EMM Labs - Optical Phono
The Technology that Brought Ed Meitner back to Vinyl
EMM Labs DS-EQ1
Firstly, I applaud DS Audio for opening up their architecture to audio engineers; encouraging propagation of a standard for optical cartridges.
While I find it strange that it took the advent of DS Audio's optical cartridges to bring Ed back to his record collection, I can understand this, coming from a leading digital engineer.
Unlike most of us vinyl junkies, digital engineers like Ed are much more sensitive to record noise - quiet as it might be with a quality cartridge.
Having said that, the optical cartridge architecture has an intoxicatingly low noise floor. It sounds "different" and some refer to this as digital. Some of this has to do with the noise floor, but what I find even more important, (and what I believe they're struggling to describe) is the absence of the sound of a motor - the "sound" of wires moving in a magnetic field.
Motors have a "sound", and cartridges and speakers are motors. An advocate of an Alnico magnet speaker will likely tell you that you'd have to pry their vintage 515C drivers from their cold, dead hands.
Whether you agree with them or not, isn't the question.
What you will agree with after auditioning an optical cartridge is that yes, the absence of a motor is a different listening experience. It will change your perspective.
We'll have much more to say about the architecture, but for the moment, know that EMM Labs' two offerings are our choice for the receiving end of your DS Audio cartridges.
Is an optical cartridge for you?
The better question to ask is whether a DS Audio cartridge combined with a Meitner phono is for you.
While a change to optical requires a compatible phono stage (as do strain gauge cartridges), we prefer to view the combination as a combined value proposition.
Don't think of it as an architectural shift, so much as another choice in the myriad cartridges we are fortunate enough to choose from.
Prices effective January, 2025:
subject to change without notice due to fluctuating market conditions and at manufacturer's discretion.
DS-EQ1 v2 - $12,500
click to visit EMM Labs(DS-EQ1)
Version 2 of the flagship EQ1 was released in December of 2024, and it works with all DS Audio cartridges.
Specifications are from the EMM Labs page (click the photo for more details):
- Inputs: RCA
- Stereo analog outputs: XLR & RCA
- Output impedance: Balanced XLR – 300Ω, Single-Ended RCA – 150Ω
- Output Levels: XLR Output - 1V (+2.2dBu), RCA Output – 0.5V (-3.8dBu)
- Finish: Fine bead blasted silver or black, with black insert and buttons
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 438 x 381 x 102mm
- Weight: 12kg
- Finish: Fine bead blasted front panel available in silver or black
Click the photos below to enlarge:
DS-EQ1 (silver - 3/4 view)
DS-EQ1 (rear panel)
DS-EQ1 (silver - rear 3/4 view)
DS-EQ1 (black)
DS-EQ1 (silver)
DS-EQ1 (black - 3/4 view)
DS-EQ2 - $5,000
click to visit EMM Labs (DS-EQ2)
The EQ2 is more than just a slice of its big brother, and like it, it's compatible with the full range of 3rd generation DS Audio cartridges.
From the EMM Labs page:
- Stereo single ended (RCA) inputs and outputs
- Output voltage: 0.5V nominal (~ -3.8dBu)
- Output impedance: 150Ω unbalanced
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 338 x 286 x 67mm / 13.3 x 11.3 x 2.7in
- Weight: 3.7kg / 8.2lbs
- Finish: Fine bead blasted front panel available in silver or black
DS-EQ2 (black - 3/4 view)
DS-EQ2 (silver- 3/4 view)
DS-EQ2 (rear panel)
