Dynavector or Grado ?

Aquaman, about three months ago, I upgraded my van den Hul Frog to the top Dynavector cartridge (the XV-1s). I am very impressed with the Dynavector cartridge. I listen primarily to orchestral music and jazz with a bit of rock music added to the mix occasionally. I have found that the top Dynavector cartridge significantly outperforms my previous cartridge (which I still regard as a great cartridge in its own right). The XV-1s is an excellent, well balanced performer that has world class dynamics and frequency extension as well as ultra-linear frequency response. It would also pair well with the VPI 9" tonearm that comes as standard equipment with the Super Scoutmaster turntable and that, I believe, has an effective mass of about 11g (resulting in a combined resonance frequency of about 10Hz when paired with the XV-1s).

So, based on my experience with the XV-1s, I can enthusiastically recommend the Dynavector line of cartridges. As some of the other posts above suggest, you might find that the XV-1s is more than you really need for the satisfying reproduction of rock music. That is a judgement call you will have to make for yourself. If you decide to go with one of the other cartridges in the Dynavector line, I think you will find that they are reasonably compatible with the JMW-9 tonearm, which, based on an effective mass of 11g (I am not sure of this number for this particular tonearm) would produce a combined resonance frequency with most of the other Dynavector cartridges in the range of 10Hz to 12Hz.

One other consideration is the available gain from your phono stage. The Dynavector cartridges have fairly low output (between 0.2 and 0.3 mV) and would require a fair amount of gain from your phono stage to reproduce rock music at satisfying volume levels. The Grado cartridges - especially those in the Reference line (5.0 mV output) - are less demanding of a phono stage. I don't know how much gain is provided by your Arcam MC phono stage or what the relative quality is of that phono stage, but, if you do go forward with the Super Scoutmaster and a top flight cartridge, I suspect you will be able to substantially improve your sound with the addition of a high quality stand-alone phono stage.

Aquaman, just a few follow-up thoughts:

1. The on-line owner's manual for the Arcam FMJ two-channel stereo preamp indicates that the MC phono stage is designed to accommodate "low output cartridges." That is a good sign. If you have any doubts about your phono stage having sufficient gain for some of these low output MCs, it is probably worth a call to your Arcam dealer to inquire about the gain of the Arcam phono stage module.

2. Based on personal experience, I can vouch for the exceptionally linear frequency response of the Dynavector XV-1s cartridge. It is not bright and forward sounding. It is also not lean in the bass frequencies. The cartridge is as extended at the frequency extremes as any I have heard, and the frequency response of the cartridge sounds dead neutral to me. I don't have any experience with the cartridges further down the Dynavector line, so I can't offer any comment on those.

3. If you choose to go with one of the Dynavector cartridges below the XV-1s, you will find that some of those cartridges are just a tad bit light in weight to make for an absolutely perfect match with the JMW-9 tonearm. Assuming I am right about that tonearm having an effective mass of 11g, you will find that most of those cartridges would probably benefit from the use of one of VPI's 3g stainless steel cartridge weights. They are specifically designed to allow the VPI tonearms to pair more ideally with light low compliance cartridges such as the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua or the XX-2, for example. VPI's web site indicates that the cost of one of these 3g weights is $15 retail.