The invention relates to a recording or playback apparatus for optical recording media with a compatible laser diode circuit, which can be used both for controlling the light power of a multiple laser diode with a joint monitor diode and for a number of lasers each with a monitor diode respectively assigned to a laser. The compatible laser diode circuit has a small number of terminal contacts, which corresponds to the number of terminals that is required as the minimum for a multiple laser diode with a joint monitor diode. This is achieved by providing at a terminal a means for detecting the wiring of the laser diode circuit, the output of which is connected to a logic circuit which is intended for configuring the laser diode circuit in a way corresponding to the wiring. As a result, the laser diode circuit can, in spite of a small number of terminals, be used both for recording or playback devices for optical recording media with a multiple laser diode and a joint monitor diode and for recording or playback devices for optical recording media with a number of lasers each with a monitor diode respectively assigned to a laser.