Dynavector XV-1s What is the REAL story?

Fremer is HP's former tt setup man, if I remember correctly!

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.

I track my XV-1 (no 's' FWIW) at 2.2g. I heard absolutely no improvement musically or sonically at higher VTF settings. If anything, I thought the cartridge's high frequency performance was slightly compromised at VTF settings that ran much beyond the manufacturer's recommended 2.2g upper limit.

More importantly, I found that the music's pacing began to suffer at higher VTF settings, which is a serious drawback in my book. Swapping the XV-1's excellent rhythmic drive for a doubtful improvement in sound effects is a lousy trade if you care about musical involvement.

Based on their writing and/or equipment choices, it seems that HP, HW, and Salvatore (and Fremer too, for that matter) are basically clueless, or at best indifferent, when it comes to reproducing music with its timing and drive intact.

I spoke with Mike Pranka (the US distributor for Dynavector) about this, and he said the manufacturer cautions that 2.5 grams VTF is the upper limit that the XV-1 should safely be able to handle. I think it's reasonable to assume that exceeding that limit would cause premature wear or damage, skew the SRA, and certainly throw the moving coil out of alignment with the magnetic gap's sweet spot.

Why the assumption that there is a single correct VTF? It's been my recent experience that VTF does effect multiple aspects of sound quality. It's possible that given their respective systems and listening preferences that two perfectly competent people could arrive at different setup settings. I must admit that the difference is quite large in this particular case.

I have owned the XV-1 for 6 years now well before the so-called reviewers started glamourising the cartridge. I have tried it at the so-called HP 2.6 - 2.8 gms and in my system with my normal ears it just sounded different. HP is full of crap stating that it does not track correctly unless you track it at 2.6gm's. I also load my XV-1 at 47k thru my Pass Xono.

The cartridge tracks just fine and sounds just fine at 2 or 2.2gms. I think dynavector knows a bit more about cartridges, especially its own than HP. Fremer is correct, follow the manufacturers specs.

BTW, I think Raul got confirmation from dyna that you can safely use the XV-1 at 2.4gms without any potential increase in wear and tear on the cartridge.

cheers

For $4,500 I'd go with the manufactures recommendation!