DS AUDIO DS-W1

摘要

With a recommended downforce range of 1.3-1.7g and tested at 1.5g, this innovative pick-up proved to be a superb tracker, surmounting the maximum 80μm groove pitch and clearing both channels at +18dB (315Hz lateral cut, re. 11.2um at 0.5% THD). However, distortion was uniformly higher on the left than right channel with our sample (1.5% versus 0.3% at 315Hz/+9dB), despite meticulous alignment in the SME 20/3 test rig. Furthermore, free of internal magnets, its overall bodyweight is a mere 6.5g so its 25cu compliance delivers a low 8Hz subsonic resonance in medium mass arms. This is emphasised by the DS-W1's strong sub-100Hz bass amounting to +4dB/20Hz (or +2.8dB/20Hz via the filtered 'subsonic' output - not ideally suited to big, reflex-loaded loudspeakers!