EMM Labs

DS-EQ1 V2 Optical Equalizer for DS Audio Optical Cartridges

Introduced 2020$13,400 MSRP

Designed by Ed Meitner after discovering DS Audio's optical cartridge technology, the DS-EQ1 is a solid-state, single-purpose "optical equalizer" built exclusively to interface with DS Audio's line of optical phono cartridges rather than conventional MM/MC designs (EMM Labs official product page; Dagogo press release). Because optical cartridges output an already-linear signal rather than requiring RIAA de-emphasis in the traditional sense, the DS-EQ1 instead applies proprietary discrete equalization and Class A amplification through a custom aerospace-grade ceramic circuit board, with a front-panel switchable subsonic filter option (Dagogo press release; Stereophile — Spin Doctor #12).

MSRP

$13,400

Used market · Good

$6,200

-54% vs MSRP

as of Sep 1, 2026

Sell or trade this Add to my system

MSRP to used market

From $13,400 at launch to $6,200 today.

Specifications

Price: $12,500 USD MSRP
Design: Solid-state; custom-designed discrete Class A amplification with proprietary discrete equalization circuitry (no tube stages)
Inputs: 1 stereo set of unbalanced RCA inputs, optimized exclusively for DS Audio optical cartridges
Weight: 12 kg
Outputs: 1 stereo balanced XLR output (300 Ω, 1 V / +2.2 dBu) and 1 stereo unbalanced RCA output (150 Ω, 0.5 V / -3.8 dBu)
Dimensions: 438 × 102 × 381 mm (W × H × D)
Power supply: Proprietary high-isolation resonant-mode supply; universal 85–260V, 50/60Hz IEC input; max. 50W consumption
EQ filter options: Front-panel selectable standard 50 Hz RIAA-style response, or with an added 2nd-order 15 Hz high-pass (subsonic) filter
Compatibility gain: Designed exclusively for DS Audio optical cartridges (all models, from entry-level E1 to flagship Master series); n.a. — no numeric gain figure was published in the fetched sources