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In Reply to: What Cartridge - Budget of $1500 posted by MarkS on December 15, 2005 at 16:59:29:
If you can push your budget just a hair past your limit, the Dynavector XX-2 is the best cart I've ever owned. I've heard very few that can touch it anywhere near its price range, particularly if you value musical acumen as much as sonic/spatial effects.This cart is robust, rhythmically driving, powerful, and presents music raw and bloody, as opposed to overcooked and dried out like so many audiophile carts these days.
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I second that about the XX-2. It is superb and the only reason I sold it was to try out the Te Kaitora Rua. The Denon I heard sounded rough and forward. I don't see why it is seen as such a huge giant killer. Certainly it is better than others at it's price ange but it is NOT in the same class as the xx-2 IMHO.
Well that can't have been the 103R, because that cartridge is the total opposite of 'rough and forward'. The 103R has a refined yet robust sound, with very natural perspectives and very good detail/depth/dynamics. Of course you can get more refinement if you spend more $'s, but the 103/103R's best quality is it's marvelous coherence. It sounds 'all of a piece' and just makes music.
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We may both be right:"very good detail/depth/dynamics"
- I heard it as forward; perhaps we have different perspective of what is natural and what is hyped up and amusical.
Vik
I have the XV-1 and 103R so the sonics are close to the XX-2. the 103r is a little more forward in the mids and has a slightly larger bass, the xv-1 has better overall resolution from top to bottom so seems just a little more laid back with better subtle dynamics. the dyna tracks a lot better, so you are less aware of where in the record you are.
the denon is an absolute bargin and sounds wonderful, the dyna for my ears the best in a musical sense where top to bottom it just sounds right, but at a higher price.
I'm not sure how anyone can translate "very good detail/depth/dynamics" into meaning forward?? I said the 103 has a natural perspective - if anything it sounds slightly laid back due to a lack of transient (HF) emphasis. The 103 is the antithesis of the hi-fi hyped forwardness of many moving coils.
If it sounded rough and forward, then something wasn't set up right IMO. As for 'hyped up and amusical'.....you have to be joking. Audiophile qualities aside, the 103/103R's natural musicality is widely acknowledged....weight of opinion is against you here.
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Weight of opinion is is really irrelevant especially when you've heard the cart with your own ears. You have a completely different idea of what musical is if you think the 103/103R is it. So be it...
For the record, I am under no illusion that the 103R is the best or without fault - that would be silly. What I'm saying is that a *properly set up* 103R provides an amazingly complete, balanced, coherent and, yes IMO, muscial performance - very difficult to beat anywhere near it's price.
In terms of the original poster's question, I stand by my suggestion that adding an SDS motor control would provide more *fundimental* improvemnt than spending the additional $ on a 'better' cartridge. Speed stability is simply more important IMO. Enough said.
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I've been listening to the 103R exclusively for about 6 weeks - and loving it, with no pangs for anything else. Today, as a reality check, I reinserted my old VdH retipped Crown Jewel cartridge and did about 4-5 hrs listening.
Now I have to admit that it was a bit of a jolt to hear a very significant increase in transparency, detail and lowered colouration. In these areas the CJ is simply in another league to the 103R. I remember a similar jolt when I first replaced my Benz Glider with the CJ. There is more sparkle, air and purity to cymbals etc, more focus to individual images and less fog as you hear through to the back of the stage. Transient details are more explicit and all sorts of details stand out with greater ease. There is a compelling realism to sounds. What's more, there is considerable beauty and coherence to the CJ's sound.So why the heck am I listening to the 103R?
It does well enough at detail and staging but doesn't approach the CJ. It certainly has a more robust sound with a more dynamic and weighty bass. I love the way it reproduces records. Its tonal quality (in hindsight, not all that pure) and its infectious grip on rhythm that made me want to ransack my record collection. It makes all types and qualities of records rewarding to listen to.But here's the thing.....having heard the CJ again, its pull is undeniable. Damn this hobby.
Though I stand by my endorsement of the SDS drive as a priority over cartridge spending.....I can certainly see your point of view Vik:)
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Hey Vik,The guy who bought your XX-2 is a very good buddy of mine. Man, is he gonna love it!
I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions of the Te Kaitora Rua, so please keep us posted. I'm considering giving one a try one of these days.
I have several Denon carts and I think they're excellent for the money, but not even close to the big Dyna's.
Yes he is and he got a great deal on a just broken in cart. I'm sending it out to him next week and getting the TkR soon thereafter. I'll let you know how it compares!
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