“ …the Black sounded surprisingly extraordinary in the areas of palpable instrumental/vocal timbre, transparency, speed, and clarity right out of the box.”
APRIL 2, 2026
DS AUDIO MASTER1 CARTRIDGE & EQ REVIEW BY JOHNATHAN VALIN | THE ABSOLUTE SOUND
PRESS | POSTED AUGUST 18, 2020
"After that astonishing absence of hum, noise, and grain, the next thing you’ll notice about the Master1 is its tonal balance, where, if you follow my suggestions about setup and ancillaries, the cartridge is just as astonishing in its neutrality as it as it is in its eerie silences." - Jonathan Valin | The Absolute Sound
Read the full review at The Absolute Sound
RECENT NEWS
Join Us at AXPONA 2026 APRIL 10-12th, 2026: We invite you to experience world-class analog playback at AXPONA 2026. You can schedule a private appointment or simply stop by — walk-ins are welcome. You’ll find us on the main floor in the Connection Room, Perfection Room and Knowledge Room, alongside our Chicago dealer, Quintessence Audio.
MARCH 31, 2026
Simply put, the Excel Sound team has delivered a masterpiece.
FEBRUARY 11, 2026