Dynavector XV-1s What is the REAL story?

Dear Sirspeedy: This is what I answer ( off-line ) to the same VTF question of one Audiogoner:

+++++ " I try my XV-1 with damping and with out it and at the end I choose with out it. My XV-1 is on my Micro Seiki RX 5000 and I use a self design phonopreamp ( phono/line in one unit that I love it ), I think that I don't need the damping. I can " see " that you have an excellent TT too: the Acutus ( I like it ).

Now, about the 2.6 gr. On the VTF my opinion is: the manufacturer range is between 1.8 to 2.2 gr. Why all cartridges manufacturers give us that VTF range? : it is because inside that VTF range the cartridge coils are centered and this is a critical point in the cartridge performance.
You choose a VTF out of that range, so the coils are centered-off and the cartridge sound reproduction change. If you like it or not is another issue:
the point here is that your XV-1 is running out of specs. You like more the " colorations " of an off-centered coils, that's ok.
In the long run that " heavy " VTF will do a degradation on the cartridge suspension that could affect in a severe way the future sound reproduction of your cartridge and can ruin your LPs. Take care about and ask directly to Dynavector, maybe they approved it. " +++++

That same day I ask directly to Dynavector in Japan and the Dynavector Technical Director give me this answer:
>
>
> +++++ " Dear Raul,
>
> Thank you for your using DV products.
>
> DV cartridges can secure sufficient performance when using recommended
> tracking force motioned on the manual. It is true that Higher tracking
> force can improve the tracking performance at the high amplitude track
> of the record but too higher tracking force might cause the problem
> with frequency response as upper side of the damper rubber is
> compressed by the coil bobbin and downside of the damper rubber is
> detach from the coil bobbin.
>
> We advise 2.5g would be reasonable maximum tracking force for the XV-1s.
>
> Tracking ability of the XV-1s is slightly changed by room temperature.
> It means that when you use the cartridge in cold room, you should
> increase tracking force a little than the XV-1s recommended tracking
> force of 2.0g, when you use cartridge in hot room you should decrease
> tracking force.
>
>
> Hopefully it could be helpful to you. " +++++

Before these question/answer I run my Xv-1 at 2.2 grs. with very good performance, after the Dynavector answer I try 2.5 grs and finish in 2.4 grs: great performance.

Now, Mr. Fremer is right on his statements about and I agree with him, at least on this subject.

The opinion of Mr. Pearson ( that I respect ) is totally out of take in count : he speaks of 2.6-2.7 grs, he is totally wrong and he can give that kind of opinion because he maybe don't pay 4.5K for that cartridge and he don't care about his LPs damage. Now, Mr. Pearson has a high frequency problem with its ears, he not only does not care about the VTF manufacturer recomendation, he don't care about load impedance either: he always run any cartridge at 47K, obviously he needs equalization.

From Mr. Salvatore ( that I admire for his constant support to his web site ) he is wrong too.

+++++ " Or do we start to rely on our own sense of perceptions " +++++

Here we can't do that: these kind of cartridges are really expensive and our beloved LPs deserves that we take care about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Jeff: You are right. When a cartridge is new the suspension is to rigid and sometimes needs the max VTF but over the play hours the suspension is right on target and with less VTF sounds right.

Van denHul recomended this for my Colibri and really works.

Rigfht now I'm on that " game " with the XV-1 but I don't have yet any conclusion about on it.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Sirspeedy: +++++ " Do you really believe that there are "levels of improvement",that appear as regularly as the next issue of TAS,or Stereophile,with the "components of the moment"? " +++++

Certainlly not, at least not so fast like they told. I think that the problem with those reviewers is that if some audio device sounds a little different from what they have on reference they always " think it sounds better " and there are almost always comercial compromises between the manufacturers and the reviewers/magazines that preclude a neutral reviews. Of course that not all reviewers have " compromises ", some of them are really neutral.

+++++ " My point is that it is of paramount importance to trust your own intuitive senses! " +++++

Ok, now I understand and agree with you.

Regards and enjoy the music.

Raul.

Dear Sirspeedy: Along your thread I decided to fully break my XV-1 suspension playing record after record.. As I already posted 2.4 was used for a time, now that the XV-1 is really on target the VTF that I'm using is 2.1 ( as a fact I'm still " playing with the VTF between 1.9 and 2.2 ), I tested between the 2.2 and 2.5 range and definitive the performance on these VTF range is really poor against the 2.1. Btw, my XV-1 is matched with a Lustre GST 801 tonearm.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Thomas: About Mr. pearson, there is more than only " :"Well, in what mood I am today? "

In that " contest " where he gave a 5 stars to Miyabi he gave 3.5 to the XV-1 and the Titan and only 2 to the Insider.
This was his final opinion about the XV-1: " For my part, I find little to complain about. It does the music justice. And it has few audible shortcomings. In fact, taken by itself, you would not know it had any " in other part of the review of the Dyna he posted: " But much to my surprise, the XV-1 is, throughout the middle frequencies, virtually indistinguisable from the Miyabi. Indeed, the resemblance in terms of character, dynamics, etc, was so closer that I would have guessed that both cartridges were from the same line. I am not sure if one could distinguish between the two on some very good stereo systems. "

Why only 3.5 stars to the Dyna?

THis is what he posted about the Titan: " I loved the experience of listening to this moving coil, but not for one second was I convinced that is was getting me closer to the real thing. " In other part: " At first this cartridge was set for 1.6 grs., and while the bottom half of its response was admirable, the top half simply was not cutting it. We adjust the pressure till reached the maximum 1.75. I wanted to go higher. So I called ..Perkins on Immedia........he allowed... to set the force to 1.8, but that shorten the life of cantilever.
After a bit of reflection, we decided to stay at the manufacturer recomended maximum.....but we decided to play by the rules. "

He don't like the Titan but he give the same 3.5 start than the Dyna and here he show respect to the manufacturer advise about the VTF ????????

Well, what do you think?, only the mood? or you can " see " some other issues.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Vincentkkho: +++++ " you have put the right components together to bring up its synergistic effect. " +++++

I agree with you, the name of the game: synergy, this is a subject that I always support on this forum.

But MrP was wrong on that " contest " on many ways, one of that was: load impedance, he choose 47k ( like always ). This figure makes synergy with some cartridges and makes no synergy with others.

Anyway, it's fun to read TAS/Stereophile and like Sirspeedy told us: " to trust your own intuitive and experienced senses! "

Regards and ebjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Sirspeedy: I don't own the 2.2, the nearest to this 2.2 is my Audiocraft AC 3300, anyway my XV-1 is running on my Lustre tonearm.

++++ " I always strive to set downforce closer to the lower setting,as this gives the most "air",and inner textures. " +++++

I do exactly contrary to, I start at the top and go down from here step by step till I achieve the best VTF.

Nice to heard that finally you find a cartridge sound that is better than the ZYX one, I knew this was only a matter of time. Good for the Titan i and good for the music.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.