Dear Audiolui: +++++ " Dynavector is much more lifelike .. " +++++
This is the Jtinn opinion and I agree with him ( btw, extraordinary speakers you have. Awesome. Congratulations. ). The XV-1 perhaps is one of the three best cartridges ever made. No one can goes wrong with this Dynavector choice, it does not matters which are their musical priorities. This cartridge needs the right tonearm ( like any other cartridge ) and a phono stage at its same performance level.
Audiolui, if you like the Helikon sound reproduction, my advise is that go for the Titan. You will be very satisfied.
From the Helikon to the other cartridges named in this thread: I own or owned all of them. No, the Benz Micro ( very good cartridges ) ones don't meet the performance level of the XV-1. Now, the Titan is closer but the XV-1 has a better tonal balance and neutrality than the Titan.
All those cartridges named in the thread are really a top performers and the preferences for one of them dependes on many things: tonearm, TT, phonopreamp, musical taste, accuracy of our ears, our whole audio system, etc., if we have the right synergy between all this " things " any of those top cartridges can be our " cup of tea ". To say which is better is a subjective question and of course a very personal answer.
Unfortunatelly we can't find a dealer that can borrowed all those cartridges to do a test in our homes.
Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
