DS Audio Optical Phono Cartridge Schematics
Image Credit: DS Audio
Digital Stream (DS) Audio is an audio business group within Digital Stream Corporation (DSC). DSC has been in the laser optics market over 25 years is known as the provider of industrial laser optics systems in the optical disc market, in Medial testing systems, and for various laser optical instruments.
Over the last decade I have watched DS audio continue to make great leaps in the developments of optical cartridges. Remember, they are NOT digital, they are analog like any moving coil or magnetic based cartridge. They just use laser (LED) light to create the electrical signal rather than a magnetic field with all of its associated issues.
The use of a light source, rather than a magnetic field to generate the electrical signal, requires a specially designed equalizer/phono stage since the technology differs from that needed for the traditional MM or MC generator principle.
Image Credit: DS Audio
Treading their own path DS Audio have taken the unusual step to release their schematic designs and technical information for their cartridge phono amplifier. This is rather an unusual step for any manufacturer who often guard their designs with secrecy and patents. Why you may ask? DS Audio believes so strongly in the technical advantages of their technology and their optical phono cartridge designs that they want to move it from being unique to popular, letting more users hear all of its benefits. In that vain their CEO and chief designer Tetsuaki Aoyagi wants to see more high-end audio electronics manufacturers begin to build optical cartridge-friendly technology into their phono stage and amplifier designs, just as they now have moving magnet or moving coil inputs. This would clearly open up their market and make their cartridge range more price competitive against other high end cartridges, making this phono cartridge technology more affordable and popular.
Should a manufacturer decide to include the design of an optical compatible phono amplifier they are invited to contact DS Audio who will review any designs, answer appropriate technical questions, and all for NO license or consulting fee. Manufacturers finished designs and schematic circuits can be sent to DS Audio for final review. Once approved and included in a released product the DS Audio web-site will list the manufactures and models as compatible with DS Audio Cartridges.
Post Scriptum: When I purchased my Hana SL I compared it and the Hana ML against the DS-E1. The only reason for buying the Hana was my bank account!
For more information on DS Audio products click here.
Click here for the DS Audio PDF of the schematics.
See here for my original post on optical cartridges and more.
Checkout these three posts on DS Audio cartridges:
