Dynavector XX2 MKII? Your thoughts of it?


Hello fellow Audiogon members, I had recently purchased a new mega RP8 turntable to replace my old Systemdek back in february. Since May I had a Dynavector 20x2L mounted on it and had tremendous synergy and results with it. Love it. Now one of my dealers has a lightly used Dynavector XX2 MKII. As his back up cartridge at home with about a 1000 hours on it. But because of his recent cartridge purchase his wife wants him to sell it. He offered me $400 cash for it.
Should i jump on it?
Also Is the XX2 MKII a better cartridge over the Rega Apheta? 
And what sort of difference dose the XX2 have over 20x2L and would it be an upgrade for the RP8?

jakecanada

Showing 1 response by mulveling

1,000 is a LOT of hours even if the seller’s being honest, but $400 on a $2K cartridge is still a good deal if the maker offers a good rebuild program. From what I can glean online, Dynavector does not (but perhaps I'm mis-informed) -- you’d want a cartridge that can be rebuilt like new for 50% (or less) of list price (e.g. Ortofon, Koetsu). I’d probably pass because of that. And another reason I’m a happy Koetsu user.

Even Ortofon has come out and said that their replicant stylus can last 2,000 hours (given excellent care), but there will indeed be physical changes to the stylus at 1,000.