Dynavector XV-1s vs. Transfiguration Temper w

Wow Downunder, that must have been quite the research project you undertook to uncover my postings form previous years!

I haven't really made any progress in my strange tracking issues - as I have stated on previous occasions the "problem" is strange but doesn't really result in audible mistracking on more than a few records. I've come to the conclusion that it must be something funky with my room - perhaps some magnetic drag on the cartridge or something, hard to say. Again though, it's mostly on testing, rather than listening, that the "problem" becomes evident. Any further suggestions then please do let me know.

In the meantime, I don't think this invalidates my opinion on cartridges as, again, the overwhelming majority of records track perfectly. My personal opinion on the XV-1S is as stated but YMMV. I didn't hate the thing, just though it was not up the the level of the UNIverse or XV-1S (or likely the Benz LPS in a similar system with a different table/arm). And usually I am a big fan of Dyna cartridges.

I'm just kind of baffled how people can find something slow & anemic, since these two words derive from opposite directions in my experiences. Things that some refer to as slow in a negative manner, another would refer to as warm or musical in a positive manner. Things that one would refer to as anemic in a negative manner, another would refer to as transparent or neutral in a positive manner.
How one could use two negative words to describe the two polar opposites of sound is quite baffling.

The key to most systems is synergy, trying to find the right balance for a certain listener between warmth and musicality camp and the detail and transparency camps. That is why certain things sound better in certain systems. Try using a warm(slow) cartridge in a system with warm amplification and speakers and you will fall asleep. Try to run a transparent (anemic) cartridge in a system with transparent amps and speakers and you will be grinding your teeth.

That being said, from what I've heard, the Dynavector XV-1s is on the transparent/neutral/anemic side of the fence, therefore, it cannot also be "slow'. Slow may better describe a cartridge on the warmer side of the fence such as a Koetsu, Benz, Transfiguration, etc. ZYX and Lyra would be on the anemic side of the fence with the Dynavector, IMHO. I actually think that Lyra is the fastest most transparent cartridges that I've heard, and yes, some would call them anemic, but not slow.

That's my $0.02. I just can't understand how something can sound fast and slow at the same time, but whatever.

Jcmcgrogan2 - if you want to get literal and specific with these terms then how can something that is less transparent and detailed be more "musical"? In my mind one necessarily leads to the other. Any cartridge or component that transmits the subtlest of details - microdynamic shadings, vocal inflections, room acoustics, etc - is truer to the original recorded performance.

Never understood this "musical" vs. "detail" dichotomy.

But I think we're digressing here!

I tried dynavector xv-1s , ortofon a90 & zyx omega gold with raven 10.5 tonearm on a raven ac 3 turntable with Tron seven ultima phono & even with brand new XV-1S, I like it better compared to the other cartridges. It has the speed, better soundstage & more controlled bass.
My 2 cts worth of personal opinion- anaemic ? Certainly not

Obviously these things are system-dependent and highly subjective - at this price level all cartridges are basically very good and if I had just heard the DV-1S and not the others I'd have been happy owning one - but in my system the UNIverse and A90 sounded better to my ears. Anemic and slow are just adjectives to describe what I heard vs. the UNIverse and A90 - I didn't mean to sound harsh or suggest that it sounded awful - it just lacked in certain areas important to me vs. a few other comparatively-priced options.