Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: DYNAVECTOR XV1s Phono Cartridge by DocDicK

Model:	XV1s
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$3500.00
Description:	Moving Coil
Manufacturer URL:	DYNAVECTOR
Manufacturer URL:	DYNAVECTOR

Review by DocDicK ( A ) on September 29, 2005 at 13:51:51
IP Address: 207.203.88.15

Add Your Review
for the XV1s

The XV1s is a medium output moving coil phono cartridge. It is based on newer technology rather than the old school tried and true construction.
The cartridge has been in my present system for over a year and to its credit has never shown any bad habits. It seems to take a beating and keeps on tracking. I don't intentionally put it in harms way but sometimes things happen if you know what I mean. Anyway it is still ticking and then some.
Over the past year and a half which I've owned the device the system has had up grade after up grade in the search of the ultimate sonic truth. Different power cables, interconnects and speaker cables were tried. Three phono amps and two line stages were tried. In each case the sound changed but stayed the same. Each component had its way of influencing the sonic presentation. But again and again the supply of music seemed not to change. That is to say no matter what you used to amplify the output of the cartridge it varied for the better if the component was more neutral and extended. What I am trying to say is this cartridge will be the last one you will have to buy because it will present everything in the grooves for your consumption. It is neutral and transparent as any cartridge I've listened too. This includes the Benz Micro LP costing several hundred more. It can produce, at least on a Basis Debut table violin harmonics, and harp string dynamics like live performances. It can produce multi-brass arrangements and loud complex musical passages without the mistracking tearing or harshness of some cartridges especially when the interconnects and speaker cables are properly selected. Presently they are the Basis PSTT wires. The XV1s always presented the recorded material transparently and with full truth to the original performance adding nothing of its own to the mix. I found going back to the LP cartridge after listening to the XV1s a step backward in transparency and air.

Product Weakness: Expensive, lack of straight sides makes setup slightly more difficult.
Product Strengths: Transparent, neutral, dynamic, harmonicly rich, sonic truth without makeup, sturdy, medium-low setup difficulty

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Art Audio PX25 mono blocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	CJ 15 (Auri caps) and 17LS (NOS tubes)
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Basis Debut Vacuum,Vector 3 arm
Speakers:	Advantgarde Duo's, 225 subs x2
Cables/Interconnects:	Basis PSTT interconnects and spkr
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classic, synthetic, pop rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	21 x 12 x 12 to 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Home brew
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1.5 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Custom Power Cord Co. 8 block and power cords
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Expensive, lack of straight sides makes setup slightly more difficult.
Product Strengths:	Transparent, neutral, dynamic, harmonicly rich, sonic truth without makeup, sturdy, medium-low setup difficulty