Cartridge upgrade for SME 20/2A???

Dear Esoxhntr: Certainly any of the cartridges that you named ( but the Koetsu ), the Universe and many other top ones could give you some kind of quality improvement in the music sound reproduction, well is obvious to because all those cartridges are a lot more expensive that your Dynavector: we have to expect that.

But, in my humble opinion, I think that your analog weak link is on your phonolinepreamp and not in the Dyna cartridge ( btw, very good performer, better than what you are hearing. ), I agree with Doug statement: +++++ " It's also worth a better phono stage, which would likely provide more of the clarity you're seeking. " +++++

I think that before you change your cartridge please think seriously in a better phonolinepreamp, at the end it is in this phonolinepreamp where the cartridge signal must be processed and it is at the phonolinepreamp where the cartridge signal could or almost could not suffer degradation/corrupted and that's what you are hearing today. Think about!!!!, even if you change the cartridge you need a better phonolinepreamp: as a fact if you change for a better cartridge the change of the phonolinepreamp is a must to do, more critical.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Esoxhntr: +++++ " when I say that the phono stage is not an issue, at least not to the same extent that the cartridge and interconnect are " +++++

+++++ " The 17d mkII gets a wee bit confused at times when the musical load becomes really complex, so I really think it's a matter of finding a more suitable partner for my 20/2A " +++++

That problem is not a Dyna cartridge characteristic and certainly don't comes from the SME rig. Now, if you think that your Blue Circle phonolinepreamp combination is out of the problem then you are in big trouble ( from my humble point of view ) because that kind of problem comes from everywhere your audio system, btw I know perfectly your CLS/SW-800 combination and I can asure you that the problems that you heard does not comes from here either.

I'm not saying that your analog electronics are not good, what I'm saying is that you could have the quality performance that you are looking for through a better phonolinepreamp. The phonolinepreamp has the most " hard/dirty " task in the analog chain and its rol is of paramount importance and extremely critical to obtain the quality sound reproduction that all of us are loking for and makes the difference that you think don't today.

I think that if you try with a better analog electronics your Dyna will shine and you will be " heavy " satisfied about, that cartridge is a very good one by any audio standards.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Esoxhntr: Sorry to disturb you about.

Other than the cable and with out to spend a lot of money in a new cartridge you could have a serious quality improvement through the Sumiko Celebration ( I agree with peterayer ) that I think is the best cartridge match for your SME tonearm.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Esoxhntr: It is similar to any other tonearm DIN pin 5 connector ( well the SME one is angled instead straight like other ones ) but different to other DIN pin5 connectors that are used in electronic devices ( preamp, amps, medical machines, etc, etc. )

regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.