I think the DS Audio optical design is quite brilliant. Especially the newer cartridges with separate L R circuits. The older models had a bit low channel separation. I also notice that the measured frequency response tend to be a bit bass heavy, but I have not heard one and reviews don't mention this much so it's probably not a big issue.
The internal phono stage of a Devialet uses the same AD converter as the line input so working conditions should be more or less the same. Of course a good high output MC cartridge, for example, can work very well and is cheaper, but I doubt it can approach the strengths of an optical design which reviews talk so much about. If those strengths are important to you, go optical!
Edit: Emmlabs/Meitner now has a DSEQ2. Might be an answer to the very reasonable offering from Mr. Nixie
The internal phono stage of a Devialet uses the same AD converter as the line input so working conditions should be more or less the same. Of course a good high output MC cartridge, for example, can work very well and is cheaper, but I doubt it can approach the strengths of an optical design which reviews talk so much about. If those strengths are important to you, go optical!
Edit: Emmlabs/Meitner now has a DSEQ2. Might be an answer to the very reasonable offering from Mr. Nixie
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Devialetless!
Roon, ROCK/Audiolense XO/Music on NAS/EtherRegen/RoPieee/USPCB/ISORegen/USPCB/Sound Devices USBPre2/Tannoy GOLD 8
250 Pro CI, MicroRendu(1.4), Mutec MC-3+USB
Devialetless!
Roon, ROCK/Audiolense XO/Music on NAS/EtherRegen/RoPieee/USPCB/ISORegen/USPCB/Sound Devices USBPre2/Tannoy GOLD 8
250 Pro CI, MicroRendu(1.4), Mutec MC-3+USB