Your OP is a bit confusing, you state that you bought your Dynavector 2 hand but it was never used, that you only used it once and like it a lot but it is ready for a rebuild. Did you damage the cart or is it played out? I am going to assume you have listened to the Dyna for enough time to judge it's character and that you like the traits it brings to the table, with that said it is a very good cart and the Lyra is a very good cart and between the two share a lot of the musical traits that make them special. It is always nice to try a new cart but if you already have something you are satisfied with I would look at the rebuild as a first option, just based on $ spent. Food for thought, I just had a Dynavector DRT XV1s rebuilt by Soundsmith with their Boron Cantilever and a line Contact diamond for $472.00, this is the 9th cart that SS has done for me and the second with the boron cantilever (ZYX Universe the other) and this has proven to be one of my best investments in my music system. Good luck and let us know what you wind up doing and how it all works out. Cheers, enjoy the music.
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I apologize if this sounds dismissive, but only you can decide between those two cartridges in your system with your own ears, because they are fairly close together in performance level. You can collect opinions here all day long, and you probably will, but in the end you have to judge.
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Oh no, it's one of those "better" threads.
The "better" is always the one ,others tell you about.
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Don't apologize for being right lewm. |
I agree with having Soundsmith or someone doing a re-tip on your XX2MKII. SS put a sapphire cantilever and new stylus on mine, and it came back sounding better than it did new. Then you can save for something really special in the future, if that's what floats your boat.
Dan
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Lewm is correct, but from a purely financial point of view I’d certainly go with the Soundsmith option.
At the opposite end the Delos is a lovely cartridge, but obviously only a deep conference involving your own ears and your own wallet can tell you if it’s worth the additional 2000 or so CAD.
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It really comes down to the money, doesn't it? This is expressed in the power of advertising and buying a product that many times the consumer doesn't get to “kick the tires” rarely anymore . . . at least not for those who are not wealthy enough to go to where they can actually hear these expensive items, much less afford many of them.
I can only speak for myself that there are no animosities nor jealousy for anyone who works hard in life and gets a good break to live such a lifestyle legally; however, I do not care what the high-end product is, unless it is sold in a chain store or you happen to live close to an audio boutique . . . the overwhelming abundance of audio products from speaker drivers on leaves one in absolute disarray when it comes to making a wise choice.
For the most part, most of the reviews are being made by publications where a select few try and control the opinions of the public . . . and as much as we would like to believe the contrary, there are unscrupulous people, who are influencing whether a product becomes successful or not. How many struggling companies have been destroyed because of a bad review by a tone deaf or heavily biased reviewer? And how many such reviewers get a high from such power to make or break a new product?
This is a very competitive arena, and you had better have discernment, do extensive homework, or be ready to constantly lay-out many dollars to wade through this swamp to find what satisfies your audio and musical desires. The forums are interesting, but they become more of a sparing situation, where people are more or less doing more of an ego thing to prove how knowledgeable and how dominating they can be in debating their bias viewpoint. . . even ridiculously fighting to win by bullying and name calling to get a win by default. It is ridiculous.
Try calling the company . . . of course, they are going to be loyal to their own products. Call a distributor and rather than getting help, many times you wind up defending your goals and being patronized and talked down to as if you are a complete fool. BUT, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC -- IS IT REALLY? After many years in the hobby . . . and I mean MANY YEARS, I don't believe that in the fullest extent of the meaning.
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Yes it is, "all about the music".
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Ignorance is bliss. Thankfully, this axiom operates for all of us. None of us can have the best of everything. Or at least none of us that I know about. So, you could close your eyes and make a pick. Having made a decision, you will not know what the alternative choice might have been like, unless in a few years from now you try out the other. It’s no big deal. But if you are going to re-tip the Dynavector cartridge, I also recommend SoundSmith over sending it to Dynavector. There you will save a bunch of money.
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1+ for Soundsmith rebuild. |
I've owned both cartridges. If you love and are amazed by the sound of a Dynavector XX2 - which is a rich, big sound with nice detail and very strong deep analog bass - the Lyra will sounder somewhat cleaner but thinner. The Delos played music that needed more meat on its bones to me. The Lyra tracks quieter (less groove chatter) but I sold it for a Dynavector and never regretted the decision for a second! I had a top of the line Goldring which was very smooth and the sound of the Delos just sounded thin to me in comparison. |
I have a Delos and it does not sound thin to me
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some say Benz Micro wood sound warm and colored. I think Lyra Delos has a slight hint of warmth and is very neutral sounding. I think its a best bang for the buck in audio. it does a lot of things right. I could almost say I have no desire to go up in the line as the Delos does enough for me in my system. It is a fussy one when setting it up and lets you know when its not at optimum setting.
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Delos is not a thin sounding cart. That is more an issue with the gear like phono stage and amplification, if you have thin sounding music also your loading.
If I play music that has meat the Delos plays it, what it does is play low end with very high detail, so some might think that is thin sounding.
I love the sound of my Delos, have no desire to try anything else, so I will trade it in for a new one when ready as Lyra has a good trade in program.
If you like the Dynavector, I suggest you do the same. |
