Which Prefix / 2nd hand DV XX1

Posted by: Christopher on 26 June 2003

Hi

I've just been offrered a 2nd hand (2yrs old) Dynavector XX1, which the owner estimates to have had at most 1500 hrs use. He wants £250 - does this seem reasonable.

Another question... I want to go the 2nd hand route on a cartridge in order to free funds for a prefix. Which one would I need for this cartridge?

I intend on upgrading to a Lyra Helikan in the future, so I hope that the same prefix can be used with each?

Many thanks
Posted on: 26 June 2003 by Simon Matthews
The cartridge would have been knackered long before 1500 hours.
Posted on: 26 June 2003 by Bosh
I used a Prefix-S with my XX1-L (and do now with my XX2). It came as a Prefix-K (I was Troika'd at the time I got it, but my dealer modified it from S to K which apparently is an easy task which involves removing one component
Posted on: 27 June 2003 by Laurie Saunders
IMHO the K prefix is preferable to the S version, which has a simple R/C filter fitted to block RFI (and some of the AF too)....only consider the S version if you have intolerable levels of RFI IMHO

Laurie S
Posted on: 27 June 2003 by Top Cat
quote:
The cartridge would have been knackered long before 1500 hours.

This raises an interesting point - just how long do modern quality cartridges last for - assuming no abuse and playback on cleanish vinyl with tracking, etc., set properly?

Asking of course because I'm just about to plop down the readies for a new cartridge and I always assumed 1500 playback hours was a reasonable expectation. Am I wrong?

John

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 28 June 2003 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by Laurie Saunders:
IMHO the K prefix is preferable to the S version, which has a simple R/C filter fitted to block RFI (and some of the AF too)....only consider the S version if you have intolerable levels of RFI IMHO



Laurie,

Advice from both Naim & the DV importer is to use 'S' boards with my TeKaitora. I have a 'K' Stageline, and managed to borrow a friends 'S' version for a week. (Thankis Mike!)

The K seems to give a little more depth and portrayal of reverb on quiet passages (e.g. intro to War of the Worlds), but the music doesn't integrate as well as a whole, and individual instruments somehow come across as 'sounds' rather than 'instruments'. On Joe Cocker/Sheffield Steel there was a nasty edge (almost breakup) on peaks of his voice.

By contrast, the S seems tighter and cleaner, in both the bass & treble. The notes from instruments suddenly are from an instrument, and notes progress from one to another. Perhaps this shouldn't be a surprise, as it is the recommendation from Dynavector. Paul Darwin also concurs, although Doug Graham reckons K are best.

So the sound is tighter & cleaner, and the music flows better - not a difficult choice.

My preconceptions (same as yours) have been altered. Note that the 'S' Stage was also hampered by the need to use BNC-to-phono adapters, and still seemed preferrable. Maybe the small depth advantage of the 'K' will also dissapear once not hamstrung.

One caveat - I am about 5 miles from a large BBC TV & radio transmitter (1/4 megawatt). It may have coloured my results, but Richard Dane reckoned:-

quote:
As the S boards seem to work best with Dynavector cartridges, I would suggest you stick with them.


cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
Posted on: 28 June 2003 by Martin Payne
quote:
the S version, which has a simple R/C filter fitted to block RFI



Laurie,

actually, this isn't strictly accurate.

The 'S' & 'K' design is identical except for one component value. Both have an HF rollof, but the 'S' starts sooner in the ultrasonic range.

The net effect is as you describe, but without the additional layer of electronics implied by your description.

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com