My first encounter with DS Audio’s fascinating line of optical cartridges and matching phono energizers (the term that DS Audio uses to describe the outboard power supply/phono equalization units ...

Backert Labs’ $11,500 Optik Phono 1.1 targets DS Audio optical cartridges and five-figure turntables—impressive at shows, uncompromising in design, and firmly not for casual vinyl listeners. That dual ...