DS Audio ES-001 Eccentricity Detector

Description

MY TAKE: The ES-001 from DS Audio is truly a remarkable device, both from a technological perspective and in terms of the resulting sonic improvement it brings to many LP's. Pricey, but highly recommended. - Galen Carol

Introducing the world's first eccentricity detection stabilizer.

DS Audio constantly strives to improve the quality of vinyl playback systems by finding solutions to otherwise overlooked fundamental problems that can negatively affect the accuracy and enjoyment of music on vinyl. This can be seen in the range of DS Audio optical cartridge systems that are completely unaffected by magnetic fields as well as our Ion-001 ionizer that prevents static electricity from being generated on vinyl records. We have now turned our attention to the issue of “record eccentricity”. 

What is record eccentricity?

Put simply, the actual vinyl record can be the weakest link in the vinyl playback chain due to eccentricity. When using even the finest quality turntables available, the overall wow and flutter of the entire system cannot be significantly reduced unless the eccentricity of the record is corrected. In order to faithfully reproduce the source material, it is imperative to reduce the record eccentricity as much as possible.

Technical Details 

If we take into consideration the industry standard, a record center hole has a diameter of 7.24 (+0.09mm, -0mm) whereas the diameter of various turntable spindles measure between 7.05 ‒ 7.15mm. This can result in a gap of up to 0.28mm and therefore an eccentric width of up to 0.14mm. The industry standard dictates that the eccentricity of the center hole of the record itself should be 0.2mm or less. Taking all of these points into account it is possible that the eccentric width could be as high as 0.34mm in the worst case. With an eccentricity width value of 0.34mm, even if there is no inherent wow and flutter (speed error) produced by the turntable in use, it reaches around 0.15% (WTD RMS) on the innermost grooves of the record playing surface. In reality, the average speed error value of even the highest quality turntables is around 0.008%. These factors combined can result in an overall excessive wow and flutter value 20 times worse than that of the turntable itself.

Record eccentricity presents two problems. 
The first is that the unstable rotation causes fluctuations in pitch across the frequency range. The second is that if the record eccentricity is not corrected, the cartridge and tonearm will be forced to sway from side to side as they follow the groove. This impairs the stylus's ability to accurately track the groove and results in an unfocused sound and an unstable sonic image. As a result, the full potential of even the highest quality systems will not be realized by the listener. Correcting this eccentricity allows you to unlock far more of the potential performance of your equipment.

The Eccentricity Solution
The ES-001 Eccentricity Detection device is a precision measurement tool built into a record clamp with a multi-function display. It is equipped with two sets of infrared LEDʼs and PSD (position detection elements) arranged at an angle that intersect at 90º. Each of these sets of sensors detects the position change of
the run-out groove at the innermost circumference of the record. As you rotate the LP, the eccentricity of the record is then calculated by using the information provided by these sensors to establish the difference between the current rotation center and the absolute center position of the turntable spindle center. This information is then displayed to the user on the ES-001ʼs display screen using multiple indicators. Adjustments are then made manually by repositioning the record to bring the center of rotation of the record closer to the absolute center. Typically, the tolerances of the record spindle hole allow this repositioning. A precision awl tool is included if small adjustments to the LP spindle hole is required. The display shows before and after the correction and the sonic improvements are considerable

REVIEWS:

Analog Planet - "The improvements wrought by the DS Audio ES 001 eccentricity detection stabilizer can be quite striking, and this device demonstrates how pointless it is to get too worked up about a turntable’s wow and flutter specs unless you can also address this basic issue." - Michael Trei
Full Review

Tracking Angle Video: DS Audio ES 001 Eccentricity Detection Stabilizer—Listen For Yourself! - Michael Fremer

Enjoy better music without Eccentricity!