Opinions on the Dynavector DV507MKII

Just got to say that I love the 507MKII as well. I use it with an Acutus and XV-1s, I used to have a Te Kaitora Rua, but in my system and after my preferences, the XV-1s was a much better match (other people/systems my like the Te Kaitora Rua better).

I have the standard Dynavector headshell with azimuth (15g) an older Dynavector without azimuth (12-12,5g), Yamamoto Ebony (10,2g) and Yamamoto Tsunge (8,2g), it's well worth the investment, which is small after all, to experiment a bit with headshells since the sound changes a lot. I don’t know if the sound differs mostly because of different mass or material.

06-01-08: Fosse
I have the standard Dynavector headshell with azimuth (15g) an older Dynavector without azimuth (12-12,5g), Yamamoto Ebony (10,2g) and Yamamoto Tsunge (8,2g).

Then there's the Sumiko at 12g with adjustable azimuth, and the Audio Technicas, one in magnesium at 11g (I think) and three versions in their Technihard alloy ranging from 12-15g. And ZYX makes something seriously upscale at over $500. Yamamoto also offers shells in boxwood and cherry.

It's well worth the investment, which is small after all, to experiment a bit with headshells since the sound changes a lot. I don’t know if the sound differs mostly because of different mass or material.

I would think it's both. The difference in mass would affect it in one way and the difference in material in another. After all, let's suppose you have an ebony-bodied cartridge. You could mount it to two different 12g headshells, but if one is aluminum alloy and the other ebony, chances are they'd sound different.

It's mechanical impedance matching (material) vs. mass loading (weight). It's why some TT and mat mfrs are making platters and mats of acrylic/vinyl laminates--to get a good mechanical coupling between the LP and the mat or platter. You could use the same principle in matching headshells.

The Aries 3 has been ordered along with the DV 507 MKII! Can hardly wait to get it!!!

StickMan451

Congratulations StickMan. Please let us know as soon as it arrives.

What cartridge are you going to use it with?

For the short term I will use the Dynavector DV-20XL off of my Scout. I just got the Scout in January, but I knew after about the first 20 seconds of The Beatles Love album that I would have to move up ASAP! I hadn't really listened to vinyl over the last 20 years; what a mistake that has been!!!

The Scout sounds really good in my rig, but it ain't no Aries 3! The dealer here in Atlanta was nice enough to work a very fair trade-in deal so the Scout goes back. I have my eye on the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua; Jmo (above) and others have told me that they actually like it better on the Aries than the DV DRT-XV1. Once I get my monies worth out of the 20XL (and my pocketbook recovers) I hope to go for the Rua. In the meantime I am chomping at the bit to add the outer ring and the SDS. I am also looking at the MapleShade Samson v.2 racks; they look very promising. Can't have it all now, but I have an awesome start with the Aries 3 and it's only going to get better!!!