Dynavector cartridges, old and new

Andy Kim might know more; he retips cartridges, based in Seattle. I called him about a Koetsu Rosewood and Accuphase AC2. He was courteous and businesslike, but when I mentioned my 23R Karat, his entire tone changed — “Wow, you have a 23 Ruby? That’s a great cartridge.” Seems he’s a Dynavector fan, can’t hurt to drop him a line.

I’m scant on details about mine. Chakster knows far more than I, yet even he has some blank areas. It was NOS, I’ve put only ±30 hours on it. Cantilever is the ruby prism, with a line-contact stylus. But “line-contact” seems to be a broad generic term, without the specificity of a branded design, such as VdH. I have two Fidelity Research models, both called line-contact, but the Dyna is very different, much skinnier — the shank is as thin as the Shure Micro-Ridge. Could it be the Micro-Reach, without saying so?

The packaging is unclear; I think Dyna made many small changes but put them in older existing boxes with no change to the text. The 23R body clarifies little, it only has a tiny plaque on one side saying Dynavector, no “Karat” plaque as I’ve seen on some others. Could mean it’s an early model — or they ran out Karat plaques.

I hope someone can shed a little more light. All I know is that I share much of Andy’s enthusiasm...

Thanks for the clarification.
I noticed that the 17 D3 is not listed on the Dynavector website as a current product. In fact the only cartridges listed under the moving coil section are the 20 X2 and the DV 1S and T models. Yet I think you can still buy a new 17 D3. And I think you can buy the Te katura Rua as well, at least.

FWIW, there are two DV sites:  Japan and the US distributor.  US link here:  http://www.dynavector-usa.com/dynavector_dynavector.html.  The 17D3, TKR and others are all still available from the US operation although some may be NOS.  I've found them very helpful and responsive over the years.  Mike Pranko there might be a good source for background on some of the finer points of DV history.

As I recall, the Karat 23 was the first iteration and always had a ruby cantilever and silver body, followed by 23R, 23RS and finally MR 23RS (I think that's how the nomenclature on the label went).  The MR was the micro ridge edition.  The Karat 17 was presented in a gold tone body with the diamond cantilever.  I believe it went 17, 17D, 17D2 to the present 17D3.  I loved my 23s and was disappointed I couldn't readily achieve the results I expected with the 17.  I was very enamored of the short gemstone cantilever design.

That said, things change and the XX2 I have now is definitely a superior product to the 23 or 17.  

Thanks, effischer.  I own three DV tonearms, two 505s and one 501. Mike Pranko helped me out more than once to obtain parts for these tonearms.  Among distributors, he is one of the good guys.

If we will look at Dynavector catalog of cartridges we will not find anything with Ruby cantilever anymore. But the Diamond cantilever is still there on 17D3.

 "Its very short (1.7mm) solid diamond cantilever give a huge reduction in 'frequency dispersion', unmatched dynamics and a high frequency extension all the way up to 100kHz. The latest patented magnet circuit design increases the output to 0.3mV with crystal clear mid-range and treble even during the largest symphonic crescendos. The main change to the new Dynavector 17D3 is an improvement in the design of the front yoke. This appears, on the surface, to be a small difference yet contributes to a greatly improved overall performance justifying a model number change. The Dynavector Karat is notable for its gemstone cantilever. This 1.7mm long by 0.25mm diameter solid diamond cantilever has its 0.07 square mm stylus mounting hole precision cut by laser. The Micro Ridge Stylus of 0.07 square mm nude diamond is securely and accurately bonded to the cantilever. The armature of 0.9mm square and 0.4mm thick is much smaller than normal, upon which are wound 60 turns per channel of 12 micron fine wire." 

Specs for 17D3 in comparison of the specs for 17DS: 

Output Voltage: 0.3 mV  ///////  0.2 mV (5 cm / sec 1 kHz)
Channel Separation:  25 dB   /////// 20 dB (1 kHz)  
Frequency response:  20 - 100,000Hz ///////  20 - 90,000Hz  
Compliance:   15 x 10-6  ///////  15 x 10-6 cm/dyn  
Tracking force:    1.8 - 2.2 grams  ///////  1.7 - 2.0 grams
DC resistance:  32Ω    ///////   32Ω  
Cantilever:   1.7mm length, 0.25dia solid diamond  //// .... ??? 
Stylus:  Micro-Ridge  .... ///////   0.08 × 3 mil Micro-Ridge
Weight  5.8 g ///////   5.3 g