Next 10 Years

 

We kicked off the DS Audio brand in October 2013, and here we are, marking a decade this October. Thankfully, what started small with a handful of us has now grown to a team of 26. A decade may sound like a long time, but to be honest, when we first started as a bunch of complete rookies (which might still be the case), we stumbled through without a clue, just focusing on what was right in front of us. Before we knew it, ten years had flown by. So, instead of dwelling on the past 10 years, I want to jot down some thoughts about what we’re aiming for in the next 10.

 

Over these past ten years, thanks to support from many, we’ve managed to grow at a pace beyond our expectations. But let’s be real – we haven’t conquered everything, and it feels like we’ve just scratched the surface. There’s no way we’re going to be content hanging around here. To truly live up to our brand’s concept, “Creating the future of analog music,” there’s still a bunch of things we need to tackle, and ideas for new products are piling up like crazy. The only way forward for the next 10 years is to take on each of these challenges with care and determination.

 

In the decade since we launched DS Audio, expectations from customers and the industry have been steadily rising. Sure, we started with just a few people handling everything from manufacturing to marketing, but if we want to level up our game, we need to shift from relying solely on individual strengths to building up the strength of the whole team. It’s a simple fact that there are only 24 hours in a day, and each of us, myself included, has our limits. People might think I’m doing a lot within DS Audio, but I can’t draw blueprints or manufacture cartridges and equalizers on my own. DS Audio stands strong because we have a team – people who draw plans, make products, and handle the nitty-gritty in the background. This reality is essential – nothing great is ever accomplished alone. Even though each of us might have just a little power, when we all pull together as a team, we can surely achieve things that would be impossible for one person alone, just like in that story about Swimmey in the picture book, where a bunch of small fish came together to make a big, strong fish.

 

This principle isn’t just about the DS Audio team; it applies to optical cartridges too. For the first seven years, we were shouting from the rooftops about the greatness of optical cartridges on our own. However, by sharing the equalizer circuit of optical cartridges a few years back, other companies like EMM Labs, Soulution, Soulnote, and Uesugi Research Institute have jumped on board, each promoting the awesomeness of optical cartridges in their own way. As more allies join the crew, we can feel the buzz growing around the “optical cartridge” category, and customer interest is shooting up. DS Audio has its limitations, but teaming up with allies from around the world can surely turn optical cartridges into an even bigger deal.

 

Turning a small force into a great force.

I believe this will be very important for the next decade.

 

DS Audio Tetsuaki Aoyagi