Experience with DS Audio Optical Cartridge Systems

A few years past I attended a Hi Fi Enthusiasts Event where the reveal of the day was a DS Audio Optical Cartridge.

To give a brief description of the day, there were approx' 20 Attendees,  whom most of have a decent vinyl experience behind them, and a few are known for the Phonostage Designs in the UK and beyond.  This event when arranged prior to Covid Times, has been attended by many who are producing designs, as the appraisals received are seen as very valuable, as a result of the experience of the attendees in the room.

I know the DS Audio Optical Model in use was a very expensive Cartridge and in use with the DS Audio Bespoke Phonostage.

The system downstream of the DS Audio Cartridge was made up of devices from Tonearm to Speakers with a accumulative value of approx' £150 000.

The technology was the talking point following the lengthy demonstration of the DS Audio Cartridge, from my recollections, the Cartridge did not deliver with the impression that it had to be placed on a must have list, I do not recall any attendee expressing that they had been noticeably impressed either.

A different Cartridge, which I believed was a High Output MC, was used following the DS Optical and the attendees were seemingly given this Cartridge the nod as the preferred Cartridge for the Vinyl Session to be continued with.

Later in the day a Rebuilt Ortofon MC was used in the System, with a unknown SUT, the rebuilt Ortofon got lots of appraisal and was referred to as the best used during the day.

There was even a period when a selection of attendees were keen to learn how to achieve the same rebuild as the Ortofon had received. I would suggest this was as much a Value for Money approach as well as to do with the Cartridges Qualities.

As said this experience is quite far back, so a detailed description is not easy to recollect. 

I do wholly agree on there being a need to listen first, and draw ones own conclusions on how a device can perform and make a impression, there will always be a variance to the information offered as an outcome of an assessment.

Out of four members reporting on their experiences with the Cartridge, two members are sure it made a impression that has been worthy of their consideration and one member has become a owner/user of the Cartridge. 

It is also good to see the Thread has encouraged a opportunity to discuss a social gathering of  few members, that is a win. 

About five years ago, I attended a event for HiFi Enthusiasts about 200 Miles North of my home in the UK.

I took my Custom Built 845 Power Amps along, which created a steady flow of interest and inquiries.

One inquiry came from two individuals who had attended the event for the first time, and we soon learnt we lived quite local to each other and exchanged contact details.

That meeting developed into a Local Group of which there are Ten Members and  4-6 Individuals meet regular to experience HiFi and bring new devices/ancillaries to be shared within the groups systems. 

This has been an very important part of my HiFi enjoyment over the past years, and some of the demonstrations shared in has helped me to re-right some of my thoughts I had about certain subjects within HiFi.  The Group are also keen to put on their own local HiFi Event - Post Covid Times.

I thoroughly encourage meeting with other enthusiasts, meeting with local shared interest enthusiasts, in my case, has been the cherry on the cake.