DS Audio DS-E1 Optical Phono Cartridge

DS Audio DS-E1 Optical Phono Cartridge – Preview

I have just been fortunate enough to be present at a demonstration of the new DS Audio DS-E1 optical cartridge at Audio Connection, Verona, NJ. held on Saturday 8th June. This long established audio retailer was presenting its 9th annual Analog Day. To my surprise they were also demonstrating the Hana ML. This is the top of the line Hana low output MC cartridge that uses a nude MicroLine diamond stylus. As I was just about to purchase the Hana SL I was very interested to compare the sounds of the two cartridges.

DS Audio DS-E1 Optical Phono Cartridge In Action

Audio Connection is a small audiophile shop that has several demo rooms two of which are located just across the road from their main shop. Neither room is extensively acoustically treated just containng a number of 1D quadratic diffuser to breakup unwanted front and side reflections. This however did not detract from the demonstration too much resulting in what I felt was a slightly thick and boomy bottom register depending upon where you stood or sat.

Listening Area 1 of 2

There was a first rate range of high end audiophile speakers, amplifiers, turntables and arms on demonstration, all connected with various esoteric cabling.

I have to say that demonstrations of this type whether at an exhibition or a showroom are never very fulfilling to me, even though they maybe quite impressive at the time. Its not that there is anything wrong with the demonstration but there is no direct way to compare what you hear with your own system and room or even between cartridges on demonstration. Also my own system provides exceptional stereo imaging and depth of sound field something I rarely hear on other systems.

That being said I positioned myself at the MLP and sat down to listen to the ES1. Playing several tracks from Santana, Pink Floyd and ToTo I found the ES1 to be very open, effortless, have a refined and detailed top end and solid and extended bottom end. The mid range vocals had a natural warmth without being muffled, but on a couple of occasions there was a slight hard edge to some of the vocals. Whether this was the cartridge, recording, vinyl condition or system is difficult to know. However the ES1 sounded excellent overall and provided an effortless sound field .

I also had a brief listen to the Hana ML on a different system using several jazz tracks that were unknown to me. To be honest in the short time I was there the general impression of the sound from both of these exceptional cartridges was that they showed a lot of similarities through the entire audio spectrum. Any further meaningful and accurate comments are not possible due to the nature of the demonstrations.

In either case both cartridges sounded excellent and can certainly be highly recommended to anybody looking for a high end, low output MC cartridge or the latest and cost effective high-tech optical cartridge.

It will be very interesting to compare what I can remember of this demonstration with my new Hana SL that I will be installing in the next week or so.

USA list price for the DS-E1 and E1 equalizer pre-amplifier – $2,700.00.

USA list price for the Hana ML – $1,200.00, Hana SL – $750.00

It should be noted that adding a suitable high end MC pre-amp to the cost of the Hana ML would bring the total package to basically the same as the E1 package. The main advantage of the Hana package is that the pre-amp can be used for other cartridges were as the E1 pre-amp works only with the E1 cartridge. But there again you don’t get that latest tech in the optical cartridge world! The question is whether the Microline stylus of the Hana provides real world audible benefits over the elliptical stylus of the E1.

See here for the DS Audio web site DS-E1 page.

See here for my introduction to optical cartridges.

See here for my first look at the DS-E1.

See here for AudioMusical Surroundings – USA importer and distributor for DS Audio and Hana.