Koetsu vs Dynavector vs Lyra??

i owned the Koetsu RSP for 10 years, for the first couple it was my reference cartridge; i recently reluctantly sold it. yes; it's the 'classic' Koetsu and was always a lovely performer. while 10 years ago it was in the performance ballpark with other top MC's that's no longer true. there are quite a few other cartridges which will get you closer to the music without glossing over so much detail and energy. i'm no expert on the stone body Koetsu's.....however many love the Coralstone.

recently i have been listening to the Lyra Olympos, which is still breaking in. my long-term reference had been various versions of the vdH Colibri. for energy and detail there is nothing that touches the Colibri; but it is typically too edgy on many Lps for most listeners. the Olympos gets most of the way to the Colibri on detail and energy, but adds a civility and refinement as well as a measure of warmth that seems perfect. it only has about 30 hours on it so far but seems to improve almost every time i listen.

the Koetsu RSP and a vdH Colibri are about as far apart in presentations as one can get; yet both bring unique superlatives to the table which i enjoyed for years. the Olympos seems to combine the strengths of them both in the service of the music. you can get beauty and truth in one cartridge. it would be an excellent choice for one who loves the Koetsu sound.....but wants 'it all'.

a caution; the Lyra Olympos is not cheap and one needs a 'donor' Lyra Parnassus for the magnets to have an Olympos built.

added note; i have owned the Dynavector XV-1s. it is a very nice all around cartridge....and, i think, preferrable to the Koetsu RSP. OTOH i have an Allnic Verity 'Z' which i (provisionally) likely prefer to the XV-1s at less money. i only have 50 hours on the Verity Z so my opinion is not yet fully formed. but it seems a great value; very energetic and musical....with a big bottom end.

I have owned a Koetsu Jade, Urushi,an Air Tight PC-1, MSL Eminent, and more. I currently own a Titan i, and VdH Colibri. IMO w. your arm you would be best served by the MSL/Air Tight/Transfiguration family. While the Titan i is incredible I find its performance to excel in my Schroder a high mass arm. The MSL,Airtight & Transfiguration Orpheus are all fairlyl similar as they are very similar in sound & design w. improvements as you go up the line. I have listened to the Orpheus on the Vector and it was a very nice match. But I can't imagine the Titan i being a great match w. the Vector. But when it is well matched there is no lack of body or thinness in sound as some have mentioned. If anything it goes to the rich side. It really isn't about the cartridge alone, it is about the right match for your arm.

a zyx may fall somewhere in your tastes too if you are considering a lyra. I have never owned a koetsu, but like higher end grados fo the body. However, like some people here, I got addicted to the neutrality and speed of the lyra and zyx carts.

Dmanzi0219,

Your Vector 4 arm can handle the Titan i, any Koetsu including the Onyx Platinum, and the Dynavector XV1-s with ease.

In the Vector arm, the Titan i is an explosively dynamic cartridge, with an very good amount of detail, richness, and nuance. Tracking and tracing are first rate. Regardless of the differing variety music choices, the performance is first rate. The last comment is a very important because it can effect how one approaches new and different music.

IMO: Because you own such a good arm with a vanishingly low signature, especially when set up correctly, any of the cartridges you mention will be able to display more of its uniqueness.

You only have to pick the character of the cartridge and it will come through. Again, when well setup.

Important: My opinion is only one of many. My suggestion is to always try and listen for yourself. I'm unsure how much time and energy you want to put into searching for a cartridge. However, it can get very involved if you choose to allow that to happen.

Hope this helps,
Dre

Dear Dmanzi0219: It is not an easy task to choose the right cartridge that match our priorities, there are several options as you read here and almost all those options are very good for each one of the " promotors " due that is what we have/experienced and what we like that not necesary is what you are looking for.

Unfortunately there is no cartridge dealers that borrow to us 4-5 different cartridges to try in our systems and this makes more complex which is the " cartridge " for me.

There is another, almost inexpensive, alternative that can cope your priorities: the MM cartridge one, there are several MM cartridges that can help you at a top quality level where you don't have to risk big money, think about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.