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Setup Dynavector XV-1s on SME V help

I am having all sorts of issues getting it tuned in. I do have it sounding very good but my settings leave me confused. My tracking force is 2.4 in a dynamic balance. My antiskating is set at 2.5 or abouts & the damping dip stick is all the way down. When I cue in the tonearm it always jumps right into the 1st track, never setting smooth. ON the Hi-Fi News test disk it flys across the blank space & then jumps over the next track almost to the end of the track. Kind of crazy. My VTA is level. I am loading it at 1000 ohms to great effect now & I can track the 4th track of the HiFI News & Record Review bias test track but with a lot of buzzing. I have almost no buzzing on the 3rd track. The arm resonance is about 9 hz or so in horizontal but harder to detect in vertical, but seems about the same.

Now w. my VdH Condor I had no tracking issues & itbehaved perfectly in the SME V. The Dynavector on the Ikeda never had any problems on the lead in groove (no jumping our bouncing) but it just didn't sound good (might have been the break in or the Ebony headshell I was using. I am waiting for a Dynavector headshell to use as the stock Ikeda headshell won't accomodate the Dynavector.

Anyone with any experience please chime in as I am totally lost.
dgad
downunder
1,329 posts
 
Darren. Harry from VPI has always stated he believes antiskating is a crap shoot as it changes at every position as you play the record.

XV-1s takes about 300 hours to settle down. Must admit I never noticed any stifness in the cantilever, but then again I change VTA on most records. Is it sounding better?

cheers Shane
dgad OP
782 posts
 
Shane,

It is finally getting there. In fact it is finally not jumping on the lead in groove. Things are fuller & much more life like. The Condor reignes supremem in the bass & detail camp so far. Not necessarily a good thing. I will listening to Bob's Kaya last night & while on the Condor I could here tons of pops on the record w. the XV-1s it was much more listenable & enjoyable.

Nsgarch. I am going to try the lead in groove test. I did try it & it is so difficult to tell because if you are not positioned centered over the groove you are going to deflect to drag the cartridge in one direction or another. Correct me if I am wrong. It is very tough. I did try using your system but found it very tough. Thanks though.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Dgad, You do this test lowering the stylus into a grove somewhere in the middle of the first recorded band, not into the lead in groove.

Yes I imagine it's a bit tough to read the movement of the cantilever with as low a compliance cartridge as the Dyna.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,101 posts
 
Dear Darren: There is something that you have to check on the V, I try to explain it:

the V base is build in two parts, the left and right one ( that's why is a line/space between them ) and rear and front one ( the tonearm is at the center of this base ), when you change the VTA these two parts ( front and rear de tonearm ) has to be leveled, if not the tonearm is out of level. You can " see " or " touch " with your nail between those parts to " fell " if are leveled, if not you have to push up/down to leveled at both sides: left and right and at the front and rear of the base.

It is very difficult for me to explain correctly this issue because of my poor english, sorry.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
dgad OP
782 posts
 
Raul,

Thank you for the point about leveling the tonearm at the base. I think that is my problem. If the tonearm is ver low (VTA) it is difficult to stick your finger in there. Also with each change in VTA you need to be very careful to maintain the tonearm as level. Do you feel that I know the SME V does not have azimuth. If find you can adjust the azimuth slightly when the locking screws are open (at the base) and then wobble the tonearm slightly. I then place a small level on my headshell at the angel the cartridge is set to make sure the headshell base is level.
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