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Dynavector XV1s loading & phono

Hi.

For those of you that have owned the XV1s, just curious as to what phono stage you are using with yours (or have used) and what loading you are putting on it to make it sound great!

I have got a XV1s at the moment, but with the Cary PH301mkII tube phono stage, have never got it to sound great. I was using the XV1s on LP12/Valhalla/Ittok II/rignmat anniversary. The default loading for MC on the Cary is 680 ohms. I modified it to make it about 150 ohms which did make a substatial improvment, however, sound was still very dull, undynamic, muffled, very unexciting.

I have heard the TeKaitorua (next model down) on a Oracle/smeIv setup going thorough a very modest solidstage phono/integrated setup and that gave extraordinary results! Likewise with the Lyra Titan, used through a solid stage Lyra Connosieur phono stage was absolutely amazing. Some people have replaced their Titan's with the XV1s! I don't think I'm hearing anything close to what the XV1s is capable of at all.

I think it is something with my front end analogue setup as my CD playback sounds spectacular, WAY better than the XV1s/Cary combo in every way. Since I have blamed the Cary for the poor match with the XV1s, I have since replaced the unit with the Kondo M7 phono - but as this is just a standard phono stage, I have had to revert back to my very modest MM Linn K18II cartridge. The Linn/Kondo setup is better than the XV1s/Cary in every respect - probably equal to that of CD playback in my system. To use the XV1s with the M7, will require step up transformers.

Question is:
1) What sort of loading are you guys out there using with the XV1s and on what phono? Tube or solidstate?
2) Is my deck/arm/PS combo the main cause of the poor sound from the vinyl?
3) What stepup transformers would one recommmend to match with the M7 - there is obviously the Kondo SFz ... any other worthy contenders?

Thanks a lot for all you guys help.

Regards
David
linnmaster
sirspeedy70680e509
1,064 posts
 
FWIW,I find my own tracking force,of about 1.87-1.88gms to keep me in the balpark,with my Temper-v(it is tiring to spend ten minutes vying for an exact 1/100th gm setting,and sometimes longer).Yet I am getting SO picky that I check it about once a week.It DOES make a fairly large difference if it is "dead on"!It is usually off by around 1/00 of a gram,or so(on the lower side).Per week,and lower if I have not listened in a while.
Now,I realize environmental conditions have an impact,but I wonder if any arms can "hold" an almost exact number,for any length of time.I love my sound but am getting tired,and impatient,in my old age!
My CD player seems to be speaking to me,and saying..."Hey!!Schmuck!!You can have perfect sound forever,if you just stay loyal yo me"!
Of course my LP's don't agree,and I have a HUGE collection of real "treasures"!
HELP!!!
bkonig
127 posts
 
Rauliruegas: You say that if I use 480 Ohms to load my XV1S that I'm in trouble elsewhere in my system. My system is one of the absolute finest most resolving systems I ever heard. It is not easy to experiment with loading on the dart pre-amp. I did go lower on the dart with no appreciable improvement. I did however, try different loadings on my former pre-amp, the Manley Steelhead and did not find any magical settings lower down the scale. Myself and other knowledgable audiophiles are floored when we listen to my vinly rig. Yes, nothing is perfect, but happy to report no troubles for me in my system.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear Bkonig: Nice to hear about. The Manley is faraway from the quality Dartzeel performance. I already try 1K, 600, 300, 150 and 100 Ohms with my XV-1 and at least for my ears ( that certainly are not perfect ) I prefer 100-150. I have to tell you that 300 or 600 Ohms are not a huge differences but I can hear it.

Now, I have to accept that many times it is system dependent about. At the " end of the day " the subject is that you are satisfied with the quality performance at that load and that's what matters. Sorry to disturb you.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Load that Dynavector to a value that pleases your system and ears. Don't allow some self appointed expert and bully, who thinks he knows more than you but doesn't, to influence your decision.

That's a great cartridge.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Any comments about Antiskate force and what to set that to? To me, the last time I put the XV1s on the LP12, with the antiskate dialed up max, was still pulling into the record center hard. Or is this a sign that the cart is not set up properly. I have the cardas sweep frequency record if that can help get things better.
Maximum antiskate? Aha! We may well have found part of your problem. Excess antiskate sounds exactly like excess VTF - dull, boring, slow and muddy.

I'm not sure what you mean that the arm, "was still pulling into the center hard", unless you're using a blank (ungrooved) record to set AS. If so, I'd suggest you forget that method immediately, since it bears no relation to actual playing conditions.

The Cardas record will not help with AS. Nor is any other test record needed, and the ones that claim to help with AS tend to do more harm than good.

To set AS, start with it as close to "zero" as the arm allows. Now optimize VTF, so that you have a nice balance between speed/finesse and heft/weight, as discussed above. Now put on a very dynamic LP and listen for R channel mistracking/fuzziness. Increase AS in tiny increments until the R channel plays cleanly. That's all you need. Any more will overpressure the cantilever/suspension, and that dulls the sound.

Good luck,
Doug
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