Category Archives: Sound Fowndations

Aesthetix Mimas integrated amp and DS Audio’s DS-E1 optical phono cartridge in Hi-Fi News Yearbook 2019

Every issue, Hi-Fi News delivers in-depth reviews of high-end audio equipment. And every December, the magazine’s Yearbook showcases the best of the best products reviewed throughout the year. It’s the music enthusiast’s go-to guide for the world’s most outstanding hi-fi.

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Clearaudio Smart Matrix Silent record cleaning machine earns ‘Hi-Fi Choice Recommended’ badge

The September issue of Hi-Fi Choice magazine features a selection of audio ‘extras’ designed to give you the absolute maximum performance from all things hi-fi. And “if you care about getting the best from your vinyl, it cannot be overstated just how important it is to keep your records clean”, says the magazine.  Continue reading Clearaudio Smart Matrix Silent record cleaning machine earns ‘Hi-Fi Choice Recommended’ badge

“Exemplary”: Hi-Fi Critic reviews the DS Audio 002 optical phono cartridge

Are optical cartridges new? Well, yes and no. They originally surfaced in the 1960s and were lauded for their high fidelity, but quickly disappeared again as they had a heat problem caused by the light source used at the time. By the time the requisite technology had sufficiently advanced (in the form of light-emitting diodes which produce little heat), audio was dominated by the rise of the CD and there was little interest in vinyl replay. But in 2013, Japanese company DS Audio began to revisit the technology.

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Keeping it clean: Hi-Fi Plus reviews the key accessories a vinyl lover needs to keep records and decks in tip-top nick and performing at their best

“Record cleaning only scratches the surface (pun intended),” writes Hi-Fi Plus’ Andrew Harrison. “Every aspect of vinyl replay can come in for scrutiny.” A good part of this comes down to the nature of the technology itself: “dragging a rock through a groove and translating these movements into electrical signals” is naturally prone to errors from rotation, geometry, mechanical movements, the ingress of dust and dirt, etc etc. Thankfully there’s “a vibrant world of vinyl beyond the turntable and the record itself” to help keep everything running smoothly, and Harrison has chosen a selection of some of the best.

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“Maximise your potential”: Hi-Fi Choice gives DS Audio’s ST-50 stylus cleaner the full five stars

“Making adjustments to your system to release previously unheard excellence needn’t break the bank,” says Hi-Fi Choice. DS Audio’s ST-50 stylus cleaner is among the magazine’s top six picks for maximising audio performance.

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A “game-changer” and “a multitude of triumphs”: Ken Kessler celebrates the arrival of DS Audio’s DS-E1 affordable optical phono cartridge

Audiophile and hi-fi journalist Ken Kessler has been a fan of DS Audio’s pioneering optical cartridges since they first appeared on the world hi-fi market four years ago, and has enthusiastically reviewed most of the company’s models. But the new DS-E1 has presented him with something of a dilemma. “It is actually too good… I’m still shaking my head in disbelief.”

Continue reading A “game-changer” and “a multitude of triumphs”: Ken Kessler celebrates the arrival of DS Audio’s DS-E1 affordable optical phono cartridge