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Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?

108.180.238.151
Posted on August 26, 2015 at 16:13:35
Braxus
Audiophile

Posts: 926
Location: Fraser Valley
Joined: February 11, 2006
 I have an 80s Linn LP12 turntable with the Ittok LV2 arm. The table has the upgraded Mose power supply and the stock rca cables have been upgraded to better ones. I will be using the Classic Valve Design Solaris phono pre with MC cartridge option.

What are the basic differences between the Benz Micro LPS and the Dynavector XX2 MkII carts? What kind of sound does each give? If you had a choice between the two, which one would you pick and why?

 

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A bit of triangulation, posted on August 26, 2015 at 18:38:02
CometCKO
Audiophile

Posts: 873
Joined: August 9, 2002
 Let me start by saying I've heard neither one of these. I have owned a Dynavector XX2 (but not Mk.II) and it is one of my all-time favorites. I've used a couple of lesser Benz cartridges but can't definitively say what the LPS is like. Based on my experiences, I'd expect that the Benz is likely to be richer and more romantic while the Dynavector is probably more dynamic and probably brighter as well.

But I've not heard either one, so take with a big grain of salt. Let us know if you get a chance to audition them and can post your impressions. Thanks!


"Knowing what you don't know is, in a sense, omniscience"

 

RE: have you checked on the Vinyl Engine 'Resonance Calculator' which cart is matched better to the Ittok LV2?, posted on August 26, 2015 at 18:54:13
andyr
Manufacturer

Posts: 12550
Location: Melbourne
Joined: September 2, 2000
 Tonearm and Cart databases are here:

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable-database.php

Resonance Evaluator is here:

http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php



Regards,

Andy

 

RE: have you checked on the Vinyl Engine 'Resonance Calculator' which cart is matched better to the Ittok LV2?, posted on August 26, 2015 at 19:27:48
Tidycat1
 A short time ago,I was dicussing phono cartridges with a well-heeled manufacturer and he had recommended the LPS.He said it did everything well.Maybe not the "best" at any one thing,but overall had no weaknesses.Just someone elses' two-cents.

 

RE: "he had recommended the LPS.", posted on August 26, 2015 at 19:40:16
andyr
Manufacturer

Posts: 12550
Location: Melbourne
Joined: September 2, 2000
 I have the previous top Benz model - the LP - and would agree with him.

The only thing that has stopped me upgrading is the fact that the weight of the LPS is a lot more than the LP ... and this may take it out of my arm's "comfort zone".

Andy

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 27, 2015 at 04:22:55
Not Yet There
Audiophile

Posts: 538
Joined: April 8, 2006
 The Benz LPs is twice the price of the Dyna XX-2 There are a lot of options in the $5K range. For the money, the Dyna XX-2 mk2 is hard to beat.

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 27, 2015 at 05:37:18
Erocka2000
Audiophile

Posts: 302
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Joined: April 26, 2011
 Is Benz even still in business? I've had the XX2 and it's a great cartridge. Can't go wrong with a Dynavector.

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 27, 2015 at 08:24:05
Roastaman
Audiophile

Posts: 516
Location: Seattle
Joined: July 18, 2000
 Braxus- What "sound" are you looking for? Warm, detailed, accurate? I have had the LP and have now the LP-S. At the time I bought my LP-S I was given the choice of the LP retipped with the MR stylus for < 1/2 the price
of LP-S. I chose the LP-S. If I had to do it again I'd choose the LP. I like the LP-S, but its a whole diff. animal and has been a bit tougher to get the sound dialed in the way I like it. But on the other hand, now that I use a Miyajima Zero (mono) as well the LP-S is closer in sound than the LP would have been so getting things sounding right for the Zero works as well for the LP-S. My next cart. may be a Kiseki Purple Heart or an AMG.
If you are paying straight up $$ for the LP-S they are now $6K! I'd choose something else.

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 27, 2015 at 08:49:15
Inmate51
 Does it matter?

Seriously, a lot of you guys get all wrapped up in this stuff as if an individual component is the holy grail, or, you're seriously insecure.

A cartridge, tonearm, and phono preamp are a SYSTEM.

How many times do I have to say SYSTEM?!

Heck, my Shure V15 Type IV on a Fidelity Research FR-54 arm plays records just fine.

Eye-yie-yie.

:)

 

RE: Benz Micro LP vs. LPS ..., posted on August 27, 2015 at 15:18:39
andyr
Manufacturer

Posts: 12550
Location: Melbourne
Joined: September 2, 2000
 Thanks very much for your comparison.

I may well just get my LP re-tipped, rather than 'upgrade' to the LPS!


Andy

 

23 times., posted on August 27, 2015 at 17:46:12
bruckner9
Audiophile

Posts: 1184
Location: So Cal
Joined: August 14, 2003
 but heck....how many times have you already done it?

just subtract from 23 and you'll see how much work you have left.

lol

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 27, 2015 at 20:16:56
Braxus
Audiophile

Posts: 926
Location: Fraser Valley
Joined: February 11, 2006
 Seriously? When someone is laying down this amount of cash and does not get the opportunity to listen to it before hand, you darn toot'n I want other opinions to make my buying choice more clear.

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 27, 2015 at 21:17:04
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 The only reason anyone buys cartridges costing in excess of $1000 is for prestige and ego. Therefore, it's really not necessary to listen before buying. Of course, it is necessary to solicit opinions from others in order to ensure buying the cartridge that most other people regard as the best.

I've listened to very expensive cartridges installed in ultra expensive turntables and they don't sound any better than inexpensive cartridges in ordinary high quality turntables. Furthermore, I've owned top-of-the-line cartridges from Ortofon and Dynavector, and they didn't sound any better than my topnotch cartridges from Denon and Audio Technica, which all cost less than $1000.

The best proof of this can be found in the results of Michael Fremer's cartridge comparison when he distributed hi-rez 24/96 digital recordings of nine relatively cheap cartridges played on a VPI Traveler turntable along with one recording from his very expensive Continuum Caliburn turntable. You might think it would be easy to hear the superior sound quality of his one hundred fifty thousand dollar turntable with its eight thousand dollar Ortofon Anna cartridge, but out of 442 people who listened to the recordings, only 51 selected Fremer's system as sounding best. Twice as many listeners thought the one thousand dollar Audio Technica 150ANV mounted in a Traveler turntable was the best sounding cartridge.



 

I don't recall prestige or ego being part of the decision matrix, posted on August 28, 2015 at 11:20:34
TGR
Audiophile

Posts: 3002
Location: No. California
Joined: March 22, 2004
 I bought my Koetsu Black because my dealer felt strongly (and I was able to listen to it the TT I was buying) that it was a great match for the Nottingham Space/294. Prestige and ego had nothing to do with it.

But I doubt if many of us have as much experience as we would like listening to a variety of cartridges in a variety of systems. I have had other cartridges in my system when I had to have work done on the Black, and I think, from what I heard, that my dealer was right. Could there be a better match - maybe.

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 28, 2015 at 23:14:53
risabet
Audiophile

Posts: 3197
Location: SoCal
Joined: January 10, 2005
 I've gone from a lower cartridge in the Benz line, a medium output Ace, to the Dynavector you're considering on a much modified LP12 with an Ittok LVII and am incredibly happy. Very good rhythm, very dynamic, very good tracking, very natural tonal balance, I could not be any happier. Money well spent IME.



Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.

Adam Smith

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 29, 2015 at 11:42:36
Waxxy
Audiophile

Posts: 2648
Joined: July 19, 2011
Contributor
  Since: November 22, 2011
 "The only reason anyone buys cartridges costing in excess of $1000 is for prestige and ego"

I think this may depend alot on budget and experience. There are probably many out there who would say the say thing about any cartridge above $200 or $500.

Up until about 8 years ago, the most I had spent on a cart was about $400. I couldn't imagine spending more. Now I have much more disposable income, and curiosity led me to want to try a much higher end cartridge, so when I spotted a used Koetsu I decided to blow the bundle and see what all the fuss was about.

It has little to do with ego because no one I know other than my brother has any idea what a Koetsu is. OK ego may have a little bit to do with it because now I have a better cart than my older bro....HA!

 

RE: Which Cartridge? Benz Micro LPS or Dynavector XX2 MKII?, posted on August 29, 2015 at 15:50:43
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 > I think this may depend alot on budget and experience.

You are absolutely right!

Anyone with experience would never buy a cartridge costing more than $1000 and it's obvious that you have to have the budget if you do buy one.

I had the budget on two occasions and I lacked the experience to prevent me from spending my money. Now, I have the experience to know that ultra expensive cartridges are a waste of money and they don't sound any better than inexpensive cartridges -- only different.

Of course, they have to sound different; otherwise, it would be impossible to convince even an inexperienced vinyl enthusiast to part with that kind of money. Such is life! Live and learn! ;-)

Best regards,
John Elison

 

Prestige or Ego?, posted on August 30, 2015 at 08:16:23
risabet
Audiophile

Posts: 3197
Location: SoCal
Joined: January 10, 2005
 Prestige is a definite no. I don't associate with other audiophiles so no prestige is gained by owning the cartridge I do as no one in my family ares in the least. They think I'm obsessed! Ego maybe but the fact that the cartridge sounds better to my ears, is not an ego issue but a sonic one. Opinions differ!


Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.

Adam Smith

 

RE: Prestige or Ego?, posted on August 30, 2015 at 10:27:34
collinslaw@fuse.net
Audiophile

Posts: 524
Location: Northern Kentucky
Joined: August 5, 2011
 I very good listening friend has the Dynavector. If I had not bought a Lyra Delos, I would definitely have bought one of those. My highest level Benz was actually a Wilson Benesch Carbon which was a Ruby motor in a carbon fiber body. It was fuller sounding than either the Lyra or DV, but perhaps not quite as detailed, but man, it killed on any type of girl singer.
Tom Collins

 

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