Changing from an XV1-S


Hi All

I'm considering (read hankering) for a new cartridge. I have been using a Dynavector XV1-S for a while now and although it really is good I feel that other manufacturers have overtaken this recently with units that cost a 'tad' less.

It's going on my VPI Classis/ 10.5 and the new Whest PS.30RDT Special Edition/ Conrad Johnson ART MK1/ Levinson 331 Poweramp/ JM Lab Scala Utopia. The general sound from the system is excellent to bloody brilliant BUT having just heard an Ortofon Cadenza Black in the system I am led to believe that the XV1-S technology is 'getting on'.

A friend has recommended the Ortofon A90 or Lyra Titan.
Is there anything else I should look at?

My musical tastes are wide BUT do not include Opera, Classical or choir. I like vocals but love instumentals.

Thanks for your help - if I get any :)

dcarol
Hi DCarol,

As Dan_ed commented, the best justification we can give for a change like the one you're proposing is "because we want to".

Now, if one starts to try to justify a strategy based on a series of objective principles, your proposed change makes absolutely no sense ... again, because you are dismissing a cartridge you have never really heard.

None of this is to discount the other fine cartridges mentioned in this thread, and in the end, you might actually prefer one of them.

At present however, you are putting the cart before the horse, and shooting the messenger.

From your recent post, your use of the GBP symbol tells me that you live a wee bit South of a Scottish turntable manufacturer.

One of Linn's greatest contributions to the analog world is their educating the public about th importance of observing the analog upgrade hierarchy - first turntable, then arm, and only then ... cartridge. To do it otherwise is putting the cart before the horse.

Take a look at this thread for some commentary on the topic: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1171736594&openfrom&31&4#31.

Enjoy the journey but (like the rest of us) be prepared to eat crow about absolute truths you discover today.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier
No, not bad at all, Dcarol. You like how your system sounds and that is all that matters, for you.

The rest of us must take your descriptions, filter that through our own experiences, and try to come to an understanding of what you meant. Case in point, my questions to Mike on this thread about his take on how those cartridges compare sound-wise. ALL components in this game add color, no exceptions, but some are more colored than others, or they don't resolve things in the music as well or not at all. Some veil other components in the chain.

Prices don't usually indicate anything.
Thom..

Are you saying I can only change my cartridge or any other peice of gear as long as I have a valid reason? That is utter rubbish! If I won the lottery tomorrow and decided to buy a Walker Audio Promixxxxx and then burn it, that is up to me. It is pretty much up to me how I spend my bucks.
I remember throwing my first turntable (Technics 1200) at a wall back in the early 80's, because my then girlfriend really pissed me off.

As for where I am based...you are so far off it's a joke. I'm about 470 away from the Linn factory in a small city called London.

I think the problem here is that nobody here has heard my system or heard what changes came about by changing the XV1-S.

I'll get back to you guys about this after I have done the demo at the dealers place.
Don t feel emberassed about your " cheap "table , i have an even cheaper vpi and im very happy with it .
I d rather through a cd player against a wall though

I've heard of London.

It's near Liverpool.

South of Scotland.

Lots of fog.

They drive on the wrong side of the road.