Dynavector Cartridges

Hi Pedro -

I have a WT GTA, and used a DV XX-2 for a couple of years. It's a fine cart, and great value for money. The further you go up the DV ladder, the greater the rewards: more detail, clarity and richness of tone. The TKR would be a great choice, as forum member Ken C will no doubt attest! You should do a search for his TKR thread.

Another brand that goes extremely well with WT is EMT.  I've had a TSD-15 and, for the last three years, a JSD-6.  To my ears, the JSD-6 competes well with the TKR and DV-1S, and bests them both when it comes to energy and drive.

Best of luck with your next cart!

Hook

Pedro,

The 17d is a terrific cartridge and it was one of my fave. ( altho, it would be interesting to pit it against Lyra Delos whish is also an over achiever ) The current XX2 Mk. II  had a richer flavour ( in some way, I preferred the original XX2 for my taste ) than the 17D2/

Te Kaitora Rua seemed to improve over time and since you are using Dynavector phono ( I assume P75? ), it should work well altho, I can't help to think that you might want to explore other phono stage options to bring the best out of a 3.5k cartridge.

If you have a plan to upgrade a cartridge in a future, perhaps trade your current 17D3 for another and upgrade your phono. You'll be amased how much you can get out of the same cartridge with a capable phono equaliser.

It might be OK still, Reading Audio T checked one I'd been using dayly for 7+ years on their stereo Olympus and pronounced it still usable after a clean, the microridge profile seem to wear very well.

I now use a Transfiguration Proteus but when I tried it on a Versalex I wasn't convinced by the combination though the Versalex had to go back after only a few hours. ( the Proteus is a relative bargain in the UK, or at least it was before the referendum).

If you're still using the phono boards in the 52 try a superline on the powered aux connection, you want 470Ohms and 470pF or 453Ohms with no cap plug ( prefered the former to load a 17D3 the latter for the other Dynavectors) but the 500Ohm plug will do to try it out and try the 1nF plug with it just to hear what it does.

The XV1t is superb on a Versalex by the way, just thought you needed to know that.

Advice used to be change stylus after 1-2000 hours, as performance can start to degrade  by 1000 and almost certainly wear starting to get significant by 2000, though it depends to some extent on the records being played. I used to aim to change mine every couple of years, though sometimes would be more like 3, which I regarded as a necessary running cost with vinyl.

I went from the XX2 to the TKR a couple of years ago.   Rich and detailed sound.  Will definitely renew mine.  

Regards,

Lindsay

yeti42 posted:

It might be OK still, Reading Audio T checked one I'd been using dayly for 7+ years on their stereo Olympus and pronounced it still usable after a clean, the microridge profile seem to wear very well.

I now use a Transfiguration Proteus but when I tried it on a Versalex I wasn't convinced by the combination though the Versalex had to go back after only a few hours. ( the Proteus is a relative bargain in the UK, or at least it was before the referendum).

Yeti,

Wow. You gave up on the Lyra Olympus and went for a Transfiguration?

BTW, Versalex looks very nice. Can you adjust an overhang on the arm?

No overhang adjustment on a versale. The  proteus was £2800 new, about the same as a Skala and I'm rather nervous of a cantilever sticking out the front like Lyras and upper DVs. I rather like it on the Aro but have only owned that and the 17D so not much to compare with. 

Yeti42,

So what was your impression on the difference between the Transfiguration Proteus and Lyra Olympus*?

Very different house sound I'd reckon. ( altho, Olympus is closer to more romantic  and warmer Transfiguration sound )

*I am afraid to ask the rebuilt cost of Olympus. :/

If there is no overhang adjustment on Versalex, I'd assume they optimised it for a Dynavector cartridge.

Kuma

No he didn't. The dealer checked his stylus using the binocular Olympus microscope they had. However, he is correct that Dynavector cartridges seem to have a longer life than most. I'd be surprised if the OP's cartridge is anywhere near tired.

Re: overhang, the geometry of the WT arm is quite weird so overhang adjustment is not required, but the correct horizontal angle is essential for correct operation.

Pedro, if you're happy, then simply replacing is the easy option. OTOH, if you want an upgrade, then the higher cartridges from DV are very convincing. The versalex has a way of exploiting every change quite emphatically. The XV series are particularly effective, at a price of course!

Frank.

Thank you all so much for your respective inputs and thoughts. The issue of cartridge wear had always had some difficulty in judging stylus lifespan easily. Never an exact science. I only play records that I've cleaned with my Okki Nokki, so this is a positive factor when considering wear. I suspect the 17D3 had some life left in it yet, but some forward planning (saving) needs to be in my thinking. I love the sound my system makes, so an upgrade is an option rather than a necessity. Changing the cart will soon be a necessity.

Just spinning The Moody Blues' On The Threshold Of A Dream (MFSL pressing) and loving it. Haven't really posted here for a few years, having been a daily contributor once upon a time, but great to receive contributions from so many familiar and respected names.

Peter

PS Apologies, but as Kuma pointed out, my phono stage is a new (this year) Dynavector P75 Mk111

I can't add anything to Frank's comments re the DVs on a Versalex.

Sorry Kuma, I see the confusion now,  No Lyra Olympos involved just a very nice Olympus microscope and a piece of blutac (to hold the cartridge on the stage at the right angle).

Proteus is neutral rather than warm and its fast, like a grown up 17D. I've swapped the 282 for a 552 and moved the supercap onto the superline since I fitted the Proteus so relying on 6 month old memory.  Needs a 100 Ohm loading if you get to try one.

yeti42 posted:

Sorry Kuma, I see the confusion now,  No Lyra Olympos involved just a very nice Olympus microscope and a piece of blutac (to hold the cartridge on the stage at the right angle).

Doh! LOL!

Here I was thinking this:

Not this:

I overlooked the spelling differences. :/

Interesting description of Proteus. Very different from my impression of Orpheus which is its predecessor. I was told that the new cartridge is made by someone else.

Peter,

When it does go, you'll know! There's a change in sound quality where all of the cartridge sounds mushy and thrashy. You'll check it for fluff and there won't be any. Clean it but the noise remains. I don't think I've known of a 17 to wear in under 5 years.

On saving up, well, the pound is taking a battering so the Japanese buy-in price will be playing havoc with the distributor's margins. I wouldn't be surprised to see the price of DVs go up if it continues for some time.

Frank.

When my TKR eventually started to wear, I noticed an increase in sibilance around female vocals. Mind you, it'd covered a fair few miles of vinyl groove by then.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

I went from the XX2 to the TKR a couple of years ago.   Rich and detailed sound.  Will definitely renew mine.  

If you want real value for money I would suggest that you try the Linn Krystal.

I prefer the flavour of the Lyra Kleos to the TKR, and to my ears the Krystal is competitive with both but at a much lower price 

Once again, my thanks for all your comments. The 17 continues to perform well for now with no hint of wear. Will keep the Kleos and Krystal in mind when the time comes, but the trade-in will be a factor.

Peter

Chris Dolan posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

I went from the XX2 to the TKR a couple of years ago.   Rich and detailed sound.  Will definitely renew mine.  

If you want real value for money I would suggest that you try the Linn Krystal.

I prefer the flavour of the Lyra Kleos to the TKR, and to my ears the Krystal is competitive with both but at a much lower price 

Good advice from Chris, with which I concur. Do try to audition the excellent Linn Krystal and similarly priced Lyra Delos. Both are peaches at their price points.

John.

I had a very similar set up myself, except turntable was a p9.  The te kaitora was definately the way to go for me.  The shahinains able to exploit the benefits of the tkr.  I had moved up to the dyna from a benz L2.  Enjoy.

And on the mofi front.  The alan parsons mystery and imagination was a monster on the tkr & obelisk.  So was muddy waters folk singer.