The Japanese company DS Audio has begun selling the extreme version of its top-end optical pickup head Grand Master , which received the Extreme suffix in the title. The main “feature” of the novelty was the combination of the stylus and the cantilever – this node in the Grand Master Extreme is made from a single diamond blank.
The absence of articulations and a single material allowed for phenomenal accuracy in tracking the profile of the vinyl record’s groove, unattainable with standard cartridge designs. At the same time, Micro Ridge needle sharpening is used .
The DS Audio Grand Master Extreme cartridge delivers a 70mV signal output with a channel separation of at least 27dB (for 1kHz). With a cartridge weight of 7.9 grams, the tracking force should be from 2 to 2.1 g. The manufacturer recommends adjusting the tonearm for a tracking force of 2.1 g. The head body is made of Ultra duralumin aluminum alloy.
In Japan, sales of the DS Audio Grand Master Extreme optical pickup head will start on April 14 at a suggested retail price of 2,200,000 yen , which is approximately $16.500 at the current exchange rate. Interestingly, the manufacturer offers an upgrade to the Extreme version for owners of Grand Master heads – in this case, you will have to pay only 1,650,000 yen (about $12.335).
