Dynavector XV-1s loading question.

Try 500 to 1000 ohms. You just might find a fuller, suppler, more musical and natural sound in that range. At least, that's what I hear with my XV-1S.

no no no....100 or 200 ohms....but then it's your ears...

As you approach 30 ohms from higher values, you may notice at some point that you have less apparent phono stage gain, due to loss of signal from hot to ground. If that is happening, then go up at least one notch from the value that affected gain. This will give you a near approximation of "critical damping". Or just use 100 ohms, which is pretty standard for cartridges with an internal resistance of <10 ohms.

There is no specific recommended loading for any cartridge -- a lot depends on your phonostage, your personal taste, etc. With well behaved phonostages that don't freak out and overload from the ultrasonic peak, it is possible for most moving coils to be operated almost unloaded (the higher the number the LOWER the loading, e.g., 47K or 100K). That would give the most open top end, but it could also mean excessive brightness and sibilance and an anemic bass response which is why some loading may be required.

The recommended 30 ohm minimum value represents an extreme amount of loading for most cartridges. When too much loading is applied (very LOW value resistor), overall signal level is reduced, the top end sounds shut down and the cartridge will sound bass heavy, slow and lifeless.

As a very rough guide, I would start at 15 times the internal impedance of the cartridge (90 ohms, in this case) as the low end and expect to find the ideal value somewhere above that number. As a pure guess, I bet something around 125-250 will work well.

>30 is the right answer. In most systems, the number has been in the 100-150 range. In some rare configurations, I've found 35-50 works best.

Now, with my Atma-sphere MP-1, I am running wide open (no loading resistors). Just when you think you have it nailed down, your world turns upside down.

I'm beginning to think that we're not hearing so much the ultrasonic resonance peak direcly as much as we're hearing how this peak gives some phono stages fits (throws them into resonance).

I'd be curious to hear the thoughts of some preamp designers on this.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier