Pro-Ject Pick It DS2

The Pick it DS2 is Pro-Ject’s current high-end cartridge, born from a collaboration with the renowned Danish manufacturer Ortofon. This moving coil (MC) cartridge combines Pro-Ject’s Austrian craftsmanship with Ortofon’s Danish expertise, offering a product designed for audiophiles seeking high-quality sound reproduction.

An Innovative Body for Optimal Acoustic Performance

The Pick it DS2 stands out with its polyamide body, a material known for its excellent mechanical properties. This body is crafted using a selective laser sintering (SLS) process, where the material is gradually melted by a laser to create an almost resonance-free structure. This advanced manufacturing technique results in an extremely stable body, essential for high-precision analog playback.

The body design also features a rigid metal mounting plate with threaded holes, making cartridge installation on the tonearm significantly easier. A three-point pad ensures optimal contact with the headshell, guaranteeing maximum stability during playback.

Cutting-Edge Technology for Exceptional Sound Reproduction

At the heart of the Pick it DS2 lies a high-quality moving coil system. This technology, favored by audiophiles, offers several advantages over the more common moving magnet (MM) cartridges:

• A lighter effective moving mass, enabling more dynamic, detailed, and nuanced sound reproduction.
• Low internal impedance, reducing sensitivity to external electromagnetic interference.

The cartridge is equipped with a nude elliptical diamond mounted on an aluminum cantilever. The coils are made of pure 4N copper, ensuring excellent electrical conductivity. This configuration delivers an output voltage of 0.5 mV, a healthy level for an MC cartridge, making it compatible with a wide range of phono preamplifiers.

A Dynamic and Detailed Sound Signature

The Pick it DS2 is characterized by highly dynamic sound reproduction, with fast and controlled transients. It particularly excels in reproducing low frequencies, offering both articulation and depth. The cartridge reveals a wealth of detail across the entire sound spectrum without ever becoming overly analytical.

The soundstage it produces is precise, though not particularly wide. However, this is more than compensated for by the cartridge’s ability to organize sonic information in a coherent and musical manner. Listeners will appreciate the neutrality of the sound reproduction, which promotes an engaging and faithful listening experience.

Compatibility and Installation

Weighing 9 grams, the Pick it DS2 is compatible with most medium effective mass tonearms. The recommended tracking force is 2.2 grams, with an acceptable range between 2.0 and 2.5 grams. This flexibility allows for fine-tuning to achieve the best balance between performance and record preservation.

Installing the cartridge is made easier by its square body and threaded top plate. However, it is important to note that the Pick it DS2 requires an MC phono preamplifier capable of handling loads below 100 Ω and providing a gain of approximately 62 dB to fully exploit its potential.

An Investment for Vinyl Enthusiasts

The Pick it DS2 represents a significant investment for vinyl enthusiasts looking to step up to a high-quality MC cartridge. It naturally complements Pro-Ject’s high-end turntables, but its build quality and performance make it an excellent option for upgrading any quality turntable.

It is important to note that, unlike MM cartridges, the diamond on the Pick it DS2 is not replaceable. In the event of damage or wear, the entire cartridge will need to be replaced. However, with proper care and usage, this cartridge will provide many hours of satisfying listening.

Technical Specifications

Main Features

• Simple and quick assembly
• High fidelity
• Exceptional dynamics
• Highly detailed with low distortion
• Requires a phono input compatible with moving coil (MC)

Construction

• Robust polyamide body
• Resonance-free thanks to laser sintering process
• Rigid metal mounting plate
• Threaded holes for simplified installation
• Optimal contact with three-point support

Technical Specifications

• Elliptical stylus tip
• Weight: 9 g
• Tip radius: 8 × 18 µm
• Frequency response: 20 - 24,000 Hz
• Output voltage: 0.5 mV
• Channel separation: 25 dB at 1 kHz
• Dynamic lateral compliance: 14 µm / mN
• Tracking force range: 2.0 - 2.5 g
• Recommended tracking force: 2.2 g
• Tracking angle: 20°

Electrical Characteristics

• Coil material: pure 4N copper
• Recommended load impedance: 20 Ω