Dynavector XV-1s and JMW 10.5i question

How many hours have you put on the cartridge. It could be that the cartridge is either still breaking in, or, after break-n, the tonal balance has shifted in a direction that you don't like. The shift in channel balance could be the result of the antiskating now being less than ideal following break-in, but, it still seems a bit hard to account for such a shift.

During and following break-in, a cartridge's tonal balance can change quite substantially. If the bass response takes longer to develope (a common break-in phenomenon), the impression of less "air" (i.e., less high frequency emphasis) could be the effect of a bigger bass response.
After the cartridge has settled in, you can try adjusting the VTA and/or loading of the cartridge. Raising the tonearm pivot (tail up) slightly to increase the VTA can restore some of the "air." You can also get a similar effect by changing the cartridge loading. You should try a higher value loading resistor (meaning LESS loading) to get more "air." For example, if you had loading set at 100 ohms, try 150 or 200, or even wide open (47k ohms).

I lived with the 10.5i for a while and my first suggestion would be to not be afraid to mess around with your setup. If Fremer's DVD helps you feel better with this it's money well spent. Only you can put in the time and experiment to see what works best.
I eventually abandoned the antiskate mechanism entirely and even removed it. I would say some of your problems are a result of too much antiskate. I also think it's important to measure your tracking force at record level and if you don't have a scale that can do that raise the back of the arm so that the arm is level when you're on the scale, otherwise you'll be under tracking when you level your arm at record level. So I would say track at 2.2 with little or no antiskate.
Also, don't be afraid to try some damping fluid. Mess around until you find what works.

That Blu-Tak is silly. You can set the arm up using the supplied VPI protractor, however, I found that the MINT protractor provides more accuracy, therefore better sound. Use the mechanical anti=Skate device making sure that the little arm is horizontal at the beginning of the record, and raises during play until the end of the side. Play around with VTF..every cartridge off of the assembly line needs different VTF (within the manufacturers suggested range) to play the best. There is an allen keyed weight inside of the rear of the arm that you can fiddle with. Make the arm the heaviest, and gradually unscrew that weight which incrementally reduces the vtf, until the sound zeros in. Regarding damping...add only a drop at a time listening to its affect. It will get better, then one drop more and the sound is ruined. Use a Q-tip to remove that last bit of damping fluid.

First, I would disconnect the anti-skating. I find the XV-1s and XV-1t perform better without it in the 5 tonearms used here.

Second, make sure your alignment is accurate. Dump the factory protractor and buy a Mint LP, Wally Tractor, Feickert, etc.

Third, assuming the cartridge has 50 hours of use, try lowering the VTF to the 2.05-2.12 gram range. The XV-1s sounds muddy above 2.15g IMO.

Good luck.

Dealer disclaimer

I received the new XV-1s about 10 weeks ago. The friend who set it up had it about 2-3 weeks and 'broke it in.' I think he probably had 50 hours on it. Once I got the table and new cart back in my system, it sounded phenomenal. Rock solid imaging, tons of air. Since that time I really have changed nothing, with the exception that the set-up guy came over to listen and adjusted the VTA slightly (not sure which way). It still sounded incredible. I had about 100 hours total on it by that time. Over the last 2-3 weeks, the imaging has been more blurred and shifted to the right side of the soundstage. Also much less air around instruments and less 'floating' of images.

I've tried listening with no anti-skate and it doesn't seem to change things. I've ordered a Mint Tractor (Series 9 for JMW 10.5i) and it will hopefully arrive next week. Once it arrives and I've had a chance to quickly review the Fremer video, I'll start slowly and carefully trying to tackle this. It's just weird that the sound changed with essentially no changes in set up.

Regarding damping fluid - a silly question:

Where do I put it? Is it on the spindle that the tonearm rests on? No instructions are given in the Aries 3 / JMW manual. Maybe if I put some damping fluid in the correct area, the anti-skate won't be needed, or at least the blu-tak won't.

Thanks for the input and advice. Any more hints will be very appreciated. You don't know what you've got until its gone (regarding sound and a lot of other things!).