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Offered is „DS - 002 Tonabnehmer & Phonostufe (EQ)“ by DS Audio from the category „Pick-up MC“ on audio-markt.de - the online market place for high-end. The advert with the number 8286923364 ends on 01.11.2026 at 09:35 o'clock.
At €2,690, this sits right around the middle of the recent used market for the DS Audio setup, essentially a fair ask rather than a bargain or stretch. Against a 25th percentile of €2,643 and a median of €2,680, the price is just slightly above typical, so it reads as properly priced if the condition and completeness are genuinely good.
The appeal here is the DS Audio’s electrostatic-style approach to vinyl playback: low noise, strong detail retrieval, and a very open, polished presentation that can make a serious analog rig feel more effortless. It’s a worthwhile buy if the optical cartridge and matching EQ/phono stage are both included and healthy, since that pairing is the whole point; at this level, I’d mainly want to confirm cartridge hours, power-supply function, and that all original bits are present.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
# DS Audio
DS Audio is a Japanese hi-fi specialist founded in October 2013 by Tetsuaki Aoyagi, building on his father's three-decade legacy in laser optics through Digital Stream Corporation. Based in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, the brand emerged from a deliberate mission to reinvent analog playback and "create the future of analog music." This heritage in precision optics proved instrumental in developing the company's signature technology.
The brand is renowned almost exclusively for optical phono cartridges—a category in which DS Audio stands alone as the world's sole major manufacturer. Their cartridges employ proprietary LED-based optical transducers that dramatically improve upon earlier Toshiba designs, eliminating traditional stylus contact and offering exceptional longevity (approximately 50,000 usable hours). DS Audio complements these cartridges with matching phono stages and turntable accessories, maintaining a tightly focused product ecosystem.
DS Audio occupies the high-end and ultra-high-end market segment, commanding premium pricing justified by proprietary innovation and limited competition. The brand has cultivated a devoted following among analog enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, with its optical cartridges climbing to the upper echelons of audio desirability. This is unquestionably a niche boutique manufacturer, but one with genuine technological differentiation and a growing reputation for excellence in a specialized domain.
See all DS Audio listings on RADAR.
