reviewed and recognized in the international audio press. Reviewing it for Hi-Fi News, Ken Kessler wrote that recordings were "elevated to another level entirely by DS Audio's DS-W3 cartridge and equalizer duo," concluding: "I am dazzled." Dave McNair, writing for Tracking Angle, called it "the finest cartridge I've ever listened to," citing its ability to transcend the coloration and distortion he found present in even the best MC designs in his extensive experience as a mastering engineer. The consensus across multiple reviews positions the W3 as a transformative step in vinyl playback, delivering the core optical cartridge advantages of low noise, low distortion, extended dynamics, and precise imaging at a level that places it firmly in reference-class analog territory.