HIFI STATEMENT
NETMAGAZINE

TEST.

29.09.2026

Carsten Bussler, Dirk Sommer

Lesen Sie hier den kompletten Testbericht.

https://www.hifistatement.net/tests/item/4423-linear-tube-audio-century

TAS the absolute sound

126 October 2026

Dick Olsher

"The Ferrari of

High-Power Tube Amplification"

"l'm not easily 
impressed, but 
this is one of those 
products that is 
deserving of lavish 
praise."

Consider purchasing a copy!

While the optical cartridge enjoyed a dramatic resurrection in the last decade - thanks to the ideas and drive of DS Audio’s founder and CEO Tetsuaki Aoyagi - what was in our honest opinion always missing was a phono stage which allows the optical cartridge to show off it’s full potential.

Acoustical Systems is devoted to the very top end of analog frontend only.

Consequently we took our time and only after carefully observing the development of the DS Audio cartridges over the last years we started to design a phono stage exclusively devoted to the new generation of optical cartridges.

A phono stage which is no less than a reference statement and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of design, ingredients, features and sonic performance.

Our firm decision from the very beginning was to only go public and introduce the phono stage as a new product in the acoustical systems portfolio of frontend top range products once we were absolutely sure.. beyond any doubt .. that it would set the new reference standard.

Not to introduce just another “me too” product, but a phono stage which transcend the level the devoted audiophile could experience the finest of optical cartridges.

We went all the extra miles by using nothing but the very finest components available and the one  special phono circuit we knew was alone able to bring forth authority, transparency, dynamics, pitch black background, full color shadings, a true soundstage way beyond all room boundaries and startling live-likeness - and all this in one package - in the most natural way possible.

The finest ingredients, a massive cabinet cnc’ed from two solid blocks of Aluminium alloy.

Concept & Design by D.D. Brakemeier and Dr H. Müller, acoustical systems, Germany