Recommended a highly resolving cartridge

@fastricky in the review of Hana Umami Blue by The Absolute Sound, the DS003 was brought up as a competitor in the same price category.
Based on this I would not put the DS003 in the same category as your AT 1000.

That being said, I run the Umami Blue and am very happy with it. 
 

@tablejockey My hope is after the DS003 I've exhausted everything I'm looking for. Maybe I'll upgrade the EQ/Energizer that is the stock DS Audio 003 but I suspect I'll be very pleased with the sound as is. Truthfully I really am not lacking in the least between the ART20 and the 1000x, but the Optical Cart direction is an itch I just have to scratch. Delivery is next Tuesday then I'm OOT til Saturday so it might be a week or so before I chime in with my listening notes. 

@audphile1 Interesting, my expectation is the DS 003 will bring the clarity and near quietness of a CD with the 3D dimension sonically of vinyl. We'll see! 

@fastricky well the noise level during playback depends heavily on the quality of a vinyl record, stylus shape, cartridge design, alignment/set up on your table, and quality of your phono stage.
Remember the DS Audio cartridge is optical and it converts the stylus vibrations into light that’s picked up by the sensors that convert that light to electricsl signal. Different method to moving magnets or moving coils. Less moving parts, less sensitive components like coils that can pick up and transmit electrical noise, that is a thought process, I believe, with DS Audio. Add their phono stage processing to that as well, which should help. 
But, there’s no process that takes place in a digital domain to reduce noise. And a properly designed moving coil cartridge like the ART1000 paired with the same level phono stage should provide at least comparable noise floor and even better detail retrieval.

Let’s wait until you try it and have some thoughts on sound quality, which I suspect will be excellent. 
 

"Truthfully I really am not lacking in the least between the ART20 and the 1000x,"

That's already a given. 

Ribeye, filet mignon and Kobe A5 on the same plate👍

Which cart fits the cut? Your ears decide.

SOTA tonearm on the horizon? 

There's always something to optimize those great carts.😂

I'm still rocking the stock tonearm on my SL1210G, I've heard from many that say to keep it as is. But curious if anyone has firsthand experience on the difference going from the stock tonearm to another?