At Audio Element, we’re always pushing boundaries in HiFi and helping music lovers rediscover the magic of vinyl.
Recently, Garth Leerer, President of Musical Surroundings—the distributor of DS Audio optical cartridges—shared his deep expertise with us on all things audio. Garth is an analog expert whose wealth of knowledge consistently enhances the way music enthusiasts approach their systems. His insights have helped us explore a cutting-edge technology that could change how we experience analog sound: optical cartridges. These cartridges offer a groundbreaking alternative to traditional moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges by addressing some of the inherent limitations of both.
In traditional cartridges, whether moving magnet or moving coil, the use of magnetic fields can introduce distortion.
As Garth explains during our DS Audio listening session, “Anytime you have magnetics involved, you’re adding nonlinearity.” Magnetic fields naturally push and pull against each other, creating uneven motion, which can impact the fidelity of the sound. Think of it like two magnets either repelling or slamming together—the energy they exert changes as they move closer or farther away. In the world of audio, this translates to what we call nonlinear distortion.
Optical cartridges eliminate this issue entirely by using LED technology to capture the movement of the stylus. With no magnets to influence the motion, the result is clean, precise sound that stays true to the original recording. You hear exactly what’s on the record—nothing more, nothing less.
Another significant advantage of optical cartridges is their reduced moving mass. Compared to MC cartridges, optical cartridges boast a 70% reduction in moving mass, allowing them to track the grooves with far greater accuracy. This translates into more detailed, nuanced sound that brings out the texture of every note and vocal.
At the same time, optical cartridges produce 20 times the output of traditional MM cartridges. This means less need for heavy amplification, which in turn reduces the noise floor. As Garth puts it, “It gives you everything you’ve always wanted in a cartridge: incredible detail, low noise, and minimal mechanical interference.”
One unique aspect of optical cartridges is their need for a dedicated phono stage. Unlike traditional cartridges, which only need to amplify the signal, an optical cartridge’s phono stage must also power the LED inside the cartridge. This requires a special phono stage that provides the right voltage and gain to bring the signal up to line level while keeping noise to a minimum. Optical cartridges require less RIAA correction to achieve flat frequency response so their dedicated phono stages have less complex RIAA filters, adding to their purity and coherence.
As Garth mentions, “On a moving magnet, you might typically use 40dB of gain, but with optical cartridges, you only need about 16dB.” This difference is significant because lower gain means less noise, which is one of the key benefits of optical technology.
While still relatively new, optical cartridges are gaining momentum in the audiophile world. High-end brands, especially those based in Japan, are developing their own versions. Garth shares that amplifier companies are already working on integrating optical technology into their product lines, and we expect more to follow.
It’s clear that optical cartridges offer a fresh, exciting way to experience vinyl. With their ability to deliver superior sound quality, reduced noise, and unparalleled detail, they’re poised to become the next big thing in the world of analog audio.
At Audio Element, we can’t wait to share this technology with you and let you experience the future of vinyl firsthand.
