Turntables, Arms & Cartridges

According to DS Audio, its flagship Master 1 [HFN Dec '17] was used to derive both the DS-002 [HFN Jun '17] and now this DS-W2, so all three 'optical pick-ups' are a generation on from the older DS-W1 [HFN Nov '15]. However, with a recommended downforce range of 1.6-1.8g and tested at 1.7g, none of this trio are quite as secure trackers as the outgoing DS-W1. While the latter cleared the maximum 80µm groove pitch and the most severe +18dB modulation (315Hz lateral cut, re. 11.2μm) at <1% THD, the Master 1, DS-002 and DS-W2 are secure to +15dB but mistrack at the maximum +18dB groove modulation. This is a perfectly acceptable trade-off for the reduced dynamic compliance of the DS-W2's 'tie-wire' suspension. In practice then, its 8.1g bodyweight is offset by a low-ish 15/20cu dynamic compliance, conferring a low ~9Hz subsonic resonance in medium-to-high effective mass tonearms.

Output is a high 1.28V via the equaliser (re. 1kHz/5cm/sec) – more than sufficient for standard preamp line inputs – while the 'eq' itself yields DS Audio's customary bass boost that begins below 100Hz and reaches +4.0dB/20Hz [see Graph 1]. Once again big, reflex-loaded speakers are best avoided! The mid/presence response of the DS-W2 is slightly more uniform than either the Master 1 or DS-002 and while the 13kHz treble peak is less exaggerated it's still going to add some pizzaz at +6.5dB. This 'loudness contour' shows excellent symmetry between lateral and vertical cuts, promising a very uniform colour across the soundstage. As does the uniform trend of THD versus frequency [Graph 2] which shows any very high frequency distortion tamed by the pick-up's post-15kHz treble roll-off. PM