I heard the DS Audio optical cart at my local dealer and did not like it at all. It was on a $50,000 Acoustic Signature Ascona TT. Pre amp was a VAC and the amps were VAC mono's hooked up to a pair of Wilson Alexx speakers. The sound was hard and harsh. With the same setup and a $3500 Dynavector TE Kaitora cart w/a Sutherland Double stack phono there was a very smooth detailed top end sound. If you have a really good phono you'll have to put it in the closet and use the phono that comes w/the cart. If you decide to use something other than a DS audio that phono you get w/the DS audio is useless. Can't be used w/any other cart.
