Engström, the renowned Swedish high-end amplifier manufacturer, has announced M-OPTIC, a phono equalizer developed exclusively for optical cartridges. It makes its world debut at HIGH END Vienna, June 4–7, 2026.

Built on Engström’s uncompromising approach to analogue signal purity, M-OPTIC converts the photodiode’s current signal to voltage gain through a specially specified Lundahl transformer — achieving precise phase alignment between channels while applying equalisation optimised for the optical cartridge’s playback principle. The signal path runs through parallel-coupled 6922 tubes and a dedicated equalisation stage for a flat frequency response, with a final Lundahl transformer delivering balanced output across both RCA and XLR connections.

The optical cartridge is an open format, free from the electromagnetic principles of conventional designs. To see a marque as respected as Engström create a no-compromise equalizer for it is a genuine honour — and a clear sign of the format’s growing momentum among the world’s finest manufacturers.

At two locations during the show in Vienna, visitors can experience M-OPTIC paired with the DS Audio Grand Master EXTREME and Grand Master.

 

ENGSTROM_VIENNA_2026 Press Release