I'm on my second Karat D3.
Just read about the very newest Ortofon.. it has a diamond cantilever as well.....hmmm.
Just read about the very newest Ortofon.. it has a diamond cantilever as well.....hmmm.
Dynavector cartridges, old and new
For more than 40 years Dynavector has been producing very high quality moving coil cartridges in Japan. Sadly we don't have a dedicated Dynavector thread here on audiogon. It would be nice to collect info about some nice rare models in one topic.
My first Dynavector was high output model, very attractive headshell integrated as one piece - Dynavector DV-30A was released in Japan 1 year before the Karat series and 4 years before the fabulous Karat Nova. The first high output Moving Coil Dynavector DV-30 series was the next generation of the Ultimo cartridges. The Ultimo’s were manufactured by Onlife Research Inc., which later became Dynavector. The 30-series was introduced in 1978 with 3 different models DV-30A & DV-30B (HOMC) and DV-30C (LOMC). Till the early 80s it was top of the line Dynavector models....
But then the KARAT was released with short Ruby and Diamond cantilevers (depends on the model). I've been looking for KARAT for a long time, i found the Dynavector KARAT 23RS special calibrated version with Micro Ridge stylus tip and prism Ruby cantilever. This particular model has been introduced in 1988 and claimed to be superior to the earlier generation of Karat carts. I'd like to seek more info about this rare cartridge, but very little info available online. Anyone can comment on Karat Ruby 23RS mkI (not mkII) ?
I know some mebers are enjoing the more expensive Karat Nova series, XV-1, XX-2, Te Kaitora Rua etc
Modern Dynavector site is: http://www.dynavector.com/
But the rare models can be found here.
My first Dynavector was high output model, very attractive headshell integrated as one piece - Dynavector DV-30A was released in Japan 1 year before the Karat series and 4 years before the fabulous Karat Nova. The first high output Moving Coil Dynavector DV-30 series was the next generation of the Ultimo cartridges. The Ultimo’s were manufactured by Onlife Research Inc., which later became Dynavector. The 30-series was introduced in 1978 with 3 different models DV-30A & DV-30B (HOMC) and DV-30C (LOMC). Till the early 80s it was top of the line Dynavector models....
But then the KARAT was released with short Ruby and Diamond cantilevers (depends on the model). I've been looking for KARAT for a long time, i found the Dynavector KARAT 23RS special calibrated version with Micro Ridge stylus tip and prism Ruby cantilever. This particular model has been introduced in 1988 and claimed to be superior to the earlier generation of Karat carts. I'd like to seek more info about this rare cartridge, but very little info available online. Anyone can comment on Karat Ruby 23RS mkI (not mkII) ?
I know some mebers are enjoing the more expensive Karat Nova series, XV-1, XX-2, Te Kaitora Rua etc
Modern Dynavector site is: http://www.dynavector.com/
But the rare models can be found here.
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- 132 posts total
Bimasta and others, my basic point was that my experience tells me that selecting a cartridge based on its having an exotic cantilever material or an exotic stylus shape or a rare or unusual magnet structure does not consistently result in a revelation of sonic Nirvana. Conversely, many cartridges which seem quite ordinary in their structural qualities end up sounding just great. One example of the latter is the Grace Ruby cartridge, and probably other related Grace cartridges. There’s nothing to write home about in terms of how these cartridges are made (save for the ruby cantilever in the case of the Grace Ruby), yet they are outstanding. It can go either way. |
The goal of Dynavector is not ONLY diamond cantilever as an eye candy factor, but a very short 1.7 mm length diamond cantilever, here is a picture of my Karat 17DS Super under macro lens (they even made 1.3 mm version of Karat Nova for US market only), the self resonance of such cantilever is above 100kHz! Also extremely thin coil wire that even Eric Rohmann (ex Ortofon president) was trying to buy Dynavector machines to produce such wires. Read Dr.Tominari (Dynavector Systems) interview: "Most high quality cartridges are based on extremely simple structures developed fifty years ago, and very old fashioned in their use of magnetic materials. Instead I use eight Alnico magnets to create a much more uniform magnetic field. The results of experiments were so impressive to me that I immediately incorporated this technique into a new cartridge, the XV1." The prism RUBY cantilever of my DV-23RS MR does not looks like a conventional Ruby cantilevers, actually conventional Ruby cantilevers has the same length as the Boron or Aluminum cantilevers. I think averyone can buy Dynavector with Diamond cantilever for reasonable price around $700, but Orotofon Anniversary for $16k is insane (it's a form of illness, imo) ! |
That´s the point indeed. I personally would buy a NOS or even used Karat 17D(2 or 3) than the ridiculously priced Hyperion not to mention the Ortofon Anniversary. The latter ain´t worth its price, it just can´t be that good. For that price level I´d buy a totally new (MC) cartridge technology. And if I was rolling on money I´d go for Hyperion ... Btw, this Japanese eBayer has a few couple of Dyna Karats for sale: http://www.ebay.de/usr/samurai_electronics**?_trksid=p2047675.l2559 . Has anyone bought carts from that guy ? |
- 132 posts total