Great cartridge mate for SME lV arm

Dear David: +++++ " I know I could put a step up transformer in place, " +++++

Please don't do that, you ruin the lovely XV-1 quality sound.
If you don't have the gain for the Dyna then go for the 90X: good option.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

David, for about five years, I ran the van den Hul Frog cartridge in my system. At 0.65mV of output, the Frog seemed to do best in my system at about 50dB of gain. As you would expect, I have found that my Dynavector XV-1s, at 0.35mV of output, requires more gain. In my system, the Dynavector cartridge does best with gain of 55dB. The XV-1s is an exceptionally dynamic cartridge and, in my experience, does not require quite as much gain as you might expect based strictly on its output level.

The optimal phono stage gain for any given cartridge will vary a bit from system to system, but, particularly given that the Shelter 90X has an output level consistent with my van den hul Frog, I thought you might find this information useful in evaluating the compatibility of these cartridges with the gain provided by your modded phono stage.

Do you know how much gain is provided by your ARC PH-3?

Hi Cincy Bob,
According to the manual, the Gain is 54 dB at 1 kHz.
Given that this is a PH3, does anyone have recommendations for the Input Impedance loading on the Shelter? I've got the little kit of resisters that I can solder in place to change that depending upon which cartridge is in place. I suppose it will tell me in the cartridge manual, but then I've read that sometimes individuals will actually experiment with impedance loading other than that recommended by the manufacturer. Easy enough to do if you have a Steelhead, but not so easy if you're soldering in and out various resistors...
BTW, thanks Raul for your recommendation. Do you agree Bob? It's sounding like you're thinking the 54 dB gain might be enough, given 55 dB worked for you.
Have the mods to my PH3 affected the gain? I don't know. The changes are visible to me compared to the stock PH3's, and I was told that in a side by side comparison my modded PH3 was a clear favorite over the PH3SE, given that it has "hexfreds in ALL power supplies, MIT caps, Dynamicaps, Infinity signatures in varying locations, ceramic gold plated tube sockets, Blackgate caps in the low voltage B+ and heater supplies, and a removable power cord" for mods. However, I didn't hear the comparison myself.
Also, I know it may not be a critical factor, no one else seems bothered by it, but I still have a bit of hesitancy regarding running a stylus over my vinyl where I'm applying 2.4, or more, grams of vertical tracking force to the groove. Maybe I'd get over my concerns about that after listening to the sound of the Dynavector, but no one has said that I'd regret getting the 90X, and it would save me a couple of bucks too, no?

Thanks again,

David

David, it sounds like the gain of your phono stage is right on the edge of what is required to run the Dynavector cartridge. While your phono stage might well have enough gain to get the job done, given the substantially higher output of the Shelter cartridge, I agree that this would be your safest bet. I think that the Dynavector cartridge is, overall, the better performer, but, if you don't have enough gain to run the cartridge, you would be left with no recourse but to upgrade your phono stage, sell the cartridge, or listen at less than fully satisfying volume levels.

By the way, I think the least of your worries is the tracking weight of the Dynavector cartridge. This certainly does not pose a risk to your vinyl. And if it provides you with any piece of mind, I should tell you that I have been running my Dynavector XV-1s at 2.0g VTF, and the sound is incredible. My advice to you is to disregard the VTF in making your decision. The question of whether your phono stage has sufficient gain is much more relevant.

Thanks for your personal experience with the SV-1 Bob. I guess I'd assumed to get the full value from the cartridge, one needed to run it at the highest possible VTF. Not the case as your letter last post points out. It still is "incredible" at 2.0 g VTF. I wouldn't mind upgrading my phono stage at some point, but taking things with some degree of moderation leads me to think the biggest improvement might be had in swapping out the Benz M2 for something more refined, vs doing the phono stage now, and the cartridge later. With that in mind, I think I'll go with the higher output 90x. Then, later on, after I upgrade the phono stage, if I still find myself wanting more at that point, maybe I could move to the Dynavector. I'll keep my eye out for a good shape used 90 X here on the gon for a while, and if nothing pops up, just get a new one. I'm thinking perhaps someone will sell their 90x when moving up to the SV-1.
Some of my looking will take place after a 2 week visit to St. John starting this Sunday. I mention that in case anyone wants to email me with a lead on a used 90X.

Thanks again,
David