No deep bass or highs: VTF or VTA issue?

After playing Aja again, it's been a while, I can understand why you may think it sounds dark. That album sounds like that to me all the way through. But I can confirm what Dre posted about the cymbals in the beginning of Deacon Blues. Plenty of decay after a whack and the next whack comes before the decay ends. It is continuous but the individual cymbal whacks are very discernable. I don't have CD copy of Aja so I can't compare. I suggest double checking that you are comparing the same mastered versions of that album. Even then the digital version can sound different than the LP.

I've not heard of anyone tracking an XV-1s much below about 1.9, but Doug is right. Not only are cartridges different but so are arms, etc.

I would check resonant frequency of the arm. A high resonant frequency would make the highs less open & muddy the bass. One other note, is that the Subwoofer can affect the isolation of the turntable and then create resonances that would again muddy the bass and reduce the extension & clarity of the highs. When you integrate full range bass into any system, you now test the limits of all your equipment. This is where it really gets challenging and can be expensive.

On a note re: VTF & VTA. As I change VTA I do always recheck VTF (depending on the arm) and then reset the VTF to the previous setting to make sure I am listening the effects of the VTA change and not the interelated VTF change. I hope this is clear. All the best. I wasn't a fan of the XV-1s but it did have good bass and sweet highs.

Dear Madfloyd: IMHO the XV-1s is far from be dark and sluggish.

Your TT/tonearm are good enough to the XV-1s performs ( if not at its best ) in a very decent way, no doubt about.

Even that your phono stages are not my " favorities " out there it can make a better work that the one you name It: dark and sluggish: no frequency extremes.

Now, a good digital source/recording almost always will be better ( quality/quantity )on bass than an analog one so you can't try to look ( it is useless ) for a better deep bass in your analog rig in the other part almost any analog rig always will be better on the high frequency range against a CD ( IMHO only a DVDA could compete with analog on that frequency range ). Of course that everything will be dependent on the quality of the recording on each source: digital/analog.

A good example to compare could be Patricia Barber/Cafe Blue ( Nardis track ), the 33rpm version and the FIM label on CD, other one could be Janis Ian/Breacking Silence 33rpm against the Analog production ( Gold limited Edition ) label on CD.

You already follow almost all the advise that several people give you and almost nothing change. There is something that could help: try to change the Azymuth and see what happen.
I have success with the Dyna running at 1.9 or 2.0 and VTA on the positive way ( a little ). I have to say that this cartridge is excellent at both frequency extremes.

One alternative ( between others ) that you have is to take your XV-1s and test on another system and see how it performs, in the same way ( if you can ) try/test a different cartridge in your system.
First than all you have to be sure that your cartridge in right on specs and if it is then the problem can be every where in your system ( other than the cartridge set-up ): cables, tonearm, phono stage, line stage, amplifier, etc, etc.

Other issue that you have is to re-check the sub system seamless integration that you recently add, normally it takes a lot of time to integrate it to any audio system ( some times several months ) and very difficult to integrate seamless to an analog source and at the same time to digital source too, the integration of a sub is difficult even with two subs and a lot more difficult with only one like you. Adding subs means not only " think " on the sub position/place but " think " if the satelites ( JM Labs ) needs to move/change a little along with some room treatment.

Sometimes, at the begening, we tend to set-up the subs a little louder that it real need it and this could be a problem for the XV-1. It is clear too that the external crossover could makes a signal degradation but Bryston is very good on that regard.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

a good digital source/recording almost always will be better ( quality/quantity )on bass than an analog one

Not my experience at all, but we certainly use different system components and hear differently.

Thanks, Raul. With the Bryston I can easily mute the subs (which I have done at times while making adustments) and of course all sources are going through the same preamp.

I thought of switching back to my Dynavector 20XL but it takes me several hours to set overhang (using Mint tractor) and the thought of that is somewhat discouraging. However, it's a good idea since I did buy the XV-1s used. The seller seemed quite respected here on A'gon and claimed low hours so hopefully it's not the cartridge, but you never know.